PTP: Protection-oriented migratory arrangement for refugees in Peru

The project in brief

Implemented by

Peruvian National Superintendence of Migration

UNHCR Peru

Country

Peru

Duration

The project began in 2017.

The Temporary Resident Permit (PTP) was extended twice, allowing the regularization and permanence of people who were in Peru before 2 February 2017 and who entered the country before 31 October 2018. PTP holders, subsequently, can apply for a Resident special immigration status.

In the case of people who entered Peru after 31 October 2018, there is not option to renew and/or to apply to the PTP migratory scheme.  

Description

Easing the pressures on Peru as a host country by enhancing the self-reliance of people with international protection needs.

Project aims

To regularize the immigration status of Venezuelans in Peru, providing a stay arrangement and access to fundamental rights within the framework of the Peruvian legislation.

VIDEO: MigracionesDePeru - Procedimiento para generar la cita en línea para el PTP

Resources used

• Financial
• Material
• Human
• Technical
• Legal
• Policy changes

Partners 

• Ministry of Interior
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Challenges and how they were overcome

Challenges

• Lack of resources
• Lack of proper documentation of Venezuelans to meet the requirements of the PTP
• Information reach-out to mobile population in an urban context.

How they were overcome

• Budget increased, further human resources, extra working-hours and additional support from Headquarters
• Tailoring the procedures to make them flexible and accessible
• Use of digital platforms and articulating with local partners and Venezuelans organizations.

Results of the Good Practice

• More than 403,700 Venezuelans were granted a Temporary Resident Permit (PTP for its acronyms in Spanish) and approximately 82,800 are in the process of obtaining it. 
• The PTP also guarantees that Venezuelans are registered and regularly update their information, contributing to their security and facilitating their local integration process.

How the project meets the GCR Objectives

The PTP is very much aligned with two of the four objectives of the GCR and has the potential to be adapted and / or be replicated by other countries. Specifically, it contributed to the following two objectives:

• Objective 1: Ease the pressures on host countries
• Objective 2: Enhance refugee self-reliance

On one hand, the PTP expanded the protection capabilities of the Peruvian State: providing an alternative for migratory regularization, providing a legal stay and access to fundamental rights, providing a sustainable alternative to reach better local integration. On the other hand, the PTP allowed the registration of Venezuelan people living in the country, generating relevant data for decision-making and addressing the protection considerations of the host community.

As a public measure, other public sectors and private organizations (labor, inclusion, taxes, financial, etc.) recognized the validity of this permit as a document to identify their holders for access to public services. They even issued internal regulations as a mechanism to remove legal or administrative barriers. This allowed different governmental and private organizations be included in a strategy that facilitates local integration. At the regional level, the PTP was an example of an alternative protection mechanism. In that sense, for example, Colombia issued in July 2017, Resolution 5797 that created the Special Permit of Permanence (PEP).

The PTP was developed through relevant national legislation, as part of the National Migration Policy, to enable appropriate economic, social, and cultural inclusion of persons with needs of international protection.

One of the most important aspects in which the PTP contributes is that, is that it enables the beneficiary to work and access livelihoods. This allows them to contribute to the development of the host community and facilitates local integration from a sustainable perspective; taking into account that the PTP provides access to a Resident Special Immigration status that extends the residence for another year and is further extendable. This special condition allows the application to other migratory status with more sustainable options such a worker resident permit. It also guarantees the safety of the family unit. Through it, the members of the family can access a resident's family migratory status.

Next steps 

• Advocate that the same or similar procedure is extended to those Venezuelans that would not benefit from the PTP.
• Lead by example and advocate for national and regional mechanisms for migratory regularization and access to residence alternatives.