Personal accounts: Peru
An honest assessment before work starts, the quote is fixed in writing.
A personal account in Peru is needed by people moving here for work, on a pensioner visa or as investors, and by owners of Peruvian companies and property. Banks are supervised by the Superintendency of Banking, Insurance and Pension Funds. The economy is highly dollarised, so accounts are usually opened in both soles and dollars. The key document for a foreigner is the foreigner's card issued with a residence permit: with a passport alone the choice of banks and accounts is much narrower.
Who can open a personal account
| Your status | Chances | What else the bank will ask |
|---|---|---|
| Resident of Peru with a foreigner's card | high | card, address, source of income |
| Investor or owner of a Peruvian company | high | foreigner's card, company documents |
| Retiree on a pensioner visa | high | foreigner's card, proof of pension |
| Foreigner with a passport only | low to medium | selected banks, limited services |
| Non-resident with no link to Peru | low | a convincing purpose for the account |
We will calculate online the cost of opening a personal account and maintaining it for a year.
What the bank checks
- Foreigner's card or a passport with a valid immigration status.
- Address in Peru: a lease, a utility bill or a title document.
- Source of income: employment contract, pension, company documents, statements.
- Tax residence: Peruvian banks report foreigners' accounts to the tax authorities of their countries.
Deposit protection and taxes
| Question | How it works |
|---|---|
| Deposit insurance | the deposit insurance fund, up to 123,000 soles per depositor per bank in September-November 2026, ~$35,800; the amount is reviewed every three months |
| Tax on individuals' deposit interest | exempt for now; the exemption runs until 31 December 2026 and its extension is under discussion |
| Financial transactions tax | 0.005% on account transactions |
| Currencies | soles and dollars |
Dollar amounts are converted at the Central Reserve Bank rate of 5 October 2026, 3.436 soles per dollar, and rounded up. If the interest exemption is not extended, deposit interest may be taxed from 2027, which is worth considering when choosing a term deposit.
Transfers within the country
Transfers between Peruvian banks are fast, and the mobile wallets of major banks let you send money by phone number. By decision of the Central Reserve Bank, wallets of different banks are interoperable, so the recipient does not need an account at the same bank. By law payments above 2,000 soles or $500 go through a bank.
The account and residence
Most often the account is opened after obtaining residence and a foreigner's card. The bases are work, a pensioner visa with a steady pension, or an investment of at least 500,000 soles, about $145,600, in a Peruvian company. We prepare the documents so that the account can be opened right after the card is issued.
How the opening works
- Assessment of your status and choice of a bank for your currencies and needs.
- Pack: foreigner's card or passport, address, source of income.
- Branch visit, signing the agreement, mobile banking setup.
- Card and first transfers.
Residents with a foreigner's card often get an account on the day of the visit. With a passport only, finding a suitable bank takes longer.
Who gets refused
The bank will refuse if the client has no valid immigration status and address in Peru, if the source of money cannot be proven with documents, or if the client or their money is linked to sanctions. We check whether the bank works with your citizenship before preparing documents.
What we do
Murblz specialists assess the chances before applying, help with residence and the foreigner's card, choose a bank, prepare documents and the explanation of the source of funds, support the branch visit and handle correspondence until the account is open. If you are opening a Peruvian company or buying a home, we prepare the personal account together with them. We fix the estimate in writing; the decision to open an account always rests with the bank.
What we do
- Personal account - opening assistance
See also
Company formation · Business account · Investment property
FAQ
Can I open a personal account in Peru with a passport?
Is money in a Peruvian bank protected?
Is deposit interest taxed in Peru?
Which currency should the account be in?
What residence do I need for an account?
How much does it cost to open an account with your help?
Don’t want to figure this out alone?
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