Border Control Peru/Bolivia | Customs and Immigration

Very easy border. 45mn all included this morning. It can spend more time if an entire bus stops just before you for migration. All is free.

2 migrations at the same place. It'a bit longer for adouanas that is at the corner of the same building. They just ask to open doors of camping car or camper.

For dog owners: if you didn't declare your dog at the Pérou entry, no problem, even if the perou customs see the dog. Declare it here (they will see it anyway). They will tell you to declare it at the check point just after the bridge (see on Ioverlander). You will just need a copy of the 1st sheet of the dog's passport and a copy of a certificate of health (not necessary very recent). Then you'll have a stamp on the original certificate of health. Free and easy!

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From Bolivia toPeru: There is a checkpoint at the entrance of the area where the control the passport and register your license plate. We had to park our motorcycles on a parking lot and we went to the migration office. The migration office of Bolivia and Peru are just beneath each other. Afterwards we had to drive to the toll point. There the bolivian and peruian officers are at the office. We had no problems with our german motorcycles. They did not ask for our insurance.

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For those driving a Chilean car going to Peru: if you don't have your padron yet, print the appostilezed anotaciones document. find it on registro civil Chile website. it is a bit of a hassle to print but it is worth gold! you can enter Peru without any problems (at least from Bolivia, Copacabana crossing, we crossed there). somewhere on the website, between the payment options you can select PayPal. we could not find a way to pay for the document directly by credit card but PayPal works!

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Peru/Bolivia: Departure from Peru and entry into Bolivia is carried out in the same building! It was the calmest entry we have made to a country to date, everyone was very friendly! The whole process was very fast!

Peru/Bolivia: Saida do Peru e entrada na bolivia é realizada no mesmo predio! Foi a entrada mais tranquila que fizemos até hoje em um pais, todos muito simpaticos! Todo processo foi muito rápido!

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They took all vegetables and fruits. It’s not allowed. She asked if we have rice, we said No, If we had any I think she would have taken it.

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As mentioned, super easy crossing. We went to the Bolivian consulate in Cusco so were pre-approved.

All tip work done at the border. Nothing online before we crossed.

Only thing to add is that coming from Peru into Bolivia the building is on the LEFT.

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Best border post collaboration between any 2 countries we have seen. Same buildings and they talk and work with eachother. From Peru to Bolivia, Easy crossing. Checked the chassis, quick glance inside camper and good to go. Took 35min in total

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Peru > Bolivia
No problem to pass with poder for Chilean plated car and European passport. Only important to have the Apostille for a current Anotaciones Vigentes (not older than 60 days), this applies in both directions. You can buy it on the website of the Registrio Civil for about 2 USD.

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entering into Peru they took it very seriously. They took our milk powder because of no label and beans because they are considered as seeds...

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Not sure the location of this border checkpoint is correct, it’s located before you cross the bridge. Bolivian and Peru offices in some building. Crossing from Bolivia to Peru you do customs for both countries first, then check out of Bolivian Aduana and at the next window do Peruvian Aduana. But just to say it’s now open again for travellers after the recent political violence in Peru. British on a motorcycle registered in UK crossed with no issues, it’s just very slow due to the number of commercial lorries going through. About 2hrs to get through, I hear the crossing at Arica is much faster. The road as far as Juli still has remnants of roadblocks, many are sand burns or rocks on roads, be careful. Some police checkpoints along the road but friendly enough.

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Aduana y control pasaporte antes del puente. pasamos hoy rápido y sin problemas. Parece que el paso ya está abierto normalmente después de tres meses de paro. Hay bloqueos en la carretera hacia Puno pero tienen camino alterno.

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For vehicules, it's the building CEBAF. Open every day from 8am to 8pm. Agents from Peru and bolivia share the same office making it a very smooth crossing. Workers are super nice.
They asked if we had any fruits, vegetables, meat, eggs etc... We gave up our grapes and our eggs (to save our very good french cheese located in our fridge). They didn't look further.
It was a overall a fast crossing for us, 1h for 3 persons and a chilean van going from peru to bolivia.

