I'm a foreign parent: can I handle my Peruvian child's passport, DNI or travel permit?

What the rule says about a child’s passport

A Peruvian child’s passport is issued by Migraciones, Peru’s immigration authority. Article 33 of the regulation to the Migration Law, as amended by Supreme Decree 009-2023-IN, says the child appears in person, «represented by at least one of their parents», with an online appointment and a DNI (the Peruvian national ID card) in good condition.

The rule does not say «the Peruvian parent». It says one of the parents. And it sets separate conditions depending on who comes:

• Peruvian parent: their DNI.
• Foreign parent: «an identity document or equivalent recognised by the Peruvian State» and «a valid permanencia or residencia, as applicable», meaning a valid temporary stay or residence status.

Migraciones’ procedure page on gob.pe (updated 10 October 2025) says the same thing: the accompanying parent brings a DNI, carné de extranjería (Peru’s foreign resident card), passport or other document «if they are a foreigner», and their details must match the child’s DNI «only to confirm parentage». The fee is S/ 120.90 according to that page.

Two points where the official sources disagree

1. The valid-stay condition. The regulation requires it of a foreign parent. The gob.pe page does not mention it. If your stay or residence has expired, a refusal may have a basis in the rule even though the page does not say so.
2. «Both must bring their DNI». Step 3 of the page says the child and the accompanying parent must bring their DNI. The requirements list on the same page accepts a carné de extranjería or passport. An officer who reads only step 3 may think the parent has to be Peruvian. Bring a printout of the requirements list and of article 33.

Why you may be turned away

If you were refused and told the Peruvian mother or father had to come, these are the causes that fit the matching rule and article 33. This is not an official list; it is what follows from those texts.

• Your name does not match exactly. The child’s DNI shows the father’s and mother’s names as they appear on the birth certificate. If your passport has only one surname, a different order, one given name more or less, or a different accent, the officer may say they cannot confirm parentage.
• You are not on the child’s DNI. If you did not acknowledge the child, there is nothing to compare against. See acknowledging a child at Reniec and birth certificates.
• Your stay is not valid. Letter b) of article 33 requires a valid stay or residence. An expired carné de extranjería or a residence that was not extended may be enough for a refusal.
• An officer’s mistake. Neither article 33 nor the gob.pe page requires the accompanying parent to be Peruvian. If you meet everything above and they still insist on the other parent, they are asking for something that is not in those texts.

If you are refused, article 33 says that at the end of the day Migraciones unlinks the receipt, and that you can then book another appointment or ask for a refund.

The child’s DNI at Reniec

For the first DNI (ages 0 to 16), Reniec’s page names the mother, the father and other relatives as declarants, and says foreigners show their carné de extranjería or hand in a plain copy of their passport or national ID card. For a renewal, the page says the child attends with their declarant: father, mother or legal guardian, with the same rule for foreigners. Both pages list a fee of S/ 16.00 until 31 December 2026 (updated 14 and 21 September 2026). The full procedure is in DNI: how to get or renew it.

The travel permit

The Foreign Ministry’s page on the notarial permit covers foreign parents: they identify themselves with their identity document or passport. According to Migraciones, if the child leaves Peru with only one parent, the parent who stays signs. That works both ways: the foreign parent can authorize a trip with the Peruvian mother, and can travel with the child if the Peruvian mother signs. When a permit is needed and which kinds exist is covered in travel permission for minors.

What to do if you are refused

1. Ask for the reason in writing. The Constitution (art. 2, para. 20) recognises the right to petition in writing and to receive a written answer. If the counter will not give you one, file a written request through Migraciones’ online mesa de partes (filing desk) explaining what happened and asking that the procedure be handled with you as the parent.
2. The agency’s Libro de Reclamaciones (complaints book). Public bodies have their own. Under D.S. 007-2020-PCM (art. 14), they must answer within 30 business days at most.
3. Complaint about procedural defects. If a procedure is under way and they stall it or skip a step, the TUO of Law 27444 (art. 169) lets you complain to the officer’s superior.
4. Defensoría del Pueblo (the Ombudsman). The complaint is free. See how to complain to the Ombudsman. If you would rather not write it yourself, this site has a paid Ombudsman complaint template about Migraciones service.

What the law says about requirements that are not in the agency’s TUPA, and Indecopi’s role, is in refused a government procedure: what to do.

On discrimination

The Constitution (art. 2, para. 2) says no one may be discriminated against on grounds of origin «or of any other kind». That general rule exists, but it does not guarantee an outcome in your case: if the refusal is because your details do not match or your stay has expired, the fix is to correct that, not to claim discrimination.