Job hunting

How and where expats can find work

Currently, the best fields of work for expatriates in Peru are natural resources, tourism and international banking. In general, it is always better to look for work before the big move. It will largely facilitate your visa application in particular, and will make your move easier.

As we mentioned in the previous section of this guide, Working in Peru, Peru is financially one of the strongest countries in South America and is one of the fastest growing economies worldwide. 

It has a low rate of unemployment, and its varied landscape and consequent tourism means that employment opportunities are constantly open. So, why not indulge in the ecotourism of the Amazon rainforest, show people around Machu Picchu or promote Peru’s gastronomy?

Alternatively, there are a number of international banks with offices in the capital city of Lima, so if you have a financial background looking for job openings there is a great place to start.

A further popular career path for expatriates is teaching English. There are numerous language schools and institutes, as well as international schools.

The more prestigious schools require teaching qualifications such as a TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) certificate or an education related degree, but the most important requirement is that you are a native speaker. For most schools and academies extensive qualifications or experience are not necessary.

Most institutes offer both on-site and private lessons in students’ offices or houses. Some institutes are better than others - some give more work than others, some pay on time and some don’t. It’s best to ask other teachers about their experiences before accepting teaching positions.

Job finding tips

Local Peruvian newspapers are a good place to look for work, but if you follow our advice and look before you land, online job portals are probably the best place to start. The most popular job website is Empleos Peru , but there is also Xpat Jobs Peru , jobs at GoAbroad , and Learn4Good .

• Telephoning about a job offer will often get you further than sending your CV via email, even if the employer suggests sending the CV on the job application. Emails are often ignored. The best option is to telephone the employer to notify them that you have emailed them your CV.
• Before accepting a job offer, make sure you are well informed about pay (how much and when) and the duration of the job, whether you will get a contract etc.

In practice it is possible to work in Peru on a tourist visa, depending on the company and type of job. However, we strongly recommend that you comply with the official immigration and visa regulations.