COVID-19 Information

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COVID-19 Information

Last updated: 12/09/2020

Country-Specific Information:

  • U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a level 4 Travel Health Notice for Peru due to COVID-19. The State Department has issued a Level 3 Travel Advisory for Peru. Read the Health Notice and Travel Advisory.
  • Peru began phase 4 of economic reactivation on October 1, including the resumption of a limited number of international flights. See “Travel Options” Section below for more information on flights. Beginning October 1, stores may now operate at 60% capacity and restaurants at 50%; travel agencies and tour operators may resume operations, while bars and cinemas remain closed. For more information on activities that have resumed under phase 4, please see Supreme Decree No. 157-2020-PCM (in Spanish).
  • The wearing of facemasks in public places is mandatory and social distancing measures must be respected.
  • Schools and other public events remain suspended. There is a limited resumption of in-person teaching at primary and secondary schools located in rural areas with limited means of communication, internet connectivity, and zero COVID-19 infections.
  • As of November 2, certain religious services have resumed at 1/3 normal capacity.
  • For COVID-19 health related information and official statistics, please visit the Peruvian Ministry of Health’s website (in Spanish).
  • Dengue fever notification: Peruvian authorities are reminding  people that November 1 was the start of dengue fever season in high prevalence areas. Those living in areas such as Loreto, Ica, Ucayali, San Martín, Junín, and Madre de Dios should take precautions against mosquitoes, including using sprays and mosquito nets. Peru has already experienced unusually high numbers of dengue infection this year, even during winter months, since normal prevention measures such as fumigation were not carried out due to Covid-19 restrictions.  See CDC Guidance on Dengue.

Entry and Exit Requirements:

  • Are U.S. citizens permitted to enter? Yes.
    • Direct flights to Peru from certain locations in the U.S. have resumed. However, travelers should check https://travel.state.gov/ for country-specific travel information before deciding to do so as country-specific regulations may change at any time.
    • Travel Restrictions Into the United States:  At this time, there are no specific limitations on U.S citizens, Lawful Permanent Residents entering the United States from Peru. Restrictions are in place for foreign nationals returning from Brazil, China, Iran, and many European countries that have been highly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. For more information and the latest updates, please visit the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s COVID-19 website here.
    • Transiting to the U.S. from Peru on commercial flights: When leaving Peru, travelers ARE NOT required to have proof of a negative COVID-19 test but must have no COVID-19 symptoms. Face masks AND face shields must be worn at the airport and for the duration of the flight. More information can be found here (in Spanish): https://cdn.www.gob.pe/uploads/document/file/1345243/Guia%20Explicativa%20.pdf.
    • Migraciones Suspending Use of Passport Stamps: The Peruvian Immigration Authority (Migraciones) announced that it has suspended the stamping of passports upon arrival to and departure from Jorge Chávez International Airport as part of ongoing efforts to minimize the risk of spreading COVID-19. If you are traveling, be aware that while your passport will not be stamped, a digital record of your arrival or departure will still be created. The measure applies to both commercial and repatriation flights and is effective immediately. More information can be found here (in Spanish): https://www.gob.pe/institucion/migraciones/normas-legales/1239779-00000202-2020-migraciones.
    • Notarized Travel Authorizations for Minors:  Peruvian regulations require that minors present in Peru for more than 180 days must have a notarized travel letter to depart the country if they are not traveling with both parents.  This notarized letter must be presented to immigration officials prior to boarding a repatriation flight.  For more information on minor travel authorizations,  visit the Embassy site (in English) here.
  • Is a negative COVID-19 test (PCR and/or serology) required for entry? Yes
  • Are health screening procedures in place at airports and other ports of entry? Yes
    • Health screenings are in place at Jorge Chavez International Airport and domestic airports. See, “Transportation Options” section below for more detailed information.
  • Visa Requirements for Foreigners: The Government of Peru issued a decree on April 3 automatically extending the date of a permissible stay for all foreigners until the end of the state of emergency.  Once the Peruvian government lifts its quarantine and travel restrictions, all international tourists will have 45 calendar days to depart the country.  Currently, Peru is not processing visa extensions or charging fines for those who overstay their visa as a result of COVID-19.
  • Temporary Foreign Resident Card: Americans residing in Peru can now request a temporary foreign resident card or “Carnet de Extranjería” Issuance Certificate online. The Issuance Certificate is recognized by Peruvian authorities as a temporary ID until individuals are able to obtain an official residency document from Peruvian Immigration. For more information, please visit https://sel.migraciones.gob.pe/servmig-valreg/constanciacecptp.
  • Travel Requirements: LPRs who have been outside of the U.S. for less than 365 days are generally considered to be “in status” and do not need a returning resident visa. LPRs who have been outside of the U.S. for more than 365 days, will need to apply for a returning resident visa (SB-1). Please visit the Returning Resident Visa section of our website for more information. For additional information regarding your LPR status, contact U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) at www.uscis.gov or by calling +1-212-620-3418 (from overseas).
  • Emergency Travel Documents for LPRs:  LPRs who have lost their I-551 Permanent Resident cards (Green Card) and/or re-entry permits, and need travel documentation to return to the United States on a repatriation flight, can file a Form I-131A with the U.S. Embassy in Lima.  Appointments are reserved ONLY for LPRs traveling on a scheduled repatriation flight. To schedule an emergency appointment, email LimaIV@state.gov.  Please visit the Temporary Replacement of a Lost/Stolen Green Card section of our website for more information.

