Peru's Calidad Migratoria Rentista is a passive income residence program for foreign nationals who receive a retirement pension or permanent income from Peruvian or foreign sources. Originally established under Decreto Legislativo No. 703 and given a dedicated legal framework through Ley No. 28072 (2003), the program is administered by MIGRACIONES. It grants indefinite residence in Peru and is one of the most straightforward residence options in Latin America, requiring only proof of at least USD 1,000/month in permanent income. Holders cannot engage in any paid or lucrative activities in Peru.
The rentista status grants indefinite residence with no expiration date and does not need to be renewed. However, the Carné de Extranjería (foreigner ID card) must be renewed annually at least 30 days before expiration through the MIGRACIONES Digital Agency, with a fee of S/ 25.60. The status is cancelled if the holder is absent from Peru for more than 6 consecutive months or accumulated intervals totaling 6 months within a calendar year.
Spouse and children under 25 may be included in the applicant's migration unit. Each dependant requires proof of additional USD 500/month permanent income. Dependants may alternatively apply under the calidad migratoria de familiar de residente, which grants a 1-year renewable residence permit requiring proof of kinship through apostilled documents translated to Spanish.
Pension income originating from personal work (retirement, survivor benefits, disability) is exempt from Peruvian income tax. Rentista holders who do not engage in income-generating activities generally are not considered tax domiciled and are not required to register with SUNAT for a RUC. Other types of foreign-source income (dividends, royalties) received by tax residents may be subject to Peruvian income tax.
Applicants outside Peru submit documents to a Peruvian consulate, which forwards them to MIGRACIONES. Upon approval, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs authorizes the visa, and the applicant presents it at a migration control point upon entering Peru. Applicants already legally in Peru can request a change of migration status through the MIGRACIONES Digital Agency or in person (fee: S/ 161.40). MIGRACIONES evaluates applications within 30 business days. After approval, the holder must obtain a Carné de Extranjería by completing biometric registration at a MIGRACIONES office (fee: S/ 49.90).
Rentista holders are strictly prohibited from all paid or lucrative activities in Peru. Income sources that are not considered "permanent" — such as rental income, freelance work, capital gains, and bank interest — may not qualify, as only pensions and lifelong or permanently guaranteed income streams are accepted. The USD 1,000/month threshold has not been adjusted since 2003. Holders are exempt from annual foreigner registry fees and import duties on household goods when first establishing residence. Regarding citizenship, under the current Ley No. 26574 rentista holders can apply for naturalization after 2 years of continuous residence. A new nationality law, Ley No. 32421 (published 15 August 2025), will raise the general requirement to 5 years and add an economic-solvency requirement (annual income of at least 10 UIT — S/ 55,000 at the 2026 UIT of S/ 5,500), but it only takes effect the day after its implementing regulation is published; as of mid-2026 no such regulation exists, so Ley No. 26574 and the 2-year path remain in force for now. Holders who need to remain outside Peru for longer than 183 consecutive days may request an authorization from MIGRACIONES before departing.