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Trade agreements with Peru
The UK has 2 Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with Peru:
- the UK-Andean FTA which came into force on 1 January 2021
- the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), a trade agreement including 12 countries (Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the UK and Vietnam) which entered into force between the UK and Peru on 15 December 2024
The UK-Andean FTA must be read in conjunction with the following Parliamentary Report, as certain elements therein have undergone slight changes to adapt the existing agreement to the UK outside the EU.
This agreement will remain in force alongside CPTPP. At times, you will need to specify which agreement you choose to trade under (notably when applying rules of origin), but benefits from either agreement will mostly apply automatically. Our guides attempt to highlight where businesses may need to make an explicit decision.
CPTPP entry into force and ratification
As of 24 December 2024, CPTPP is in force between the UK and:
- Australia
- Brunei
- Chile
- Japan
- Malaysia
- New Zealand
- Peru
- Singapore
- Vietnam
This means that the UK can access CPTPP provisions with said countries.
The following countries have not yet ratified the terms of the UK’s accession:
Canada and Mexico.
This means that the UK cannot yet access CPTPP provisions with those countries.
This guidance will be updated following each of the remaining countries’ ratification of the terms of the UK’s accession to CPTPP and will include when CPTPP will enter in force between the UK and the relevant remaining country.
This guidance is an explanation of CPTPP Chapter 12: Temporary Entry for Business Persons. Key documents include Peru’s schedule of commitments for temporary entry for business persons in accordance with Article 12.4 of the CPTPP agreement.
This guidance outlines how the temporary entry provisions in CPTPP support the movement of skilled UK business professionals to Peru to facilitate trade in goods and services, as well as investment. CPTPP is now in force with Peru, and UK professionals can bow benefit from the agreement. Please note, when applying for temporary entry to Peru, you will not need to specify that you are entering under a particular FTA.
Please be aware that entry into Peru is subject to meeting the relevant immigration and employment requirements set out in Peruvian legislation. For more details, read the UK government guidance on living in Peru.
Temporary entry
Temporary entry provisions in FTAs help provide greater certainty and access for the temporary movement of professionals to:
- deliver services
- negotiate the sale of goods
- invest in businesses in person
The movement of skilled UK professionals supports economic growth, innovation, and collaboration between the UK and its international partners.
These commitments do not afford legal rights to business persons directly. They apply to British citizens only, and not to foreign nationals who reside in the UK. For example, they do not allow British citizens to enter a CPTPP country to look for employment, nor do they apply to measures regarding citizenship, nationality, residence or permanent employment.
FTA commitments on temporary entry do not necessarily lead to improvements in domestic legislation of CPTPP countries. However, they guarantee that CPTPP countries will treat covered business persons no less favourably than what is set out in the FTA. The domestic law of each CPTPP country remains the authoritative source of rights and obligations on temporary entry. Each CPTPP country must ensure that its domestic law conforms with its FTA commitments. If there is an inconsistency between the country’s FTA commitments and its domestic law (the latter is less favourable than the former), this needs to be brought to the attention of the UK government. See the contacts in the support section on this page.
Categories of business person
Within CPTPP, Peru provides access for the following categories of business persons. A summary of the main categories and length of stay permitted is below. Please read the full CPTPP definitions in Annex 12-A Peru Temporary Entry for each category to ensure you meet the criteria including applicable sectors.
Please note that final visa names are set by the destination country and may vary from the FTA text. Prospective visa applicants should check the full visa details and other immigration requirements.
Find information for:
In addition, for Intra-Corporate Transferees and Investors, Peru will allow a spouse to enter Peru alongside the covered business people, subject to meeting the relevant requirements. The length of stay for spouses is subject to Peru’s laws and regulations.
Business Visitors
Business Visitors are UK nationals who are seeking to travel to Peru for a relatively short amount of time for business purposes.
Applicable business purposes include the following activities:
- attending meetings or conferences
- performing commercial transactions*, but not selling goods or providing services to the general public
- undertaking business consultations concerning the establishment, expansion, or winding up of an enterprise in Peru
*In the case of financial services activities, this category only includes business people who are employed by a UK enterprise and where either the provision of financial services does not require authorisation by the competent authority in Peru, or where Peru has explicitly committed such financial services in Peru’s annex in CPTPP (Annex 11-A.1).
Business Visitors can stay in Peru for up to 183 days, subject to meeting relevant immigration requirements.
Intra-Corporate Transferees
Intra-Corporate Transferees are UK nationals employed by an enterprise of the UK who are being transferred to the headquarters, subsidiary, or affiliate of that enterprise in Peru, and employed in 1 of the following 3 categories.
The first are executives who:
- primarily direct the management of the organisation
- exercise decision-making
- receive only general supervision or direction from higher level executives, the board of directors, or stockholders
The second are managers who:
- primarily directs the organisation or a department or sub-division of the organisation
- supervises and controls the work of other supervisors, professionals, or managers
- has the authority to hire and fire or take other personnel actions such as promotion or leave authorisation
- exercises authority over day-to-day operations
The third are specialists who:
- possess specialised knowledge of the company’s products or services and its application in international markets, or
- advanced level of knowledge or expertise of the company’s processes and procedures
These business people are required to have a labour contract approved by the Labour Administrative Authority. For additional information on this, please see Annex 12-A Peru.
Under CPTPP, Intra-Corporate Transferees can stay in Peru for one year, which may be renewed for consecutive periods so long as the original basis for granting temporary entry remains in effect, subject to meeting the relevant immigration requirements.
