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The U.S. Embassy in Peru is offering emergency appointments only for passport and citizenship services that require an in-person appearance. Please be aware that emergency appointment availability is extremely limited.
Representatives from the Regional Federal Benefits Unit will visit Lima from August 7th to August 11th, 2023 to offer services for beneficiaries or individuals with questions about U.S. Social Security and other federal benefits.
See below for more information and links to register for an appointment:
Where: U.S. Embassy Lima
When: Monday August 7 to Friday, August 11, 2023 – 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
How: To schedule an appointment and find more information on required documents to bring, please email FBU.COSTARICA@ssa.gov. Please include: “APPOINTMENT SSA – LIMA” in the subject line.
The Department of State assists U.S. citizens imprisoned overseas and works to ensure their fair and humane treatment.
The Department of State helps the family and friends of U.S. citizens who die abroad. We inform the U.S. citizen’s next-of-kin of the death and we provide information on arrangements for local burial or the return of remains to the United States and on disposition of estates and personal effects. We also issue a Consular Report of Death Abroad, an official record of death.
International Parental Child Abduction
The Department of State’s Office of Children’s Issues works to resolve and prevent cases of international parental child abduction and to help children and families involved in abduction cases. For more information, see our international parental child abduction page on travel.state.gov.
The Department of State helps U.S. citizens who are victims of crime overseas. We connect crime victims with police and other services and provide information and resources to assist with physical, emotional, and/or financial injuries from crime.
U.S. citizens sometimes face emergencies while overseas and require financial assistance. In most cases, family or friends can send money directly to a U.S. citizen abroad through Western Union, MoneyGram, or other financial institutions. Consular Officers can also assist U.S. citizens abroad who are temporarily destitute abroad because of an unanticipated emergency by contacting family, a bank, or an employer to arrange for transfer of funds.
Contacting Home Wiring Money Directly Sending Money through the U.S. Department of State Repatriation LoansU.S. citizens in need of emergency financial assistance while abroad should first attempt to contact their family, friends, banking institution, or employer. Our American Citizen Services unit can assist in this effort, if necessary.
Use a commercial money transfer service, such as Western Union or MoneyGram., to wire money overseas. Money transfer cost comparison tools online can help you identify the best option. The person receiving the money will need to present proof of identity such as a passport.
Sending Money through the U.S. Department of State
When the commercial options listed above are not available or feasible, family or friends may send funds via the U.S. Department of State for delivery to a destitute U.S. citizen abroad at the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. The U.S. Department of State assesses a $30 fee to establish an account and transfer funds.
Destitute U.S. citizens may be eligible for a loan from the U.S. government to travel to the United States. Repatriation loans must eventually be paid back to the U.S. government. Your U.S. passports will be limited at the time the loan is issued and in most cases you will not be issued a new passport until the loan is paid in full. Contact us for more information.
Consular Affairs (CA) is the public face of the Department of State for millions of people around the world. We provide many services, and the most common are listed below.
U.S. Citizens overseas can renew passports, replace passports, or apply for new passports.
If you are a U.S. citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident (green card holder), you are responsible for filing U.S. federal income tax returns while abroad. You will find useful information on the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) website, such as Frequently Asked Questions about taxes or how to apply for an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN).
If you are a U.S. dual citizen or U.S. citizen living outside of the United States, you can register with the Selective Service System.
If you reside in Peru and have questions regarding services provided by the Social Security Administration (SSA), you must contact the SSA Federal Benefits Unit (FBU) located in Costa Rica. For more information on their services and how to contact them, please visit their webpage at: Costa Rica. For comprehensive information on SSA’s services abroad, please visit SSA’s webpage Service Around the World. If you are already receiving SSA benefits payments, there will be no change in the method of distribution of those payments.
U.S. service members, veterans, and their beneficiaries can apply for benefits on the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) website. The Federal Benefits Unit (FBU) may also be able to help veterans and beneficiaries with questions about benefits and services. The Federal Benefits Unit (FBU) may also be able to help veterans and beneficiaries with questions about benefits and services.
Depending on where you are eligible to vote, you may get your ballot by email, fax, or internet download. To start, complete a Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) here. Print, sign, and return the FPCA to your local U.S. election office. Include your email address so election officials can reach you if there is a problem. If your state delivers ballots electronically by fax only, include your fax number. If you request electronic delivery and include your email address or fax number, you will receive your blank ballot 45 days before general and mid-term elections and generally 30 days before special, primary, and run-off elections for federal offices. We recommend completing a new FPCA each January, or when you move.
The Department of State assumes no responsibility or liability for the professional ability or reputation of, or the quality of services provided by, the entities or individuals whose names appear on the following lists. Inclusion on this list is in no way an endorsement by the Department or the U.S. government. Names are listed alphabetically, and the order in which they appear has no other significance. The information on the list is provided directly by the local service providers; the Department is not in a position to vouch for such information.
Legal assistance Medical Assistance Travel Information Translators Delivery by Private Mail Service Mailing Paper Voting BallotsShould you require legal assistance, you may find a list of lawyers and firms below, including their area of expertise.
Acceptable medical and dental care is available in Lima but varies in other areas, especially in rural areas. Physicians, dentists, clinics and hospitals usually expect immediate cash deposits to perform health services.
Do you have specific questions about traveling to Peru – such as entry and exit requirements, or areas restricted for travel? Do you have health concerns, or are wondering about required vaccinations?
The American Citizen Services Unit does not provide translation services.
Delivery by Private Mail Service
U.S. Passports and Consular Reports of Birth Abroad (CRBAs) may now be returned to certain DHL agency locations throughout Peru.
Some states allow you to return your completed and signed ballot electronically and others do not. If your state requires you to return paper voting forms or ballots to local election officials by mail, you can do so through international mail, professional courier service, or through the U.S. Embassy Lima’s diplomatic pouch.
The United States is a party to the Hague Adoption Convention, an international treaty which seeks to ensure that intercountry adoptions are made in the best interests of the child and that safeguards are in place for their protection. All adoptions in another country must take place according to both U.S. and local laws for the adopted child to be eligible to immigrate to the United States. You should work with a U.S. adoption service provider specifically authorized to facilitate intercountry adoption. You can find more information about authorized authorized adoption service providers and the intercountry adoption process at travel.state.gov and are invited to direct questions to Adoption@state.gov.
If you have a child outside the United States the child may have acquired U.S. citizenship at birth if the requirements under the Immigration and Nationality Act have been met as of the time of your child’s birth. To determine whether your child acquired U.S. citizenship at birth and to document that, you can apply for a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA) for your child. You may also choose to just apply for a U.S. passport for your child, although one benefit of a CRBA is that, unlike the U.S. passport, it does not expire and may be used as proof of acquisition of U.S. citizenship at birth. A full validity, unexpired U.S. passport is also proof of U.S. citizenship.
Peruvian authorities usually require that single (unmarried, divorced or widowed) U.S. citizens marrying in Peru present a sworn statement (known locally as a Certificado de Soltería) stating that they are legally free to marry in Peru. This document must be notarized by American Citizen Services at the Embassy.
The U.S. federal government does not distribute certificates, files, or indexes with identifying information for vital records.
Renunciation of U.S. Citizenship
Relinquishment of U.S. citizenship by performing certain statutory expatriating acts, including taking the oath of renunciation, voluntarily and with the intent of relinquishing U.S. citizenship, is a personal right that cannot be exercised on a person’s behalf.
Please call: 618-2000
Outside of Office Hours, contact: 618-2000
Outside of Peru: 51-1 618-2000
Emergency Contact – All Locations Get Travel Alerts International Parental Child Abduction Arrest of a U.S. Citizen Death of a U.S. Citizen Victims of Crime Emergency Financial Assistance
