Proof of address in Peru: can they demand a certificado domiciliario, or is a sworn statement enough?
For a procedure, Ley 28882 treats the certificado domiciliario requirement as met by a simple written sworn statement of your current address, and an official who refuses it commits an infringement. The exceptions are electoral and judicial purposes. The notarial certificate still exists if you want it or a private party asks for it.
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Peruvian State portal (gob.pe) · El Peruano
Checked 1 Oct 2026Next review 24 Dec 2026
The rule: a sworn statement is enough
In Peru, a certificado domiciliario is a document that certifies where you live. Ley 28882, published on 16 September 2006, is the Law on the Simplification of Address Certification. Its article 1 says the certificado domiciliario requirement is met when you hand a simple written sworn statement (declaración jurada) of your current address directly to whoever asks for it.
The same law adds two things:
- A public official who refuses to accept the sworn statement commits an administrative infringement.
- If the statement is false, the person who signed it faces the penalties of article 427 of the Criminal Code, plus administrative penalties.
The consolidated text (TUO) of the General Administrative Procedure Law (Ley 27444) points the same way. Its article 49.1.3 requires public bodies to accept, in place of official documents, sworn statements in which you state your situation. Ley 28882 cites article 41.1.3 of Ley 27444 in its original version. That the rule now sits in article 49.1.3 of the TUO is our reading, not something a norm says.
When they can still ask for a certificate
Ley 28882 makes one exception: for electoral or judicial purposes, the requirement is met under Leyes 27839 and 28862. Ley 28882 describes them this way:
- Ley 27839 gives notaries, justices of the peace and municipalities the power to issue address certificates.
- Ley 28862 removes the National Police’s power to issue address certificates.
We did not read the text of those two laws. What we say about them is what Ley 28882 says.
Article 2 makes clear the certificate remains optional: you may ask for one whenever you think it useful. In that case, the fee must reflect the real cost of the service, and Indecopi (the consumer protection agency) may investigate on its own initiative.
What about Decreto Legislativo 1246?
It is often cited as the law that abolished the certificado domiciliario. That is not accurate. Its article 10 bans demanding the moving certificate (certificado de mudanza domiciliaria) or similar documents, and says that for a house move the carrier can only be asked for a sworn statement from the customer. The same decree bars public offices from demanding a copy of your DNI, which we explain in public offices and DNI photocopies.
The notarial certificate and the municipal one
The Notaries Law (D.L. 1049) lists address verification (constatación domiciliaria) among the certificates a notary issues (article 95, letter g). The text we read is the one published by SPIJ, updated to 26 January 2017. For signatures and copies before a notary, see notarized signatures and certified copies.
Some municipalities also offer an address certificate. The gob.pe page says it proves your residence and is valid for 3 months. Only some municipalities appear there, so check with yours.
Banks, consulates and other private parties
Ley 28882 speaks of «the requesting party» without separating public from private, but the only penalty it sets is for public officials. We found no rule that forces a bank or a foreign consulate to accept your sworn statement. Ask first which document they accept: if they ask for a notarial certificate, that is the route.
The address on your DNI
The address on your DNI (the Peruvian national ID) has effects of its own. Under article 21.2 of the TUO of Ley 27444, if you gave no address in a procedure, or the one you gave does not exist, the public office must serve notices at your DNI address. How to update it, and what happens if you do not, is on the DNI page.
If you are a foreigner
Ley 28882 speaks of «the interested party» and makes no distinction by nationality. It follows that a foreigner can also use the sworn statement before a public office; the law does not say so in those words. The notarial address verification in D.L. 1049 is not limited to Peruvians either. For your other rights as a resident, see rights of foreigners in Peru.
If they refuse your sworn statement
Ask for the refusal in writing, cite article 1 of Ley 28882 and, if they insist, complain. We explain the routes in refused a government procedure.
How to file
- If a public office asks, hand in a sworn statementWrite a simple sworn statement with your name, ID document and current address, and sign it. Give it directly to whoever asked for the requirement. Cite Ley 28882, article 1.
- If they refuse it, get it in writing and complainAsk for the refusal in writing. You can file a complaint in the office's complaints book (libro de reclamaciones) or with the Defensoría del Pueblo (the Ombudsman).
