Help.. moving to peru

[irishgem 85 0]

Hi, please...please anyone help me? I am wanting to move to Lima Peru to be with my BF who is from there and works there. After a long hard think about it i have said i will move. I need to know what visa i need, how i go about it and what other facts i need to know. Im for United Kingdom and dont speak spanish please if anyone can guide me or give me any infomation it would mean alot. Thank You gracias

[Anh map 2,098]

Google "Peru immigration" to get info from the appropriate Peruvian government website.

[Al and Patricia 23]

Have you been to Peru before? I'd advise learning at least basic Spanish before you go so, that you can use transpotation while your bf is at work. Not many of the taxi drivers speak English and I don't think any of the bus drivers and workers do. Will you be living in Lima or another city? Most of the people are very warm and kind but as with any poor country you should always be aware of your security.My fiancee lives there and I lave going there. I hope after we marry, we can live here for 7 months and there for 5.

[Al and Patricia 23]

Sorry, I reread your post, I see you will be in Lima. Do you know if he lives in a subburb of Lima? Some of the outline cities are very safe..Be prepared for some very scary drivers..LOL

[irishgem 85 0]

Thank you Anh map, and Al & Patirica

I have looked into getting started into learning spanish...will take me awhile im sure, but i'll get there lol. Have been searching like mad about the country and everything that it has to offer...i did watch a program on tv here once about the driving in Peru....crazy yes lol. Dont think they know what stop and breaks means lol. I am searching the net every day and reading up on as much info i need to know before going. ie medical and work permits, visa ect. But thank you al & patirica for the info. I dont know what part of lima we will be living in as we will have to look for an appartment. I have seen that there is so many english, our europen peopel over there and there is a great deal off info available from these people like yourselfs that helps so much.

[yachachiq12 43]

These sites are helpful, if you haven't already found them: http://www.livinginperu.com/ and http://www.expatperu.com/

Try calling the Peruvian consulate closest to you to find out about what kind of visa and residency options are available to you.

Here's some introductory info about the Carnet de Extranjeria, which would allow you to legally live and work in Peru beyond the duration of the (usually) 183-day tourist entry visa: http://www.expatperu.com/requirements-for-a-carnet-de-extranjeria.html. To give yourself room to adjust your status, purposely ask for 183 days when you go through immigration in Lima. Sometimes they give fewer days on a whim.

I recommend you join the South American Explorers Club, as they have a clubhouse in Lima that has a lot of resources, connections, and social and educational opportunities: http://www.saexplorers.org/club/home

Some good neighborhoods that are maybe a little safer for a non-Spanish speaker are San Borja, Miraflores, Barranco, San Isidro, and Surco. However, these will be more expensive than middle class areas such as Chorrillos, San Juan de Miraflores, Surquillo, and Lince. La Molina has very nice parts, but is prohibitively far from anything else and will cost you a lot in transport if you don't have a vehicle.

I'm sure your boyfriend knows this, but you should always let him talk to the person renting an apartment unless you are prepared to pay the "gringo price." The places for rent on ExpatPeru and LivingInPeru are generally not good deals.

And please get informed on safety issues, such as how to properly ride in a taxi (never in the front seat) and what the typical tricks are for robbery, kidnapping, and other street crimes. Buses are safer than taxis in terms of the above, but you run the risk of crashes more often. I could go on for hours, but just be mindful that there will be a steep learning curve for personal safety and health when you get there.

Edited October 25, 2011 by yachachiq12