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Foreigners, who have lived or are still living in Peru, as well as Peruvians quite often have to provide a police clearance certificate or a criminal background check, for example, when applying for a new job in Peru or abroad, when applying for a resident visa in other countries, when getting a degree or even when driving a vehicle with tinted windows in Peru.
To prove that you weren’t involved in any criminal activities, aren’t investigated, haven’t got a criminal record and never did time in Peru, there are three different certificates:
- Certificado de Antecedentes Policiales
- Certificado de Antecedentes Penales
- Certificado de Antecedentes Judiciales
Below, we explain these different reports and how to get them.
Certificado de Antecedentes Policiales - Peruvian Police Clearance Certificate
The Police (Clearance) Certificate is issued by the Peruvian National Police (PNP) after a thorough background check and indicates if a person has registered encounters with the police, was involved in any criminal activities or is investigated.
The certificate is needed, for example, when applying for a new job in Peru or abroad, when applying for a resident visa in other countries, when getting a degree, or even when driving a vehicle with tinted windows in Peru.
Be aware that there is a Police Certificate for the use in Peru and one for the use abroad.
Requirements
How to obtain a Peruvian Police Clearance Certificate
First, you have to pay the corresponding fee for the administrative procedure at the Banco de la Nación:
- for national use: the cost in 2024 is S/ 5.40 if you apply "virtually", S/ 8.50 for application in person. Be aware Peruvians and PTP holders can pay on pagalo.pe under Policia Nacional del Peru with the code 08116. Foreigners with CE must proceed to a Banco de la Nacion branch and apply in person for the certificate at a comisaria (see below). Make sure the teller gives you the form you have to fill in and present at the comisaria.
- for use abroad it's S/ 133.28 (only payable at any Banco de la Nacion branch). Here as well make sure to get the form to fill in.
How to get a Peruvian Police Clearance Certificate - Peruvians
Peruvians can apply online on the website of the Peruvian Police. Additionally, some branches of the Banco de la Nación are connected to the background check system and can issue the certificate for national use within a few minutes after filling in the form and fingerprinting, but only if you have a Peruvian DNI. A list of authorized branches is attached as PDF at the end of this article.
If you are Peruvian and the branch where you paid the fee isn’t authorized to issue Police Clearance Certificates, go to the nearest police station with a CERAP division.
In Lima and other cities you can as well visit the nearest MAC (Mejor Atención al Cuidadano) center such as the MAC Lima Norte (Plaza Norte, Av. Alfredo Mendiola 1400, Planta Baja, Cruce de la Av. Tomas Valle con Panamericana Norte, Independencia), the MAC Lima Este (Agustino Plaza,Av. Ancash 2151, El Agustino), the MAC Ventanilla (Municipalidad de Ventanilla, Av. La Playa s/n, Alt. de la Urb. Zona Comercial, frente a la Plaza Cívica,Ventanilla), the MAC Callao (Mall Plaza Bellavista, Av. Oscar Benavides 3866, Sótano Nivel 1, Urb. El Águila, Bellavista, Callao), the MAC Piura (Real Plaza, Av. Sánchez Cerro 234, Piura) or MAC Arequipa (Mall Aventura Porongoche, Av. Porongoche 500, Arequipa).
Once at the police station or MAC center, provide your DNI, the payment receipt and the filled in form - best with copies of everything. You are fingerprinted and receive your Police Clearance Certificate for national use within a few minutes or the one for international use within 24h (don’t forget identification to pick up your report).
How to get a Peruvian Police Clearance Certificate - Foreigners
Foreigners in Lima, however, can only apply for a police clearance certificate at the police station on Av. Aramburu. Be there early and expect super long lines. Bring your Carné, payment receipt and filled in form with copies of everything. When it's finally your turn, hand in the documents. After that, you are fingerprinted and they tell you when the report is ready to be picked up (usually the next day).
Other cities in Peru usually as well only have one specific office (mostly from Dirincri PNP) that issues the police clearance certificate for foreigners.
