The Working Holiday Visa in Peru

Outdoor and wildlife enthusiasts are spoilt for choice, with fantastic explorations of the emerald jungles of the Amazon and trips to one of the world's deepest canyons, the Colca, and Lake Titicaca, being unmissable highlights.

Let's not forget the cuisine, and oh, what delicious dishes await you. Peru shines on the world's gastronomic stage. Epicureans flock to the cosmopolitan city of Lima, renowned as the gastronomic capital of South America, to immerse themselves in the city's grand colonial architecture while treating their taste buds to mouth-watering dishes influenced by local, Spanish, African and Asian flavors.

If you've always dreamed of visiting Peru at length and taking your time, and perhaps even having the opportunity to get a job, this is your chance! The Working Holiday Programme will allow you to go to Peru on holiday and work there!

Read also Leisure activities in Peru

Conditions to be eligible for the Working Holiday Visa in Peru

Here are the conditions that you must take into consideration to qualify for the WHV in Peru:

1. Your nationality

Peru has WHV agreements with 7 countries so far. These countries are:

• Australia
• France
• New Zealand
• Portugal
• Chile
• Colombia
• Mexico

Please note that the agreements with Chile, Colombia and Mexico are part of the Pacific Alliance - an agreement that gives residents of these four neighboring countries easier access to a visa that will allow them to travel and work in each of the other three countries for one year.

2. Your age

The minimum age to participate in the WHV program in Peru is 18. The maximum age is 30. But good news! You can still apply until the day before your 31st birthday. We recommend that you do not wait until the last minute.

3. Having a valid passport

As with all international travel, a valid passport is a non-negotiable requirement. You will need to have a passport valid at the time of your WHV application with the Peruvian government but which will also be valid for a minimum of 12 months after your arrival in Peru - so for the duration of your stay in Peru until you return to your country.

Your passport must also have a minimum of two blank pages! Space is needed for your new visa to be placed in it. The customs authorities will also need to stamp it when you enter and leave the country.

Good to know:

It is recommended that all participants who have received their visas be cautious with their passports. In case of loss, the process of reissuing your visa could be very difficult and complicated.

4. Having sufficient savings / minimum budget

It is important that you have some savings to cover all your needs (for food and drink, accommodation, travel around Peru, etc.), at least for the beginning of your stay in Peru. You will need to have at least 2,500 euros, or about 10,000 Peruvian Sols, in your bank account - and you will need proof from your bank that you have this amount.

5. Having a medical insurance policy

A health insurance policy (also commonly known as travel insurance) that will cover all cases of illness, hospitalization, repatriation, disability and maternity is necessary. You don't want to find yourself in a country with a large hospital bill without being covered - a hospital bill for a foreigner in Peru could be very expensive!

Here's what we recommend: get ahead of the game and find yourself a very good insurance policy that will be available when you are in Peru, at any time.

Read also The healthcare system in Peru

6. First-time participation

To get the green light to go on a WHV in Peru, one of the most important conditions is that you have never been there before with this program. Indeed, only one participation is allowed per candidate ? which means that you can only go on a WHV in Peru once in a lifetime.

Good to know:

Participation in any other WHV in the world will hardly be a problem. Have you been on a WHV to Spain, Hungary, Argentina or perhaps Japan before? Don't worry, as this will not affect your Peru WHV application.

7. The quota per country

When a WHV agreement is established between two countries, a quota is usually put in place so that the receiving country can control the number of visas granted per year and the number of participants entering their country each year. In the case of Peru and the agreements made, the number of places allocated per country is as follows:

• Australia - 1,500 places per year
• France - an unknown number of places at the moment
• New Zealand - 100 places per year
• Portugal - 400 places per year
• Chile - 300 places per year
• Colombia - 300 places per year
• Mexico - 300 places per year

Good to know:

Quotas are usually updated on January 1st of each year. This means that if you want to have a better chance of receiving a WHV for Peru, it is best to wait until the beginning of the year to apply.

8. Purchasing airline tickets

You will also need to provide proof that you have purchased a return air ticket. Obviously, if you do not yet have a return date or cannot yet secure a reservation for your return twelve months later, you will need to show at least a single ticket and sufficient funds to purchase a return ticket to your country.

9. Having a clean criminal record

A clean criminal record is a requirement for a WHV in Peru. This means that you must not have committed a crime for your application to be considered by the Peruvian government. To access your criminal record, contact the Ministry of Justice or the Federal Police in your country.

10. Duration and price of the visa

The application for a WHV in Peru is free of charge. The visa will allow you to travel and work throughout the country for one year - the visa takes effect as soon as you set foot in Peru. It is also important to note that this visa allows you to enter the country multiple times as long as you return within 12 months of arriving in Peru the first time - this means that you can visit neighboring countries such as Brazil, Chile and Mexico and then return to Peru.

Good to know:

When you apply for a WHV to Peru, you cannot take your dependents with you. If you wish to go on a WHV to Peru with your spouse or friends, each of you will need to make a separate application, and the applications will all be processed independently. Each individual will, of course, need to be eligible for the conditions necessary to win the visa.