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We could not successfully cross border from Bolivia to Peru as foreigners with a Chilean plated car.
If you want to cross, make sure to get a tamizaje first. For this, you have to cross the pedestrian bridge in Desaguadero. Leave your car in Bolivia and cross by foot. First you have to go to Migraciones del Perú (right side after bridge) and ask for a blanco ticket for tamizaje. Then head to Centro de Salud (you can find it in Google). There are two entries into the center, just find the right one. They sign your ticket and you can go back all the way to your car and proceed with the border crossing. Before arriving at the „real“ border crossing marked here you have to pass a smaller border crossing for trucks (right by the bridge for vehicles). They let you through when you can show that you have all documents needed and the tamizaje. They will take a picture of your car such that the other border crossing knows you need to pass by. The building for the border crossing is 5 minutes down the street, on the left side. There are dozens of trucks, so it is not easy to see how to get in, but once in there are a lot of signs. When you arrive, an officer take notes of your driver’s license. Then, you need to park your car and it was inspected immediately, but not very thoroughly. They took away a cucumber and a carrot. Then, we left our car at the parking space, got into the building right before the parking lot and went to Migración Bolivia, then Migración Perú and then back to the car. After that, we took our car to Aduana. There is a sign that says „Vehicle check“, this is where you have to drive to. The whole check is done outside. They first checked our car again, this time they also opened our backpacks and asked lots of questions. After we went through the whole process, in the end, Aduana Perú insisted that our papers for the car are insufficient. We had Declaración Jurada, autorización and sales contract with us. Even as we said we crossed successfully to Argentina and Bolivia with these documents she insistent on not letting us through. Aduana Bolivia was the same opinion (even though we got TIP in Bolivia). But both could not give us a proper explanation why. Since we felt not so good we didn’t try to discuss a lot, but we should have asked for the law she is referring to. As far as I know there is no reason to reject us. We will try it again at another border. But for now we had to go back to Migración Perú, then to Migración Bolivia and return our car to Bolivia within 15 minutes. They once again took pictures to proof that our car arrived where it should be.

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Successfully crossed Bolivia -> Peru.

Overall very quick and streamlined process. I arrived after a bus and still was in and out in ~1 hour (once I was across the bridge).

The only hiccup was crossing the bridge. They asked for a "tamizaje" (health check). I got this at El Centro de salud a block north of the main plaza on the Peruvian side of Desaguadero. I had to park on the Bolivian side near the pedestrian crossing and walk past both migrations (10min). They checked for 3 vaccinations, but I didn't ask if it was okay with just 2.

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Today we successfully crossed from Peru into Bolivia! (UK citizens with UK motorcycle). Here’s what we did:

1) You must get a permission letter to exit Peru from Peru Consulate in advance - ours took 8 working days - [email protected] .with the following in one pdf document;
- Signed cover letter for why you are leaving
- Passport
- Covid vaccine
- TAM ‘virtual stamp’ (https://cel.migraciones.gob.pe/ConsultaTAMVirtual/VerificarTAM)
- Vehicle ownership document
- Driving license
- Vehicle import permit

2) PCR COVID test (Puno, Laboratorios Bioproyect is cheapest we found: 290 Soles, same day results)

3) Paperwork printed for border:

- Passport (4 copies!)
- Permission to exit from Consulate (3 copies)
- TAM (1 copy)
- Covid test (2 copies)
- Vaccination form (1 copy)
- Bolivia health declaration form (complete online & print form with QR code - takes multiple tries as system is poor but does work eventually) (1 copy)
- Bolivia Dig Migration form (print and fill in prior) (1 copy)
- Hotel booking in Bolivia (1 copy)
- vehicle title (2 copies)
- vehicle insurance (1 copy)
- vehicle import permit (1 copy)
- driving license (2 copies)

Yes that’s +20 print outs each, a record for us!

