Immigration Guide · Perú
Peru police record certificate for U.S. immigration
Which Peruvian police certificate to request, how it differs from the penal and judicial records, and how to get the digital version from the U.S.
In Peru, the document is called the Certificado de Antecedentes Policiales (police record certificate). It is issued by the Policía Nacional del Perú (PNP), the Peruvian National Police, through its Criminalistics Directorate. Peruvian offices refer to it by its acronym, CERAP.
Most certificates are now issued electronically as the CERAP Digital, a PDF you download from the certificate portal of the Policía Nacional del Perú. It shows:
- Your paternal and maternal surnames and given names, exactly as they appear on your DNI (Peru’s national ID card).
- Your DNI number, or your foreign resident card number if you aren’t Peruvian.
- A CERAP code and a security code that anyone can check on the same portal.
- A QR code that links to that check.
- A statement of whether you have a police record.
The codes and the QR are part of the document. They get transcribed and described in the translation, just like the main text.
Three certificates that are not the same thing in Peru
The core confusion with Peruvian records is that the word “antecedentes” covers three documents from three different institutions:
- Police records (antecedentes policiales), from the Policía Nacional del Perú. They cover police actions and outstanding warrants.
- Criminal records (antecedentes penales), from the Judiciary (Poder Judicial) through its national conviction registry. They cover final criminal convictions.
- Judicial records (antecedentes judiciales), from the National Penitentiary Institute (INPE). They show whether someone was held in a prison or served a court-ordered sentence.
One doesn’t replace another. A clean police certificate says nothing about convictions, and a criminal record certificate says nothing about the PNP. The Peru page of the State Department Reciprocity Schedule lists the PNP certificate and the criminal record certificate as separate documents. Check it before you order anything, so you know which one fits your case.
The Peru trap: the “national use” version
The Policía Nacional del Perú runs two procedures with nearly identical names:
- Police record certificate for national use (para uso nacional).
- Police record certificate for travel or use abroad (para viaje o uso en el extranjero).
Many people get the first one because it shows up first in search results. For a case filed outside Peru, request the second one. The certificate states the purpose it was issued for, and that line is translated too.
The second trap is the name. Peruvian records print both full surnames, in capital letters and sometimes without accent marks. U.S. forms often shorten them.
Here’s an example. Your passport reads Rosa Elena Quispe Huamán, your certificate reads QUISPE HUAMAN ROSA ELENA, and your U.S. application reads Rosa Quispe. All three are the same person, but whoever reviews your file has to be able to connect them.
The translation reproduces the name exactly as it appears on the certificate. If your form uses a shorter version, list the full DNI name under other names used.
How to get it from the United States
The fastest route is online:
- Go to the certificate portal of the Policía Nacional del Perú (certificados.policia.gob.pe) or the procedure page on gob.pe.
- Choose the certificate for travel or use abroad.
- Pay the fee through Págalo.pe or at Banco de la Nación.
- Download the CERAP Digital as a PDF.
If the digital option doesn’t work for you from abroad, there are two alternatives. Some Peruvian consulates in the U.S. guide applicants or accept the request, so check your consulate’s website. A spouse or immediate relative in Peru can also request it with your signed authorization letter and your DNI. Anyone else needs a power of attorney granted at a Peruvian consulate.
For procedures inside Peru, the certificate is usually valid for 90 calendar days. Request it close to your filing date so the issue date is recent.
If the document is going to Spain or another Hague country
Peru has been a party to the Apostille Convention since September 30, 2010. If the certificate is going to Spain or another member country, it’s usually apostilled before it’s translated, so the translation covers the apostille as well.
You handle that step yourself with Peru’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which offers a digital apostille option. Fidelis doesn’t process apostilles. We translate the certificate once it’s apostilled or legalized, apostille included.
Transparent Pricing & Translation Process at Fidelis
To prepare your certified translation in line with USCIS requirements, we work with thorough precision:
| Item | Details | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Page (up to 500 words) | Includes Certificate of Translation Accuracy under 8 CFR § 103.2(b)(3) and two-step review | $29 USD |
| Optional Notarial Seal | Executed before a Florida Notary Public (when requested by the receiving agency) | +$30 USD |
| Standard Turnaround | High-resolution PDF ready for filing | 1–2 business days |
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Frequently asked questions
My CERAP from the Policía Nacional del Perú says I have no record. Do I also need the certificates from the Judiciary and from INPE?
That depends on what your case asks for, not on what the CERAP says. The three certificates cover different records: the PNP doesn't report convictions, and the Judiciary doesn't report police actions. Check the Peru page of the State Department Reciprocity Schedule and the document list for your case. If you need more than one, we can translate all three in a single order.
My Peruvian certificate has a QR code and a security code. Will the person reviewing the translation be able to verify it?
Yes. The codes are copied exactly in the translation, and the QR code is described where it appears, so anyone can check the original on the Policía Nacional del Perú portal. That's why it helps to send the original PDF you downloaded, not a cropped screenshot. That way both codes and the issue date are fully visible.
Official source
Review the applicable federal requirement directly at 8 CFR § 103.2(b)(3) on eCFR .
Fidelis Certified Translations is an independent translation service and is not affiliated with, authorized, or endorsed by USCIS or any U.S. government agency. Final acceptance of any document rests solely with the receiving agency or institution.