Movement Restrictions:

  • Is a curfew in place? Yes.
    • Changes to quarantine restrictions: A national curfew is in effect from 12:00 a.m. to 4:00 a.m. daily.  Land borders will reopen gradually. Religious services may operate at 1/3 capacity, and beaches are open Monday through Thursday.
    • Children are no longer restricted (including those under 12 years of age). However, parents/guardians must be aware of their activities and reinforce the practice of “physical and bodily distancing”. Adults and children should follow the social distancing guidelines found in the decree, online here (in Spanish): Supreme Decree No. Nº 184-2020-PCM.
    • Meeting Restrictions: All social gatherings, including those held in homes and with family, are prohibited in all of Peru.
    • Adults over 65-year old and high-risk individuals must remain in quarantine and cannot leave their residence with the exception of a medical emergency, going to the grocery store, bank or pharmacy, in all of Peru.
    • The use of a face masks is always required while in public, and individuals must maintain social distance of at least one meter.
    • We encourage all U.S. citizens to comply with the Peruvian government’s quarantine measures and to follow the instructions of Peruvian authorities.  Limit your time outside, carry your identification and phone, and remember that the use of a facemask is required in public. For more information (in Spanish), please see: Supreme Decree No. 184-2020-PCM.
  • Are there restrictions on intercity or interstate travel?  No.

Quarantine Information:

  • Are U.S. citizens required to quarantine upon arrival? No
    • Passengers entering Peru who have a negative COVID-19 PCR test within 72 hours of departure and do not present any COVID-19 symptoms are not required to self-quarantine upon arrival. As of October 21, 2020, Peru has lifted all in-country quarantine restrictions. Therefore, U.S. citizens are not required to quarantine within Peru. However, some curfew and movement restrictions remain in effect which U.S. citizens are expected to follow. Please see the “Movement Restriction” section of this page.

COVID-19 Testing:

  • Peru is able to test for COVID-19 in country. There are both private hospitals and laboratories performing tests as well as test administered by the Peruvian Ministry of Health (MINSA). Persons presenting symptoms of COVID-19 should dial the toll-free number 113, send a WhatsApp to +51-952-842-623, or send an email to infosalud@minsa.gob.pe.  Responses may be in Spanish only.  For more information on requesting a COVID-19 test through MINSA please visit this website: https://www.minsa.gob.pe/procesos_covid/.

COVID-19 Vaccination:

  • The United States Government does not plan to provide COVID-19 vaccinations to private U.S. citizens overseas.  Please follow host country developments and guidelines for COVID-19 vaccination.

Transportation Options:

  • Are commercial flights operating? Yes.
    •  Resumption of direct flights to the U.S.: On October 21, the government of Peru approved flights of up to eight hours in duration to destinations throughout the Americas and the Caribbean. Beginning on November 1, travelers are now able to take direct flights to U.S. destinations including: Atlanta, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Orlando, and New York. Other destinations include Canada, Costa Rica, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Jamaica, and Mexico. Travelers should work directly with travel providers to book flights to these destinations. For more information see (in Spanish): Ministerial Resolution 0727-2020-MTC/01.

Domestic Air Travel: Domestic air travel is operational.

  • Peru’s Ministry of Transport and Communications (MTC) and the Ministry of Health (MINSA) have established new health and safety guidelines for air travel. Travelers are encouraged to follow the guidelines summarized below. For more information refer to the MTC’s published safety protocols (in Spanish) available here: Domestic Travel Health and Safety Guidelines.

Domestic Overland Travel: Travelers on interprovincial buses must also follow MTC and MINSA safety protocols.  The guidelines are summarized below.  For more information on interprovincial (regional) travel, refer to the MTC’s published safety protocols (in Spanish) available here: Domestic Travel Health and Safety Guidelines.

  • Those traveling on commercial interprovincial buses should expect to undergo social distancing measures, be subject to health and safety screenings, wear face masks and face shields during travel.