4) 0900 at Desaguadero border. Took 7 hours, staff are super thorough but useless, and don’t trust each other (multiple checks of same thing). Security team are very helpful showing you the windows. In yellow building, exit Peru and enter Bolivia windows are right next to each other. Here, with all the right paperwork in place (most important, the permission to exit letter from Peru Consulate), we got a stamp out for Peru and stamp in for Bolivia. They kept all document copies.

5) Aduana Peru (same place) thoroughly checked our kit/luggage but didn’t have problems or take any food away! :) . Checked Bike and docs, no problems, kept copies.

6) Aduana entry Bolivia (same place, rear building). SLOW. Check everything they give you - my name, nationality and bike details were all wrong on the forms they gave me to sign, with different errors in different places! Finally they gave us the signed permit document for the motorcycle.

DONE!

7) No check at actual border crossing bridge. Crossed freely.

8) 10Km along road first police checkpoint. Checked stamps and Aduana document, no problems, they were very friendly!

NOTE:
- If you have overstayed your visa you can pay online rather than going to town/waiting for Monday. But proof of this payment needs printing too. The staff don’t seem to be aware of this. (We paid 4 Sol for 1 day overstay).

- For the English, minds are blown by England/Great Britain/United Kingdom as normal in Latin America.

Good luck!

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I entered in a car, immigration was very fast and easy, but cusoms made me pass every single item i had in my car through the security belt (camping , clothing and everything else...). They also did a very thorough check of the car, emptied my fridge and took away a few items (vegetables, cheese...) The whole process lasted like 2 hours, so be ready for a full check.
Other than that, the facilities are new and very good.

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Attn US Citizens!

After collecting info from lots of reviews at different border points on here, Facebook, and even calling the consulate in Puno, I decided to come straight to the border to get my Bolivian tourist visa. Long story short- I got it in the end, but it’s a struggle and if I were to do it over again I would get it at a Bolivian consulate in advance.

Long story- we went into town first to get all printing and copies done, so when we went to immigration I had all the documents I needed: 2x passport photos, color passport copies, itinerary, hotel reservation, proof of onward travel (I just showed a hostel reservation for San Pedro de Atacama that matched the last day of my itinerary), yellow fever vaccine copy, and latest bank statement (needs to show that you have more than $1000 USD). I actually made 2 copies of all just to be sure, but they only needed 1. At immigration, they told me I couldn’t get the visa at that location, but I could do it at the other one, just over the little bridge in Desaguadero town. They stamped us out of Peru and stamped Josh into Bolivia with his Aussie passport which took all of about 30 seconds, then we went to the next section and did our TIP, took only a few minutes (Peru and Bolivia share one big window, it’s super efficient). We then crossed the big bridge into Bolivia and made our way into Desaguadero to the other immigration building so I could get my visa, it’s marked on this app.

The woman looking over my documents was extremely meticulous. She checked dates and addresses of the hotel reservation, and then told me I needed copies of my reservations for every single night! I explained that we’d be camping, thus no reservations, and it still took a few minutes of polite arguing before she let it go. She then also asked for a copy of our TIP, my husbands passport, the page in my passport with Peru’s exit stamp, and the declaration form found on the Bolivian immigration website. I told her I was unable to do the form online (the website is posted in someone’s review here) because my passport photo wouldn’t upload (this is all true) and asked if I could fill it out manually instead. She said no, showed me photo on her phone of what it looked like, and sent me out to find an Internet cafe to fill out the form, then print the page without uploading the photo. I did all this, and got the other copies she wanted, and returned only for her to tell me that I filled out the wrong thing, even though it was exactly what she showed me. After another couple moments of polite arguing, she disappears and magically reappeared with the form to fill out manually, exactly what I wanted in the first place! I get that done and finally get over to the payment desk where a guy looks over my paperwork, doesn’t need the copy of Josh’s passport or the TIP (got those for nothing) and is all ready to put me in the system, but no, the system shut down! Happens all the time apparently. Just wait 5 minutes, they tell me. Two hours later, after checking in with them a dozen times, he finally waves me over (it’s now 8pm) and I say smiling “ya tenemos sistema?” He replies, No, but I’ll just do it manually. It took everything to keep my jaw from hitting the floor. I paid with cash since you can only use card until 4pm, and he gave me change in Bolivianos. I’m convinced that they were specifically trained to make Americans entry as difficult as possible. Anyway, I’m in!

