Peru Has One of the Shortest Periods of Residency Before Naturalization
Citizenship in Peru can be one of the fastest second citizenships you can get. You can apply for Peruvian citizenship after only 2 years of residency in the South American country.
There are several ways to qualify for citizenship in Peru.
These are:
Citizenship in Peru by Ancestry
Peruvian citizenship by ancestry is available to those who have at least one ancestor from Peru and meet the following requirements:
If you are eligible for citizenship in Peru based on your ancestry, then you must provide proof of your Peruvian heritage. This can be done through providing birth certificates or marriage certificates for both parents and grandparents. You can find out more here.
Citizenship in Peru by Marriage
If you are married to a citizen of Peru, then you can qualify for citizenship in Peru after only 2 years of marriage. This is one of the easiest ways to obtain Peruvian citizenship and is available to both men and women. However, if your spouse has been married before and has children from a previous relationship then you will need to wait 5 years before applying for citizenship in Peru. The Spanish language requirements don’t apply when applying for Peruvian citizenship using this method.
Citizenship in Peru by Investment
Pursuing a Peru Investor Visa can be the first step toward citizenship and permanent residency in Peru.
To be eligible, you must invest a minimum of S/500,000 (about $132,000 USD) in a Peruvian company or set up your own business with that amount. You will need to provide the government with evidence of this investment and also have local economists certify your business plan.
The visa is initially valid for one year, and can be renewed if you continue to hire five local employees. You are eligible to apply for citizenship if you keep ties with the country while operating in it—and do not close your business or move away within that time frame.
Citizenship in Peru by Birth
According to the Peruvian Constitution and nationality legislation passed in 1996, a person born in Peru can obtain citizenship by birth.
Citizenship in Peru by Naturalization
Anybody who has lived in Peru legally for 2 years can apply for naturalization and become a citizen.
If you have no existing connections to Peru the best residency visa to get is the Rentista visa. This is available to anyone who earns at least $12,000 per year. You’ll need to provide some documents which vary depending on how you apply. But it’s pretty easy to get. the low income qualification means that pretty much anyone living in a western country qualifies
To apply for citizenship, you must meet the following requirements:
- You must be at least 18 year sold
- Have stayed in Peru for at least 6 months per year for 2 years
- Provide a legalized birth certificate
- Have a Peru ID Card
- Fill out the application form for citizenship in Peru
- Provide proof of income of more than $12,000 per year
- Complete a form confirming you’re in good health
- Provide evidence of a clean criminal record
- Take an exam about the history and culture of Peru
- Complete an interview in Spanish
It’ll normally take at least a year for your citizenship application for Peru to be approved.
Conclusion
Peru may not suit everyone, but it is one of the fastest citizenship opportunities available with minimal costs. You only have to spend 6 months a year for 2 years in Peru to apply. The Peru passport is pretty good. It offers visa free travel to 98 countries including the EU Schengen area and Russia. Anyone considering citizenship in Peru should get started. Every year naturalization rules change. It’ll likely take longer in the future to get Peruvian citizenship.
