How do internships and placements work in Peru?
Internships and traineeships in Peru
In Peru, pre-professional and professional internships are training programs with rules on agreements, working hours, stipends and protection. They allow you to apply knowledge in a company or public entity, but they must not be used to fill a regular position without following the applicable regulations.
The initial difference is your academic status: pre-professional internships are linked to student status and professional internships to graduate status. In addition, the private and public sectors have specific frameworks. Therefore, before applying, confirm the type, the requirements and the graduation date used in the call for applications.
Pre-professional and professional internships
In the private sector, training programs fall under Law 28518 and its regulations. Pre-professional internships connect training with the educational institution; professional internships allow graduates to consolidate learning. They are not distinguished simply because one pays less or because the organization uses a different name.
For students, the maximum working hours are six hours daily or thirty weekly; for professional internships, eight daily or forty-eight weekly.
Check with your institution which activities can be part of the experience and how the agreement is formalized. Do not start counting hours before you have the necessary approval. If your academic status changes, inform the parties to review the classification.
Stipend, insurance and leave
When the maximum working hours for the type are met, the monthly stipend must not be less than the current minimum living wage; if the working hours are fewer, the applicable proportionality should be reviewed. To compare an offer, use the current minimum and not a figure copied from an old news story.
Sunafil also reports on the right to additional stipends and intern leave: an additional half stipend is provided for every six continuous months and the corresponding paid leave upon reaching the legally established period.
There must be health and accident coverage through EsSalud or private insurance under the required conditions. Ask for the coverage details and the care procedure. Also ask how absences, leave and schedule changes are recorded.
Calculate your transportation, food, and materials expenses before accepting. The advertised amount alone does not say whether you will be able to sustain the experience. If you must travel to other locations or use your own tools, ask for those conditions to be clarified in writing.
What changes in public entities
Internships in the State are governed by its specific framework, including Legislative Decree 1401 and its amendments. The SERVIR FAQs on training modalities let you review requirements, agreements, and conditions.
Access is through public competition. For professional internships, the opportunity falls within the twenty-four months after graduation and is subject to the other conditions of the regime, including not having obtained the professional degree. That period should not be interpreted as a guaranteed duration of any call.
Read the full rules: degree or specialty, graduation documentation, knowledge, evaluation stages, and how to submit your application. Errors in mandatory documents may prevent you from continuing, even if your academic profile is suitable.
The official collection of SERVIR internship selection processes is an example of a channel for checking calls. Always verify the date and status of the process: that a publication is still available does not mean it still accepts applications.
What it means for an internship to be denatured
A training modality may lose its character when legal conditions are not met. Sunafil explains situations to avoid in its guidance on denaturalization of training agreements, published in 2026.
Therefore, signing a document titled “convenio” is not enough. The tasks, working hours, and actual development of the experience also matter. Keep the agreement, communications, and activity records, and seek advice if you are assigned different duties or the agreed conditions are not met.
If a problem arises, first identify your supervisor and the institution's internship coordinator. Describe specific dates and facts. For oversight matters in the private sector, check Sunafil's official channels; in public entities, also consult the rules and officers responsible for the corresponding process.
How to prepare your resume and wrap up the experience
Include your exact academic status and projects related to the call for applications. Explain what you did, what tools you used, and what your contribution was. Do not present as independent professional experience an activity you carried out under supervision as part of a course.
From the start, save the requirements for the final report and certification. When you finish, request documents that identify the modality, period, and duties. The recognition of internships as experience depends on the applicable rules and proper accreditation; you should not assume it without reviewing the requirements of the next process you apply to.
Also ask for feedback on your strengths and areas for improvement. That information can help you choose a specialization and explain with examples what you contribute in a future interview.