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Really easy and fast controls! They ask if you bring fruit but didn’t really checked, just a fast look inside the van. After controls going to Bolivian border, two men (one dressed like policeman) asked for 5soles for entering bolivia, but we sayed that we used all our money to get fuel and we knew we didn’t have to pay anything, so they let us go!

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you can get everything done in the same building for 30 minutes, easiest border ever. we went to the main border first, then they asked us to come here instead. The border closes at 8pm

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Just some information interesting about the condition roads are in all Bolivia, it’s a government web site, it is updating daily:
transitabilidad.abc.gob.bo/mapa/

Información interesante para saber el estado de las rutas en todo Bolivia, es una web del gobierno que se actualiza a diario:
transitabilidad.abc.gob.bo/mapa/

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Fast and easy border crossing: first you will need to stamp your passport at the migration (both Peruvian and Bolivian are at the same place); make sure to have a stamp with 90 days written on it!
From there you can move to the aduana and give back the tramite to Peru and make all the paperwork on the Bolivian's side. You just need to give your licence, passport and car's papers. No fees, no copies needed and super friendly staff.
Easy border crossing

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Be aware that is one of the WORSE border crossings . THe officer of BOLIVIA wanted to charge us a fine of 100 dolars per person.... who knows why. We know about other guy that happened the same with a bike and he could not enter Bolivia. We did not pay and discuss a lot and finally we could go into Bolivia-

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Perfect and fast boarder proces! All in one building. Park your car, walk inside, right is out of Bolivia, left is into Peru. Then take your car and drive around to the right side, here is a window for import your car. All took max one hour! Nice people!

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Pass the border on a Monday at 9am, we were the only car and people, no one else. Took us 20 minutes to do everything :
- first the passport (exit Peru/entry Bolivia) in the same building the first one
- then being check by a bolivian officer for fresh fruit and vegetables (not allowed to have them so they took them)
- doing the exit and the entry for the van for both country, just in between the two main buildings, same place very efficient

one of the easiest border for us !

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Bad experience here. Very slow and picky. Took over 3 hours to cross with only 4 bikers ahead of me. Almost refused my carta de poder (apostillada) in entry to Bolivia. I crossed in Copacabana

They only gave me 30 day TIP!!! Refused to give more now I need to ru. Around extending both.

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DOGS OWNERS!
We went to this border and were not able to cross to Bolivia with our dogs. They said if we had no documents for our dogs for entering Peru, they can't let us go to Bolivia and on top of that if we had no export document from Peru to Bolivia there is no chance for our dogs to go to Bolivia!
After 90 minutes of communication, thay said, there is a solution for 100USD.
So we turned around and went to borders towards to Copacabana whhere it was easy. No documents were needed. Anyway it is a good idea to present at both sides (Peru&Bolivia) a helth certificate what you have from another countries (eg Panama to Colombia) and ask them for a samp, just in a case of a police check somewhere on the road.
No fee.
Note: As we were entering Peru, we told to the officers at the borders that we have two dogs and they said " that's ok, you need no documents" and let us go which was a mistake.

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U.S. citizens! Make sure you have a visa to enter Bolivia before you get here! I learned the hard way and was told to ride back to Puno, Peru and apply for a visa at the Bolivian consulate.

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Not obligatory to buy SOAT, according to this website.
https://www.deperu.com/abc/ayuda-al-turista/2015/control-vehicular-para-ingresar-y-salir-del-peru
Good luck!

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Bolivia > Peru
Inmigration was easy for humans but for our puppy it was a bit annoying. We had to pay 99sol (30US) to get a certificate from the senasa for her. The paperwork took long, 1,5hr, but it was all good in the end. Don't think it would have been possible to hide her us they check every vehicule.

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Coming from Peru, the officers of Bolivia undertook a thorough search of our motorhome and took all our fruits and vegetables. No copies of any kind of documents needed in this direction.

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If you are going to Perú there is no Peruvian Soat in the building. You have to get at Olzaa in the village of Desaguadero. I listed the place on the map.

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Dans le sens Pérou>Bolivie.
En plus des fruits, légumes,fromages oeufs... ils ne veulent pas les graines type lentilles, haricots, quinoa,...
Après une courte cuisson de qqs minutes, cela évite qqs soucis et surtout de mettre de la bouffe à la poubelle pendant qu'il y en a qui crève la dalle à 3 kms. La connerie n'a pas de frontière ! Une des frontières les plus strictes depuis les états unis.
Et vérifier les numéros de chassis, passeport, et nom sur le formulaire d'importation du véhicule , les trois étaient erronés ...
Sinon nouvelle frontière pratique , les bureaux péruviens et boliviens sont dans le même édifice . Il faut juste faire un détour , bien suivre le point ioverlander , ne pas filer en Bolivie directement ...

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Our experience here was different than described. While this is a brand new building with both Peruvian and Bolivian border control - both immigration and Aduana/Sunat, it was not simple and easy. We are from the US and had uploaded our visa documents before arriving, had been issued numbers for ourselves and our truck - however, this was not accepted at the border. You must have 2 paper copies of EACH document and must have at least one night hotel reservation in Bolivia in order to enter. You must also have a passport photo in order to obtain a US Bolivian visa. Unfortunately, while we were back in the small pueblo getting our documents, the Peruvian computer system went down and we were sent on a wild goose chase back and forth between the old border crossing, which is still open for foot traffic, and the new one. After more than 7 hours, with the computers still down, an officer phoned his boss and got special permission to stamp our exit from Peru. We would encourage US citizens to get Bolivian visas before heading to the border.

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I think some of the original postings for the new border crossing facilities have been deleted?? Anyhow, this was our 3rd time through this border crossing. It is a mostly simple process but our paperwork always seems to have a problem (at their end e.g. wrongly entered in the system) so there can be the odd delay. Going to Bolivia, you cannot take fresh fruit or vegetables across; going to Peru, anything is fine although there are the fruit confiscation areas to the west coast (see other postings).
The only new addition with our latest crossing is that they added the usual community fee bridge toll to cross over the border!! It is 5soles or ?? bolivianos and the guy was sooooo rude. We normally shrug that stuff off but it wasn't the best adios from Peru. Anyhow, on to the next one!

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Drove right up, only car in huge lot. Immigration took 5 minutes for both sides inside. We had gotten visa in Cusco, and they only offered 30 days here, said to extend at any big city. No insurance needed for 30 days on car. Left building, hopped in car to go through the drive-through a Aduana. Inspector took all our fruit, veges, and sausage from fridge in camper! Blah. She allowed us to keep some in the cab for snacks for our kid. Canceled Peru TIP and got Bolivian TIP in 10 minutes.

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Crossed here. Easy, very efficient border. Only confusing part are the hours. It was open until 8pm Peru time or 9pm Bolivia time.

Also, we got our visas done in Puno the day before. The process itself is very quick (2 hours to get the visas) but their online visa form is horrendous. We highly recommend to handle the visa application form a few days before so you are not rushed (as we were).

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First: pass all the trucks you see, they have a different procedure and also a different building.

The new building is huge and immense. You have to go inside for migration, both Bolivia and Peru and then continue with your vehicle to the Aduana which is and office that allows you to stay in the car also both Bolivia and Peru.

There are people walking around to send you in the good direction. So just follow their instructions.

Only downside at this border crossing was that there are a lot of extra checkpoints. First at the bridge they wanted to see my passports then when I arrived at the building also, there they were also taking some notes from my bike. Then I continued to migration and aduana and when I left I had another control of my driver license.