Read also Visa requirements for Peru

How to apply for a Working Holiday Visa in Peru?

Here are the documents you need to present when applying for a WHV in Peru:

• A passport that is valid - You must scan the first few pages of your passport (the part that contains your personal information) and two blank pages (to show that you have room to put the visa and new stamps in). If you have been to Peru before, you will also need to provide a scan of your Peru entry and exit stamps!
• A color passport size (3.5 x 4.5 cm) photo without filters or retouching.
• Recent proof of address - a bill showing your current address should do the trick.
• Cover letter - this should be in Spanish and detail the purpose of your trip to Peru. You need to explain what attracts you to the country and why you have chosen it.
• Proof of sufficient funds - a bank statement for the last three months or a credit card statement showing the credit limit should do the trick. This document has to show that you have sufficient funds to cover return airfares and expenses while in Peru (see above under 'Having savings').
• Airline tickets
• Health insurance policy quotation, including the global indemnity, valid for at least one year from the date of entry into Uruguay.
• A clean criminal record
• A medical certificate explaining that you are in good health.

Useful addresses:

Embassy of Peru in Sydney - Australia

Suite 1001, 84 Pitt Street

NSW 2000

Sydney

Australia

Embassy of Peru in Canberra - Australia

40 Brisbane Avenue,

Piso 2,

Barton 2606 ACT

Canberra

Australia

Embassy of Peru in Paris - France

50 Av. Kléber,

75116 Paris,

France

Embassy of Peru in Wellington - New Zealand

Level 5,

Wellington Central,

Wellington 6011,

New Zealand

Embassy of Peru in Lisbon - Portugal

Rua Engo Ferreira Dias,

924 - 3o 4100-246.

Porto,

Portugal

Embassy of Peru in Santiago - Chile

Av. Andrés Bello 1751,

16277

Santiago,

Chile

Embassy of Peru in Bogota - Colombia

Cl. 80a #6-50,

Bogotá,

Colombia

Embassy of Peru in Mexico City - Mexico

President Masaryk No. 29,

2nd Floor Colonia Chapultepec Morales

11570 Miguel Hidalgo,

Mexico City,

Mexico

Things to consider before moving to Peru

1. The cost of living in Peru

Before traveling to Peru, it is recommended that you have an idea of the cost of living in order to prepare your budget.

Here is a table that will give you an idea of the cost of living in Peru - (source Numbeo; as of July 2022):

	Currency: US Dollars (USD)
Rent
1-bedroom flat (in the city center)	352,50
1-bedroom flat (outside the city center)	246,56
3-bedroom flat (city center)	659,00
3-bedroom flat (outside the city center)	477,07
Utilities
Water, electricity, air conditioning, heating, refuse collection for an 85m² apartment	56,38
Internet (60 Mbps or more, ADSL/cable, unlimited data)	30,68
Transportation
1 ticket (one way) for local transport	0,38
Monthly pass for local transport	15,31
Shopping/groceries
Rice (1 kg)	0,98
Milk (1 L)	1,14
12 eggs (normal size)	1,55
Bread (500 g)	1,48
Chicken (1 kg)	4,13
Red meat (1 kg)	6,24
Oranges (1 kg)	1,02
Bananas (1 kg)	0,95
Apples (1 kg)	1,34
Potatoes (1 kg)	0,67
Onions (1 kg)	0,74
Water (1.5 L)	0,72
Wine (mid-range bottle)	7,14
Local beer (0.5 L)	1,47
Imported beer (0.33 L)	2,34
Cigarettes (pack of 20)	4,47
Leisure
Movie theatre - 1 seat	4,59
Sports club - monthly cost for 1 person	31,99

2. Looking for accommodation in Peru

Finding accommodation is undoubtedly one of the most important steps in your preparation for your WHV in Peru. You don't want to find yourself in an unfamiliar country with no place to stay that night.

One of the most popular platforms today is Airbnb - it will help you find the type of accommodation you are looking for in Peru (single room, studio, flat, house or other) at the price you want.

Peru-rental, 9flats, or Expatperu could also help you find accommodation before you get to Peru. For those on a very small budget: don't neglect the options of couchsurfing, roommates, or youth hostels!

Read also Accommodation in Peru

3. Looking for work in Peru

Generally, WHV participants do not go to Peru to make money as salaries are low. But now is the time to gain experience and meet people!

We recommend that you start your job search in Peru on the net with keywords related to your field of expertise and the area where you would like to work. Dedicated online job search platforms such as Indeed Peru, Laborum Peru, CompuTrabajo Peru, Bolsa Laboral Lima or Aptitus can be useful to find job offers in Peru and get in touch with companies active in your field.

Read also Finding work in Peru

4. Learning the Spanish language

As you already know, Spanish is the official language of Peru, with over 84% of the population speaking it every day. If you really want to immerse yourself in the local culture and make yourself understood by the locals (and understand them in return!), you'll need to work on your Spanish before you travel to Peru. And thanks to the many fun and easily accessible applications on your phone, this won't be a difficult task: Duolingo, Memrise, Babbel, or Rosetta Stone.

Don't hesitate to find a local Spanish teacher to help you practice!