Andean Community Decision 967 preserves 180-day tourist limits from Oct. 1

The Andean Community revised its core migration statute Oct. 1, replacing Decision 878 with Decision 967 while preserving existing 180-day tourist limits and two-year temporary residence pathways for regional citizens.

Replacement of Decision 878 and the 30-day rollout

Decision 967 entered into force upon publication in Gaceta Oficial No. 5807 on Oct. 1, 2026, officially substituting the previous regional migration framework established under Decision 878 in May 2021. The measure gives member states 30 days from publication to complete domestic administrative implementation across their national migration systems, the official gazette confirmed.

Because the core framework carries forward earlier rules, the update doesn't introduce brand-new travel privileges or expanded stay limits. Instead, it maintains continuity with Decision 878 while national authorities in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru update internal registries and border systems. The statute applies immediately under community law, though individual member states retain authority over domestic execution and processing portals through late October 2026.

Unchanged 180-day limits for Andean tourists

Under Decision 967, citizens of the four member nations retain visa-free entry across borders when presenting an approved national identity document. The authorized tourist stay remains set at 90 days, with the option to request an extension for an additional 90 days.

Total tourist presence can't exceed 180 calendar days in the same year, whether spent continuously or accumulated across multiple trips. Tourist status strictly bars travelers from engaging in remunerated or lucrative activities. For remote workers reviewing regional rules through destination guides, the decision doesn't establish a dedicated digital nomad visa, leaving the legality of overseas remote work on a tourist entry strictly to each country's domestic legislation.

Two-year temporary residence and work rights

The revised statute maintains the established pathway allowing Andean nationals to secure temporary residence in another member state for up to two years. Applicants can file paperwork through destination consulates abroad or directly with domestic immigration offices after entering the country, regardless of their current immigration status.

The text exempts applicants from domestic fines or overstay sanctions connected to their prior status when submitting a temporary residence filing. Once approved, temporary residents obtain national-treatment work rights, permitting employment or self-employment under the same legal conditions as local citizens. Standard documentation requirements include:

• A national passport or travel document valid for at least six months

• Police, judicial or criminal record certificates from the applicant's country of origin and any countries of residence over the prior five years

• A domestic criminal record check if the applicant is already inside the destination country

• A written statement confirming the intention to establish temporary residence alongside payment of the national service fee

All foreign documents must be legalized, apostilled or certified by the relevant consulate before filing.

Permanent status deadlines and domestic fee variations

Decision 967 doesn't set a uniform regional processing price, leaving fee schedules to each nation's domestic law while encouraging fee equivalence across the bloc. In Peru, domestic immigration filings under the Andean framework list fees of S/161.40 ($43) for temporary or permanent residence and S/17.70 ($4.75) for tourist extensions, while Ecuador charges an online application fee of $50 with no separate issuance fee.

Temporary residents seeking permanent status face a strict filing deadline: they must submit their permanent residence application within the 90 days before their two-year temporary permit expires. Applicants must demonstrate lawful means of financial support, clean local criminal records and payment of the domestic fee. Missing that 90-day window causes the temporary permit to lapse entirely, subjecting the individual to standard domestic immigration law and local regularization procedures.

Scope limits for non-Andean nationals

The protections under Decision 967 apply strictly to citizens of Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru moving within the bloc. Third-country nationals holding residency in an Andean country don't automatically gain regional free-movement privileges across borders.

Non-Andean family members and foreign permanent residents remain subject to destination-country entry rules and consular visa requirements. While member states may recognize certain domestic identity cards at border checkpoints, travelers holding non-Andean passports must continue to rely on standard bilateral visa policies and national entry rules when traveling between member states.