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Follow the signs to the new Joint Peru/Bolivia Adunua/Immigration Building 1000m away (see other iOverlander post). This is a brand new system/ building since 18 April 2018. You will come back here once paperwork done in the new building to cross the border to Bolivia

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Everyone we are in luck. This process was amazing!!! There is a new joint Peru/Bolivia border control containing both immigration and Adunua in one building and open since 18 April 2018. It is about 3km out the city. See GPS coordinates in this post.
Note: you can no longer cross the border with a vehicle in the main town.

Attached is the booklet with all the information but it is straight forward.

This was the fastest border we have crossed in all of Central and South America so far. It took us approx 30-45 mins. It was Saturday around 12pm and extremely quiet!

Also once paper work is in order you need to drive to the bridge (with all the trucks out the front of it ) to officially cross into Bolivia!

As another person said it helps to do TIP Bolivia online before arriving at border - and even more helpful to have it printed!!

The Bolivian officer also confirmed that insurance is not mandatory in Bolivia if visiting under 30 days. However Peru is mandatory.

NO copies needed, No forms needed and No fees .... so easy!! People were super friendly and the toilets were very clean!

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New all in one Peruvian and Bolivian aduana and migracion building. Recently moved/opened. Migracion and aduana desks are now located right next to one another. Fairly straight forward process just park in the designated lot, enter only onr migracion building for both entering/exiting peru and bolivia and then drive to the drive-thru aduana window located on the side of the migracion building and do the same thing for canceling the old TIP and getting a new one.

We used this border to sell/transfer our car to a new owner and swapped California to Washington plates right in front of the Aduana window with only a few eyebrows raised but no issues. Took about 30min for the new owners clear the border and we caught a bus back to Puno from town.

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To cross with the car now you need to use a big trucks border crossing on Peru side. Both imigrations and aduanas are here.
Detailed car inspection. Not allowed to take cheese, eggs, fruits, vegetables, etc. both ways.

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This place is in wrong location - it is located at -16.57800, -69.04881

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We definitely picked the wrong time to cross the border from Bolivia to Peru. First we drove to the Truck Customs, because there is no sign. It was friday and a realy crazy busy Market was going on and every street was blocked. After 1 hour we reached the Bolivian Border to stamp out. Then we tried to drive over the bridge, but no chance. On the bridge was a car queue. So i had no other chance to go in the queue, but the locals with their wide bikes were so agressiv and we had to pay attention that they didnt damage our car. After another 2,5 hours we left this crazy border. The paperwork on both sides needs only 10 minutes, the traffic trough the market takes the most of the time. Never do this border on market days!!! It was our own mistake...
And finaly came a guy and wanted 5 soles for the road or for parking:-) i only spoke english with him and after a few minutes he walked away. Don‘t pay this!

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The road to get here from Moquegua was best best newly asphelted mountain roads in Peru. Smooth, flat and no potholes. 100 km/hour on the altoplano was nu problem. Gained about 40 on the gps estimated time.

Lost that getting to migration. Was sent to truckers migration first by locals. Then the direct road to the bridge was closed due to road works. Had to park 3 blocks away to do the exit procedure before a policeman would let me though. Migration and Sunat took 5 minutes each. Back to car to drive through market. At bridge some guy in official town uniform with dito tickets wanted me to pay 5 sols for the mayor for using the roads. I flatout refussed. Told him they needed to put some signposts up. He let me pass.

Entry to Bolivia was nearly as fast. 5 minutes migration, 5 minutes photocopies, 10 minutes for car paper. Got 90 days at migration, 60 days for the car. No talk about insurance.

Tip: read about the police road check just out of town,

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We crossed on Tuesday and had to drive through the market too. Border crossing was looooong, there was a 2-hour line on the Bolivian side. Guess we picked the wrong time to cross!

