overstaying tourist visa or applying for extension?

Answers to your qestions about moving to, and living in, Peru,
justeeen
Member
Member
Posts: 7
Joined: Thu Feb 28, 2013 11:46 pm

overstaying tourist visa or applying for extension?

Postby justeeen » Sat Apr 13, 2013 12:55 pm

Hi All,

I've seen some posts related to this, but I just wanted to double-check with the collective experience/knowledge of this group.

I will likely be overstaying my tourist visa (was given 115 days - I should have asked for more!) by about 3 weeks, and exiting Peru by land (either Bolivia or Colombia).

Is it true that if I do this, I just need to be prepared to pay $1/day for each day overstayed, at the time of exit? Are there any other penalties or problems I should be aware of?

The Lonely Planet says that I can get a 30 day extension for $50 at an immigration office in Lima. Has anyone done this? Are there any advantages to doing this? It seems more expensive than just paying upon exiting - but perhaps this is more "legal"?

I don't really have time to do a visa run to the border, but want to stay on the up and up since I plan to return to Peru twice in the next year.

Thanks for your advice,
Justine


dh2012
Gold Member
Gold Member
Posts: 74
Joined: Tue Feb 14, 2012 1:24 pm
Location: Miraflores

Re: overstaying tourist visa or applying for extension?

Postby dh2012 » Sat Apr 13, 2013 4:08 pm

Its very simple and easy, just pay 1 dollar a day at the border or whatever the rate is in soles.

There are absolutely no other things or problems involved, if anyone tells you otherwise ignore them. Why on earth would anyone pay $50 for a 30 days extension if it costs $30 at the border!

and you really dont want to spend time in any official government institution if you dont have to.

So dont worry, keep travelling and pay the small fee at the border.
User avatar
chi chi
Gold Member
Gold Member
Posts: 6060
Joined: Tue Dec 06, 2011 5:28 pm
Location: Granada, Andalusia

Re: overstaying tourist visa or applying for extension?

Postby chi chi » Sat Apr 13, 2013 6:37 pm

dh2012 wrote:Its very simple and easy, just pay 1 dollar a day at the border or whatever the rate is in soles.

There are absolutely no other things or problems involved, if anyone tells you otherwise ignore them. Why on earth would anyone pay $50 for a 30 days extension if it costs $30 at the border!

and you really dont want to spend time in any official government institution if you dont have to.

So dont worry, keep travelling and pay the small fee at the border.


And if the immigration officer is in a good mood then you might get away with paying nothing. I know several people who didn't have to pay. Not all the immigration officers count the days.
justeeen
Member
Member
Posts: 7
Joined: Thu Feb 28, 2013 11:46 pm

Re: overstaying tourist visa or applying for extension?

Postby justeeen » Sun Apr 14, 2013 12:49 am

Thanks so much -- this is very helpful! And, I agree, I'd rather stay out of government offices and pay $1/day rather than $50 for 30 days.

Thanks!
Sergio Bernales
Gold Member
Gold Member
Posts: 925
Joined: Fri May 25, 2012 4:41 pm

Re: overstaying tourist visa or applying for extension?

Postby Sergio Bernales » Sun Apr 14, 2013 11:53 am

When I overstayed, it was all very simple. Just paying the fine when I went through immigration. The official was pleasant enough. Also I heard it was no longer possible to get tourist visa extensions once in the country. Anybody else heard the same thing?
User avatar
sunflower
Gold Member
Gold Member
Posts: 840
Joined: Sun Oct 22, 2006 10:41 pm
Location: Cancun

Re: overstaying tourist visa or applying for extension?

Postby sunflower » Sun Apr 14, 2013 8:11 pm

I'm not sure from when you Lonely Planet is, but since June 2008 you can't extend your tourist visa once you are in the country. Only nationals of countries belonging to the Andean community still can extend their tourist visa.

So leaving Peru and returning or paying the US$ 1 per day fine is the only option. Up to last year paying the fine when overstaying was really simple and you didn't get any trouble. But in 2013 with the new TUPA all visa requirements were tightened. Not sure if the new regulation regarding overstaying is enforced, but it seems since 2013 they not only charge you the US$ 1, but also can send you to Interpol at the airport. If they do it and what they do there, I haven't got a clue.
panman
Gold Member
Gold Member
Posts: 900
Joined: Mon Oct 29, 2012 12:05 pm

Re: overstaying tourist visa or applying for extension?

Postby panman » Sun Apr 14, 2013 8:47 pm

[quote="sunflower" it seems since 2013 they not only charge you the US$ 1, but also can send you to Interpol at the airport. If they do it and what they do there, I haven't got a clue.[/quote]

Perhaps they ask why you entered the country on a tourist visa, which are usually issued for far more time than is required for the average holiday, and then overstayed the limit.
User avatar
chi chi
Gold Member
Gold Member
Posts: 6060
Joined: Tue Dec 06, 2011 5:28 pm
Location: Granada, Andalusia

Re: overstaying tourist visa or applying for extension?

Postby chi chi » Sun Apr 14, 2013 9:30 pm

sunflower wrote:they not only charge you the US$ 1, but also can send you to Interpol at the airport. If they do it and what they do there, I haven't got a clue.


I thought that they always do an interpol check when you enter and leave the country.

When you pass immigration, you can see on the screen of the immigration officer several lines. One says interpol. If it comes up green then all is OK.

Return to “Expat Information”

Login  •  Register