- If you need the certificate, choose who issues itFor electoral or judicial purposes, or if a private party demands it, you can ask a notary for an address verification (constatación domiciliaria) or, where available, get the municipal certificate.
- Keep your DNI address up to dateIt is the address public offices use to serve notices on you when you gave no other. How to update it is on the DNI page.
What people fail to ask in time
Besides the certificate, did that same public office ask for a photocopy of your ID?
Find out before it matters →What most people believe — and what the law says
If a public office asks for a certificado domiciliario, you have to pay a notary for one.
For that requirement a simple written sworn statement of your current address is enough. Ley 28882 says an official who refuses to accept it commits an administrative infringement.
The police station issues proof of address.
Ley 28882 itself describes Ley 28862 as the law that removed the National Police's power to issue certificados domiciliarios. According to Ley 28882, the ones who can issue them are notaries, justices of the peace and municipalities.
Decreto Legislativo 1246 abolished the certificado domiciliario.
That decree bans demanding the moving certificate (certificado de mudanza domiciliaria), which is a different document. The rule that replaces the address certificate with a sworn statement is in Ley 28882.
A sworn statement is just paper: you can write any address.
If it turns out to be false, Ley 28882 points to the penalties in article 427 of the Criminal Code, plus administrative penalties.
Frequently asked questions
When can they still require the certificate instead of a sworn statement?
Ley 28882 makes an exception for electoral or judicial purposes. There the requirement is met under Leyes 27839 and 28862, which Ley 28882 describes as the laws on certification by notaries, justices of the peace and municipalities.
Does a bank or a consulate have to accept my sworn statement?
Ley 28882 speaks of «the requesting party» without distinction, but the only penalty it sets is for public officials. We found no rule that forces a bank or a foreign consulate to accept it. Each sets its own requirements, so ask first which document they accept.
Which address does a public office use to serve notices on me?
The one you gave in your procedure. If you gave none, or it does not exist, the TUO of Ley 27444 says to use the address on your DNI. That is why it is worth keeping it current.
How long is a municipal address certificate valid?
The gob.pe page says it proves your residence and is valid for 3 months. Only some municipalities offer it on that platform; check yours.
The exact law
Ley N.º 28882Artículo 1read
Ley de Simplificación de la Certificación Domiciliaria — certificación domiciliaria simplificada
«requisito de certificado domiciliario [...] con la presentación, directamente ante el requirente, de una declaración jurada simple y escrita en la que conste su domicilio actual.»
↳Artículo 2read
Ley de Simplificación de la Certificación Domiciliaria — certificación optativa
«Sin perjuicio del artículo anterior, el interesado podrá solicitar el certificado domiciliario según lo previsto en las Leyes núms. 27839 y 28862, en los casos en que estime pertinente.»
Texto Único Ordenado de la Ley N.º 27444 (D.S. N.º 004-2019-JUS)Artículo 49, numeral 49.1.3read
Ley del Procedimiento Administrativo General — substitute documents: sworn statements
«Las expresiones escritas del administrado contenidas en declaraciones con carácter jurado mediante las cuales afirman su situación o estado favorable»
↳Artículo 21, numeral 21.2read
Ley del Procedimiento Administrativo General — service of notices at the DNI address
«la autoridad deberá emplear el domicilio señalado en el Documento Nacional Identidad del administrado»
Decreto Legislativo N.º 1246Artículo 10read
Administrative simplification measures — ban on the moving certificate (certificado de mudanza domiciliaria)
«Se prohíbe exigir el certificado de mudanza domiciliaria u otras constancias de similar naturaleza.»
Decreto Legislativo N.º 1049Artículo 95, literal g)read
Notaries Law — address verification (constatación domiciliaria) as a notarial certificate (SPIJ text updated to 26/01/2017; date of the norm as shown on gob.pe)
«g) La constatación domiciliaria»
Página oficial de trámite — Presidencia del Consejo de Ministros (gob.pe)Ficha de trámiteread
Solicitar certificado domiciliario (municipalities)
«El certificado domiciliario acredita tu residencia y tiene una vigencia de 3 meses.»
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