How to get a Peruvian Police Clearance Certificate - from abroad
If you aren’t in Peru anymore, you can either give someone in Peru a power of attorney to get the Police Certificate for you (only applies for the ones for international use) or contact the nearest Peruvian Diplomatic Missions abroad who according to the Peruvian Ministry of the Interior will assist you.
Certificado de Antecedentes Penales - Peruvian Criminal Record Check
The criminal record check is done by Peruvian Courts, the Poder Judicial. The record shows if a person was ever convicted of a crime in a Peruvian court or not; so it’s an official document of the criminal history of a person limited to actual convictions.
It is used, for example, when applying for a new job in Peru or abroad or when applying for a resident visa in other countries and may also be relevant for international travel.
Requirements
- DNI for nationals
- Carné de Extranjería (CE) for foreigners
- Payment receipt
How to get a Peruvian Criminal Record Check
While for years getting the report showing if you have convictions in Peru or not included queueing first at a Banco de la Nación branch and then at the corresponding court, now everything can be done online from your PC, tablet or smartphone - at least if you need the criminal record check for use in Peru.
Those needing the criminal record check for the use abroad still have to go to the authorized office at the court.
First you have to pay the fee of S/ 52.80 (2024) for the administrative procedure "Certificado Antecedentes Penales” under Poder Judicial code 03670 either on the pagalo.pe website or at any Banco de la Nación branch.
You can find detailed explanations about how to pay, what you have to do and be aware of, how to register on the online payment platform and how to find the correct fee you have to pay, in our article "Paying administration charges and processing fees in Peru".
How to get a Peruvian Criminal Record Check - for use in Peru
Enter the website of the Poder Judicial del Peru under “Trámite de Certificado Electrónico de Antecedentes Penales” and click on “Nuevo Tramite”; enter your personal data on the next page and then the information of the bank receipt.
The processing time is usually anything between a few minutes up to half an hour. You can then download and print the digitally signed electronic certificate. The certificate is valid for 90 days.
How to get a Peruvian Criminal Record Check - for use abroad
Those that need the certificate for international use have to pay the authorized office of the nearest court a visit (a list is attached as PDF at the end of this article).
After providing your identification and payment receipt (bring copies of both) your Certificado de Antecedentes Penales is usually issued immediately but may take up to 30 minutes. The certificate is valid for 90 days.
How to get a Peruvian Criminal Record Check - from abroad
If you aren’t in Peru anymore and need the certificate in your country of residence, contact the nearest Peruvian Consulate. They have access to the system and usually issue the certificate within a few minutes.
Certificado de Antecedentes Judiciales - Peruvian Judicial Background Record
The Judicial Background Record is issued by the National Penitentiary Institute (INPE) and shows if a person has been incarcerated in any Peruvian jail or has done community service as part of a sentence. The record details the exact time spend in prison as well as the sentence and other important judicial entries.
The Certificado de Antecedentes Judiciales might be requested by potential employers, when applying for a visa for another country, for a credit card or for study abroad programs.
Requirements
- Be over the age of 18
- DNI for Peruvians
- Carné de Extranjería (CE) for foreigners
- Payment receipt
How to get a Peruvian Judicial Background Report
First, you have to pay the corresponding fee of S/ 37.70 (2024) for the administrative procedure at any Banco de la Nación branch or at pagalo.pe under INPE code 00044.
Peruvians (except they were born abroad) and foreigners (with CE or PTP) can request the certificate online and receive an electronic certificate, usually within a few minutes. Just follow the link, click on "Tramite Virtual" and follow the instructions filling in the requested fields.
If you need an original printed copy of the Judicial Background Report you have to visit the nearest INPE office. As far as we are aware, the only INPE office that issues the certificates for foreigners in Lima and Callao is the one on Jr. Lampa 450 in the city center.
Once there, present your identification and payment receipt (bring copies of both) and a carné sized photo. If you haven’t been incarcerated in Peru, the Certificado de Antecedentes Judiciales is usually issued within the next 30 minutes..
The Judicial Background Certificate is valid for 90 days.
