Expat Women Living in Perú

Visitors from Europe, Australia, Canada, and the U.S. are granted a tourist visa upon arrival into the country.

People from the following countries may require a visa to enter Peru; for stays of up to 90 days, a tourist visa may be sufficient:

All African nations, with the exception of South Africa, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, Bahrain, Bhutan, Cambodia, United Arab Emirates, India, Iran, Iraq, Jor dan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Maldives, Mongolia, Nepal, Oman, Qatar, Laos, North Korea, Pakistan, Syria, Sri Lanka, People's Republic of China, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Yemen, Cuba, Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Croatia, Slovenia, Estonia, Georgia, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia, Macedonia, Moldova, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovak Republic, Romania, Russia, Turkey, Ukraine and Serbia & Montenegro.

Note for business travelers: A Business visa is required for all nationals if the purpose of the visit is business. Upon arrival in Peru, the Business visa holder must register at the Dirección General de Contribuciones for taxation purposes. Business visa holders can remain in Peru for 90 days. If wishing to extend the visit, an application must be lodged with the Dirección General de Migraciones.

You must obtain a visa to live in the country. There are various kinds of visas that permit you to remain in Peru, none of which are simple to obtain. For a more complete listing of visa requirements in English visit http://www.expatPeru. com/vrequirements.php

To get a visa to Peru, one must visit the Peruvian consulate in the last country of residence and get an application form. There is a list of documents required and usually these documents must be translated by a certified translator. There is also a visa application fee.

Please contact the Peruvian Embassy in your country to ensure you have the correct paperwork to enter and live in the country.

Life in Peru is far cheaper than life in Europe, Canada, or the United States, although wages here are also considerably lower. For housing, you will probably pay a third of what you are used to, or less, if you live outside a city-center. Transportation is also much cheaper, particularly taxis and buses. Store-bought and restaurant food are drastically less expensive in Peru. Clothes are also far cheaper. However, airplanes and gasoline cost about the same or more, and cell phones and English (non-pirated) books are quite expensive. Tuition at bilingual private schools with high standards can also be costly.

Telefonica del Peru is the largest telephone service provider in the country and charges about $15 to set up a line. Some people buy throw away calling-cards to use from their home phones. Cellular phones can be difficult to purchase unless you have a job because companies often ask to see a pay-check before selling phones. Cell phone plans vary greatly based on your needs, but are usually more expensive than in the U.S. It is cheaper to call cell-to-cell than land-line to cell, and cheaper to call land-to-land than cell-to-land. Some people who do not need to make many calls opt to set up a cell phone number and then buy code-cards (such as MovilStar) of varying values. You are not charged to receive calls.

Cable television, costs $35 per month for 50-some channels (including many in English).

Internet is easy to set up through your phone line or cable by calling Telefonica. However, web services may not always run as fast as promised. Fast internet costs about the same as elsewhere, from $30 a month and up.

Mail theft of valuable items (especially cash) sent through Serpost ( Peru 's public postal service) is not uncommon. It takes between one and three weeks to receive a letter from abroad, and delivery is reliable. Overnight mail is not available through the Peruvian post, although DHL, UPS, TNT, and other express mail companies have offices in Lima.

Most U.S., flat-pronged appliances work in Peru without adapters (as long as they accept up to 220V of input.

Not exclusively, the safest and wealthiest neighborhoods in Lima are San Isidro, Miraflores, La Molina, La Planice, and Surco, although conditions can vary within districts. Most expatriates live in these areas. Generally, singles and couples without kids live on the west side of the city, where there are more shops, restaurants, and nightlife. Couples with kids usually live on the east side of town near the bilingual private schools (see list below).

Apartments that meet developed world standards and have more than one bedroom in these districts range from $400 - $3,000, depending on architecture, proximity to parks, etc. Homes and duplexes can be rented for $600 and up (not including private security costs such as cameras, alarms, or a guard). There are also apart-hotel rooms for rent with full service.

If you are willing to spend at least $500, finding a nice place will not be difficult. If you are looking for a bargain, it could take a few weeks.

Renting is preferred by most expats because selling homes can take a long time, and many foreigners are not sure how long they plan to stay. There may be special taxes for foreigners who buy property.

Spanish is the most commonly used language, especially in Lima. Quechua and Aymara are also officially recognized languages, but are more predominant in th mountainous regions of inland Peru.

The currency used is the Peruvian Nuevo Sol (PNS). (Abbreviation: S/) (Plural: Nuevos Soles). The exchange rate as of September 20, 2006 was 3.2 soles to US $1.

Notes (Sol): 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200

Coins (Sol): 1,2 and 5

Coins (céntimos): 1, 5, 10, 20 and 50

The best way to exchange money is at a foreign exchange office, although street exchangers (recognized by their marked vests) generally give better rates (no commission). It is important to carry some cash with you, as some places do not accept credit cards. Automatic Teller Machines (ATM) are available at all major banks and most will provide dollars or soles.

Common forms of payment:

Cash

Debit cards

Credit cards

In order to open a bank account you will need your passport and a work contract. You do not need a permanent address in order to open an account. BBVA Banco Continental http://www.bbvabancocontinental.com/ ViaBCP (Banco de Crédito del Peru) http://www.viabcp.com/

You can pay bills by making transfers from your bank account on the internet, or you can take your bills to the large markets (such as Wong, Vivanda) and pay them in cash at a special service cashier. You can also go to the company office (which you are required to do to pay late bills).

It is advised to have yellow fever, smallpox and malaria vaccinations, especially when visiting the jungle regions.

It is not difficult to find excellent doctors who speak English.

The social security system is considered effective at treating emergencies, but is not recommended for other care. Private health care has a good reputation in Peru, and can be much less expensive than in the developed world.

Health insurance plans vary in price as anywhere, but many people opt for an annual package with a particular clinic. Quality clinics may ask about $1,500 per year to provide full health coverage for an entire family.

There are many international schools where English is the main language for learning.

People drive on the right hand side. The legal driving age is 18. Would-be drivers must pass a health exam, written test, and driving test. The process costs around 100 soles. Gas is not cheap. It costs about $3 - $4 per liter.

Lima does not have a Metro or urban train system. Local transport is serviced by collectivos (minibuses), which are cheap (usually 1 sol), but often cramped. Taxis within a single district usually cost about 4 soles and inter-district taxis will generally cost under 20 soles (negotiation is expected and tourist-price-gouging common). Some taxi drivers will shuttle you around town (though not long distances) for about 17 soles an hour. Taxis and collectivos are plentiful on all the main streets, and waiting is seldom required. Traveling around Peru is relatively easy as it is well serviced by bus and air routes.

Jorge Chavez International Airport is about 45 minutes from the center of Lima. Taxis are the best transportation from the airport, although some shuttles are available. Regular taxis should cost you about $10-$15 to most destinations in Lima. Luxury taxis are also available for double the price.

The best places in Lima to buy European and U.S. style products are the supermarkets, such as Wong, Santa Isabel, Vivanda, Plaza Vea, and Metro. You will find one of these stores nearby in any of the main tourist/expatriate districts.

Jockey Plaza, Caminos del Inca, Miraflores, and Larco are good places for buying clothes and other common products (though not for the best deals!)

There is no particular dress code in Lima. Both men and women can be seen out and about dressed casually (jeans, sneakers, t-shirts) and in work attire (blazers, suits, heels). Extremely short skirts or low cut tops are uncommon. In the richest areas of Lima, some Peruvians may exhibit elitism towards the poorly-dressed. (Beware: what's in-style at home may not be "in" in Peru).

Many wealthier Peruvians and foreigners living in Peru hire household help. Most commonly, families hire a young woman to live in their home and cook, clean, shop, and do other housekeeping tasks. Live-in help is recommended to save on transport costs and for security reasons. Nannies are also common.

Live-in help generally ranges from $120 to $300 depending on experience, age, tasks, and neighborhood. Nannies are more expensive. It is best to hire in-house helpers through personal recommendation (as opposed to agencies), as theft is common.

It is not easy for foreigners to find well-paying employment in Peru. In addition, many jobs will not permit you to work without a work visa or a Carneta de Extranjeria (a foreigners card - refer to Peruvian immigration for more information http://www.digemin.gob.pe/). Language can also be a barrier. The most common job for foreigners is teaching English. If your spouse has come to Peru for work, you may prefer to enroll in one of Lima 's many institutes, which offer courses and certificates in fields such as cooking, art, and language.

Job opportunities can be found in the classified sections of newspapers such as El Comercio (also online) and La Republica, and on websites such as http://www.livinginperu.com.

Lima 's nightlife is alive with clubs, restaurants, cinemas, and theaters. For a more complete listing see LivingInPeru.com.

Soccer (football) is by far the most common and well-loved sport in Peru. Volleyball, and tennis are also common. Most courts are found at private clubs, but some are located on the beach or around town. Indoor gyms are increasingly popular and usually cost about $50 a month, depending on the area. Personal trainers usually cost about $100 a month.