1. Introduction to Entering Peru
Entering Peru is a straightforward process for most tourists, whether you arrive at Lima airport or enter Peru overland from a neighboring country. In many cases, it’s a simple matter of filling out a Tarjeta Andina tourist card and presenting your passport to the immigration officials.
2. Understanding Customs Regulations
One thing that can be both time-consuming and costly, however, is the issue of Peru’s customs regulations. Therefore, it’s important to know what you can pack without incurring additional duties before you go to Peru.
3. Items Free from Customs Duties
According to SUNAT (the Peruvian administrative body in charge of taxation and customs), travelers can take the following items to Peru without paying any customs duties upon arrival:
- Containers used to transport a traveler’s belongings, such as suitcases and bags.
- Items for personal use, including clothing and accessories, toiletries, and medicines. A single traveler is allowed one unit or set of sporting goods for personal use per entry. Moreover, travelers may bring other goods intended for personal use or gifts (provided their combined value does not exceed US$500).
- Reading material such as books, magazines, and printed documents.
- Personal appliances, such as one portable electric appliance for hair (for example, a hair dryer or hair straighteners) or one electric shaver.
- Devices for playing music, movies, and games. One radio, one CD player, or one portable stereo system (not for professional use) and up to twenty CDs are allowed. Additionally, one portable DVD player and one video game console with up to ten corresponding discs can be brought.
- Musical instruments: One wind or string instrument (must be portable).
- Videography and photography equipment for personal use, limited to one camera or digital camera with up to ten rolls of photographic film; one external hard drive; two memory cards for digital cameras, camcorders, and/or video game consoles; or two USB memory sticks. Additionally, one camcorder with ten videocassettes is allowed.
- Other electronics allowed per person include one handheld electronic calendar/organizer, one laptop with a power source, two cell phones, and one portable electronic calculator.
- Cigarettes and alcohol: Up to twenty packs of cigarettes or fifty cigars or 250 grams of rolling tobacco and up to three liters of liquor (with the exception of certain types).
- Medical equipment, including any necessary medical aids or equipment for disabled travelers (such as a wheelchair or crutches), can also be brought in duty-free.
- Travelers can bring one pet! Although there are some requirements to fulfill, bringing pets to Peru is allowed without paying customs.
4. Changes to Regulations
It is important to note that Peru’s customs regulations can change without notice, and some customs officials may interpret the rules differently. Therefore, it’s advisable to regard the information above as general guidelines rather than strict laws. This information will be periodically updated as needed based on changes announced on the SUNAT website.
If you find yourself carrying goods that need to be declared, be prepared to fill out a Baggage Declaration form to present to the relevant customs officer. A customs fee will need to be paid based on an evaluation of your items. The officer will determine a minimum value for all articles (those not exempt from customs duties), to which a customs charge of 20% will apply. Should the combined value of all articles exceed US$1,000, the customs rate escalates to 30%.