Is public transportation operating? Yes

  • Rules regarding local transportation vary by jurisdiction. Masks are generally required for all passengers and in some jurisdictions the number of passengers permitted on buses is limited to increase social distancing.

Fines for Non-Compliance:

Peruvian authorities will enforce regulations related to COVID-19, and U.S. citizens could be subject to detentions, fines, or arrest if out of compliance. However, even if the area you are located at continues to be quarantined, you are permitted to travel to Lima to take a repatriation flight so long as you comply with the travel regulations.

Consular Operations:

  • On December 2, 2020, the American Citizen Services Unit at the U.S. Embassy in Lima resumed limited routine passport and Consular Reports of Birth Abroad (CRBA) appointments. All notarial services remain suspended until further notice. If you require passport or CRBA services, visit our website for more information and to schedule an appointment: https://pe.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/passports/. Walk-in services are not available at this time. For emergency services for U.S. citizens, please contact LimaACS@state.gov or call 618-2000.
  • Cusco Consular Agency: The U.S. Embassy’s Consular Agency in Cusco resumed limited ​routine services on Wednesday, December 2. To schedule an appointment, send an email to CuscoACS@state.gov. Walk-in services are not available at this time. Office hours are Monday-Friday from 8:00am-2:00pm.
  • Emergency Passport Services: For emergency passport services, please contact LimaACS@state.gov. Currently, demand for passport appointments is unusually high. Emergency appointments will be considered on a case by case basis. We strongly recommend you do not purchase a flight ​ticket until you have a valid ​U.S. passport.
  • All visitors to the U.S. Embassy in Lima and the Cusco Consular Agency are required to wear face coverings at all times. Applicants who are experiencing flu-like or gastrointestinal symptoms of COVID-19 within two weeks prior to their scheduled appointment should stay home for the safety of fellow applicants, and our staff.  If you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, you may reschedule your appointment by contacting  LimaACS@state.gov.  You will be given priority as soon as your period of illness is over.    
  • What the State Department Can and Cannot Do in a Crisis:  The actions the State Department takes depend on the nature of the crisis.  Our primary role is to keep the U.S. citizen community informed of safety and security developments and travel options.  Regularly scheduled commercial transportation is always the best option when local communications and transportation infrastructure are intact and operating normally.  If there are no commercial options available, if we have consular officers at the U.S. Embassy or U.S. Consulate, and if the conditions permit, we may help U.S. citizens identify possible transportation options.  In some situations, we may encourage you to stay at a safe location and depart as soon as you can do so safely, using transportation you are able to find on your own.  For comprehensive information on what the State Department can and cannot do in a crisis, please visit: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/emergencies/what-state-dept-can-cant-do-crisis.html.
  • Visa Services: The United States Embassy in Lima, Peru, remains unable to resume routine immigrant and nonimmigrant visa services at this time.  We will resume routine visa services as soon as possible but are unable to provide a specific date.  Visa fees are normally valid and may be used to schedule an interview appointment in the country where it was purchased within one year of the date of payment.  However, due to the suspension of visa services, the Consular Section is extending the validity of visa fees to December 31, 2021.  If you have an urgent matter and need to travel immediately, please follow the guidance provided at https://ais.usvisa-info.com/en-pe/niv to request an emergency appointment.  Applicants for H1B, H2B, H4, L, and certain J categories covered by Presidential Proclamation 10052 should request an appointment only if you have reason to believe you may qualify for one of the exceptions listed in the Proclamation here: https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/proclamation-suspending-entry-aliens-present-risk-u-s-labor-market-following-coronavirus-outbreak/.  For more information, please call +51 1 7097950 or +51 1 7097951 (from Peru), or +1 703 249 4660 (from the United States), to speak with a customer service representative.

Local Resources:

  • Medications: If you are running low on your medications, Peru’s Ministry of Health maintains a web portal (https://bit.ly/3erY7HL) that allows users to search for prescription medication by name and verify the pharmacies in Peru that carry the medication. You can initiate a search by brand name or active ingredient.  The U.S. Embassy recommends calling in advance to confirm pharmacy hours and that the medication is in stock before going to the pharmacy.
  • Grocery Delivery: For U.S. citizens that remain in Peru, here is a list of businesses that provide grocery deliveries and other services: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1a7gwrpPPxhpaO4IQ_bd7u6sXnxxPF9olzS_ee6mMdvo/edit?ts=5e850453#gid=0.
  • Tourism: U.S. tourists currently in Peru may consult iPeru for the latest guidance for tourists.  iPeru has a WhatsApp number that will respond to questions in English: (+51) 944 492 314.

By | 9 December, 2020 | Topics: Alert, News

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