Upon application, Peru shall also grant temporary entry and stay to spouses of Intra-Corporate Transferees, subject to meeting the relevant immigration requirements.
Example: Are you a UK based business looking to transfer a manager or specialist to a branch office in Peru? That employee can stay in Peru initially for one year, possibly longer, alongside their spouse, subject to meeting the relevant immigration requirements.
Investors
Investors are UK nationals seeking to establish or develop an investment in Peru. The business person or their enterprise must have committed, or be in the process of committing, a “substantial amount of capital”.
Under CPTPP, Investors can stay in Peru for one year, which may be renewed for consecutive periods so long as the original basis for granting temporary entry remains in effect, subject to meeting the relevant immigration requirements.
Upon application, Peru shall also grant temporary entry and stay to spouses of Investors, subject to meeting the relevant immigration requirements.
Example: Are you looking to invest in a business in Peru? You will have certainty that you can come to Peru for up to one year, possibly longer, subject to meeting the relevant immigration requirements.
Professionals
Professionals are business people who seek to engage as an Independent Professional or as a Contractual Service Supplier in Peru. They must have specialised knowledge and have attained a post-secondary degree, which required 5 years of study, or the equivalent of such a degree. They must also have any other qualifications relevant to the service provided.
They may engage in any occupation except the following:
- occupations related to Health, Education, Social and Community Services, and
- judges, lawyers, and notaries except foreign legal consultants
An Independent Professional is a business person who is self-employed and who seeks to enter Peru to supply a service under contract and receive payment from a person of Peru.
Independent Professionals can stay in Peru for one year, which may be renewed for consecutive periods so long as the original basis for granting temporary entry remains in effect, subject to meeting the relevant immigration requirements.
A Contractual Service Supplier is a business person who works for a UK enterprise with no commercial presence in Peru, who seeks to enter Peru to supply a service under contract, and who is paid from a source outside of Peru. Additionally, contractual service suppliers include a business person who is an installer or servicer of machinery or equipment, where installation or servicing is a condition of purchase of said machinery or equipment.
Contractual Service Suppliers can stay in Peru for up to 90 days, which may be renewed for one year, subject to meeting the relevant immigration requirements.
Example: Are you looking to temporarily enter Peru to install machinery, where such installation was a condition of the purchase of said machinery? You will now have certainty that you can enter Peru for up to 90 days, extendable to one year, subject to meeting the relevant immigration requirements.
Technicians
Technicians are business people who seek to engage as an Independent Technician or as a Contractual Service Supplier in Peru. They must be engaged in a specialty occupation requiring specialised knowledge and attainment of a post-secondary degree, which requires 5 years of study, or the equivalent of such a degree. They must also have any other qualifications relevant to the service provided.
They must be seeking to work in any of the activities listed under Category E in Annex 12-A Peru.
An Independent Technician is a business person who is self-employed and who seeks to enter Peru to supply a service under contract and receive payment from a person of Peru.
Independent Technicians can stay in Peru for one year, which may be renewed for consecutive periods so long as the original basis for granting temporary entry remains in effect, subject to meeting the relevant immigration requirements.
Practicalities for business travel to Peru
Entry to Peru is subject to applicants meeting the relevant immigration requirements set out by Peru. The Consulate of Peru is responsible for the issuing of all Peruvian visas in the United Kingdom. Applicants must contact the Consulate directly. For general information about entry requirements to Peru, please visit Peru Travel.
To provide a service in Peru, you need to follow the terms set out in Peru’s legislation.
This might include:
- getting an authorisation or licence to provide a service
- complying with local business regulations
If in doubt, consider appointing an English-speaking lawyer in Peru to help you comply with specific regulations.
Department for Business and Trade support
The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) helps businesses export, drives inward and outward investment, negotiates market access and trade agreements, and champions free trade. Helpful links, tools and services available from DBT and wider government include:
Export Support Service (ESS) team
Get support on how to do business abroad. You may also be eligible for 1-2-1 support from a local International Trade Adviser. Businesses in Wales can also access support from Business Wales.
Export Support Service – International Markets (ESS-IM)
DBT's overseas in-market export support service for SMEs with high-export potential. Our International Market Advisers provide tailored support and market introduction information to new and current UK exporters looking to enter or expand into new markets. The service may be accessed globally with International Markets teams in South Asia, China, the Middle East, Africa, Eastern Europe, North America and Latin America.
Sign up to access free training on how to grow your international sales.
Information on finance and insurance for UK exports.
Trade and investment factsheets
The latest statistics on trade and investment between the UK and individual overseas partners.
Overseas business risk profiles
Information for UK businesses on political, economic and security risks when trading overseas.
Advice and warnings about travel abroad, including entry requirements, safety and security, health risks and legal differences.
Check or report a trade barrier
If you encounter an issue when exporting to any country – report the issue and UK government officials will be able to assess the issue and consider the options we have open to addressing it as appropriate
Search for your specific product to find applicable tariffs for each market, explore rules of origin and step-by-step help on customs procedures
Check import duties and allows you to check the status of available tariff rate quotas
Useful resources
You can find more information about export opportunities, business culture and any existing trade barriers on our Peru market guide.
Prior to export, you must be aware of local regulations and import conditions in Peru that apply to your goods or services. This can include tax considerations, labour laws, intellectual property rules, labelling and packaging regulations, among others.
To seek further information related to local regulations, business culture, or to find a local lawyer, translator, importer or distributor, you can use the following contacts:
- DBT’s Export Support Service International Markets team
- get in touch with DBT at the local British Embassy
- get in touch with the British Chambers of Commerce
For information on political, economic and security risks when trading with Peru, please see: