Peru’s New Citizenship Law: What You Need to Know About Ley N° 32421

A New Era for Citizenship in Peru

On August 15, 2025, Peru published a brand-new Nationality Law (Ley N° 32421) in the official gazette El Peruano. This law repeals the previous Ley N° 26574 and introduces important changes to the way foreign residents — and even Peruvians abroad — can obtain, recover, or renounce Peruvian nationality.

If you’re living in Peru or thinking about applying for citizenship, here’s what you need to know.

The historic Plaza Mayor in Lima, Peru, a significant cultural landmark.

The Key Changes Introduced by Ley N° 32421

The law goes far beyond simply adjusting timelines — it restructures how nationality is recognized and acquired. Let’s go through the most relevant updates:

• Nationality by Birth: Children adopted by a Peruvian father or mother (by birth) are now considered Peruvians by birth.

• Recognition Abroad: Peruvian nationality can now be passed down to children born abroad — but only up to the third generation — if they are registered at a Peruvian consulate.

• Clear Classification of Paths to Citizenship: The law now defines five categories:

  1. Naturalization

  2. Option (for spouses of Peruvians)

  3. Dual nationality

  4. Merit-based distinction

  5. Qualified athletes

• Naturalization: The minimum residence requirement has been extended from 2 years to 5 years for most foreigners.

• Transmission of Nationality: Acquired nationality will not automatically pass on to children born abroad.

• Option by Marriage: For foreigners married to a Peruvian, the required residence increases from 2 years to 4 years.

• Merit and Sports Categories: Both now require at least 2 years of residence in Peru before citizenship can be granted.

• Dual Citizenship: To apply, candidates must prove lawful economic solvency equal to 10 UIT annually and show they are formal taxpayers in Peru.

• Processing Time Limits: For the first time, the law sets a maximum timeline of 18 months for nationality-related procedures (naturalization, renunciation, recovery). The previous law had no deadline.

  
  

When Does the Law Take Effect?

Although Ley N° 32421 is already published, it will only become effective once the regulation (reglamento) is issued. The government has up to 180 working days from publication to release it — meaning sometime before spring 2026.

Until then, the current rules remain valid.

What About Ongoing Applications?

If you already started your nationality process before this law takes effect, don’t worry. The transitional provision confirms that those applications will continue under the old rules.

Why This Matters

This reform is more than just a bureaucratic update. It reflects Peru’s effort to balance openness to foreign residents with stronger requirements for integration.

For expats, it means:

• The path to naturalization will now take longer (5 years instead of 2).

• Marriage-based applications will also require a longer commitment (4 years).

• Economic transparency and proof of integration (taxes, solvency) will matter more.

• On the positive side, the law sets clear categories, rules, and timelines — something that was missing before.

Final Thoughts

Peru’s Ley N° 32421 marks a turning point in how citizenship is granted. While it raises the bar in terms of residency years and requirements, it also brings structure, clarity, and predictability to a process that often felt uncertain.

If you’re an expat planning to stay in Peru, now is the time to prepare: keep your residency in order, pay your taxes, and gather the documents that show your life is firmly rooted here.

And most importantly: keep an eye out for the upcoming regulation, which will finally bring this new law into effect.