Peru Launches e-SAMI Online Visa Portals, Phasing Out Paper Workflows

Peru switched off its legacy consular migration system and launched e-SAMI on Aug. 24, moving visa intake and case management online at participating foreign consulates. The change is the first phase of a broader digitization effort, and while it doesn't yet cover tourist or digital-nomad categories, it signals where Peru's visa processing is heading.

What changed

Foreign Minister Carlos Espá launched the Sistema de Administración Migratoria Integral (e-SAMI) and a companion Visa Electrónica portal to replace the former SAM workflow. Built with the Inter-American Development Bank, the platform adds online registration, electronic case management and automated tracking, which the ministry says should cut delays and reduce reliance on intermediaries.

In this first phase, direct electronic issuance is limited to three categories: diplomatic, official and consular tracks for temporary and resident status. The foreign ministry says other visa classes will move online gradually by region, but it has not published a timeline for standalone tourist or digital-nomad electronic visas.

What it means for nomads

If you enter Peru visa-free as a tourist, nothing changes operationally for now. The new system currently affects people who need an entry visa or who are preparing to settle under student, employment or family status—those applicants must file initial applications through e-SAMI if their local consulate has migrated to the platform.

Migration is happening consulate by consulate. Some jurisdictions, including Peru's Consulate General in Chicago, already require applicants to open an e-SAMI account and upload documents online before booking any in-person appointment. Because rollout is uneven, the practical advice is to check your specific regional consulate's current intake procedure before submitting anything, so you don't file outdated paper forms.

There's also an important distinction to keep straight. e-SAMI handles applications made from abroad. If you're already inside Peru and need a status change, residence extension or work authorization, that runs through a separate portal—the Agencia Digital de Migraciones—which remains distinct from the consular system.

The bigger picture

For remote workers eyeing Peru, the immediate takeaway is modest: the visa types most relevant to nomads aren't part of phase one, and there's no confirmed date for online tourist or nomad visas. But the direction is clear. As more consulates migrate, expect fewer in-person visits and more of the process handled online. Until then, verify your consulate's status before applying and keep the overseas (e-SAMI) and in-country (Agencia Digital de Migraciones) systems separate in your planning.

Originally reported by Stamped Nomad.