Overview
Peruvian nationals applying for a U.S. visa — tourist/business (B-1/B-2), student (F-1), immigrant, or other category — apply at the U.S. Embassy in Lima, the only U.S. mission in Peru and the sole location for processing immigrant visas. Peru is not on the Visa Waiver Program, so all Peruvian nationals require a visa to enter the United States. The embassy also provides consular services to U.S. citizens residing in or visiting Peru through its ACS unit. Peru has a large diaspora in the United States, making family reunification immigrant visas a significant part of the consular workload. The embassy is located in the Surco district of Lima.
Visa Services
The embassy processes all categories of nonimmigrant and immigrant visas for residents of Peru. High-volume categories include B-1/B-2 tourist/business, F-1 student, J-1 exchange, and immigrant visas for family reunification. As the sole post for immigrant visa processing in Peru, wait times can be significant — applicants should book appointments early online via the USTravelDocs portal.
Consular Services
The American Citizen Services (ACS) unit provides passport renewals, Consular Reports of Birth Abroad, notarial services, and emergency assistance to U.S. citizens in Peru. The unit serves a large American community including residents, business professionals, and the many tourists visiting Machu Picchu, Cusco, and the Amazon.
Trade & Export Support
The U.S. Commercial Service at the embassy promotes U.S. exports to Peru under the U.S.-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement (PTPA), which entered into force in 2009. Key sectors include mining equipment, agricultural products, and medical devices. The Commercial Service helps U.S. companies navigate the Peruvian market and take advantage of the FTA's preferential terms.
Investment Opportunities
Peru offers substantial investment opportunities in mining (copper, gold, silver), energy, agriculture, and infrastructure. Through SelectUSA, the embassy also promotes investment flows in both directions. The PTPA and Peru's growing middle class make it one of the more attractive markets in South America for U.S. and international investors.
Business Support
The embassy's Economic Section supports U.S. companies operating in or seeking to enter the Peruvian market, advising on investment conditions, intellectual property, and regulatory frameworks. The U.S.-Peru PTPA provides preferential tariff treatment across many goods and services categories.
Cultural & Educational Programs
The Public Affairs section manages cultural and educational exchange programmes, including Fulbright scholarships for Peruvian students and scholars, English language teaching initiatives, and cultural heritage projects. Peru's extraordinary cultural wealth — Machu Picchu, the Sacred Valley, Cusco, the Nazca Lines, Colca Canyon, and the Amazonian biodiversity — draws millions of international visitors annually.
Appointment Information
Appointments are mandatory for all visa interviews and ACS services and must be booked online via the USTravelDocs portal at ustraveldocs.com. Walk-in services are not available. Applicants should plan ahead as wait times for nonimmigrant visa appointments can be lengthy.
Special Notes
The embassy is in a secure compound at Avenida La Encalada cdra. 17 s/n, Surco, Lima 33. Visitors are subject to rigorous security screening; large bags, electronics, and liquids are not permitted inside. U.S. citizens travelling to Peru should review the current U.S. State Department travel advisory before visiting.