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The fastest border crossing we've encountered since we left Vermont, US. It took us 15 min in the Peruvian side and 30 min in the Bolivian side. We had all the copies ready, except for the immigration stamp, which was easy to get. We also already had the Bolivian visa, which we got in Puno. Peruvian aduana woman was nice, checked the car and didn't hassle when she saw that there was an extra number in our VIN on the official paper; she just told us to check it out next time. Bolivian aduana woman was super nice. We got to the Peruvian control at 4:20 pm and left the Bolivian one before 5:10 pm. It was a Tuesday, we were going from Peru to Bolivia. It was cold.

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We've done this border twice now (both directions), in our Chilean 4runner. It sometimes requires patience, but if you get lucky - like we did today - you might fly through in under an hour!

In Bolivia the migration is on the side of the building directly before the bridge. Take a form from the guy standing out front, fill it in and go get stamped.

The Bolivian aduana is the two little windows covered in bars at the very end of the building that face outwards to the bridge. Turn your back to the bridge and you should be standing right in front of it. There is little signage, but there are some things pasted in the windows that identify it. Peer inside and someone should come over and open the window. If entering Bolivia you need a photocopy of your passport, entry stamp and padron/title - there is a photocopy place in the shop by the bridge.

Bolivia parking is totally hectic. Best option is right by the bridge - preferably past the barricade where fewer shops are set up.

In Peru the migration is the building on the eastern side, closest to the bridge. The aduana is next door, accessed via the barred gate. If it isn't open peer inside and security should show you through. You just need your regular documents and some patience.

Parking in Peru is best on the street directly outside the migration. Both times we parked here a local watched over our car for a few soles tip.

Moneychangers are everywhere, and we got a great rate when we changed our sols to bolivianos.

Driving through the market can be daunting, but if you take the most direct/straight road leading to the bridge on the Bolivian side you should be fine. On the Peruvian side take the road that runs parallel to the lake/waterfront. Go slow and the people will move out of the way. We saw double-decker busses full of tourists coming through the same way.

Good luck, and I hope you don't get too many slow queues! :)

Oh also, if you are going into Peru - we collectively spent over 4 months in Peru and -
1) did not use reflective strips (peruvian law says only commercial vehicles need them);
2) always used headlights - it's law on the highways, but it's easier to just turn them on everywhere; and
3)never paid a bribe, or was even asked. The Peruvian police were some of the friendliest of our travels. Maybe we got lucky, but with a bright smile and friendly hello we always passed by without incident.

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Immigration was really quick. You need to fill out a 'landing card' and present that together with your passport to the officer. No questions asked and we got 90 days (2 Brits). Aduana for the car is around the corner and very pleasant to deal with. We were asked for our SOAT so would suggest you get that before going to aduana (as we did). We purchased ours from Arequipa banc as suggested (was quite expensive for our Hilux 300sols and only had annual policy - but whatever it takes not to get hassled by police officers hey!).

There is also a toilet in the aduana building, the paid public ones were disgusting!

Also, you can buy reflectors from the auto shop (mobil signage everywhere) on the hill on the road out to the East. 30sols for a strip.

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Our chilian car was denied access in Peru because we did not have the padron in our name. The notary papers were not accepted.

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Horrible border control. Hours and hours. Never seen such a thing.

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Directions below are mostly accurate though the SUNAT has moved to the same side of the road as Migracion for exiting Peru. We sat down at the SUNAT just as the officer went for lunch. But after that it was a quick look at the licence plates of the bikes and we crossed the bridge to Bolivia. The police officers said to go straight to aduana for the bikes but of course this was incorrect. Migracion first. We only needed copies of the passport, vehicle registration and Migracion card to take to aduana. Copy place was across the road from aduana. Total time was about 2 hours with biggest lineup being for Migracion to enter Bolivia.

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From Bolivia to Peru, car registered in Chile, two foreigners from European Union: the border bridge IS well hidden in Desaguero village, but look at maps.me and you will find it. We crossed with authorisation (poder, Santiago notary office confirmed) only as we did not have padron yet. Bolivian side easy, nobody cared or checked too much. Peruvian side OK, until Aduana officer realised we have only poder. Still after some discussion (maybe because it was Christmas) they finally let us in. We already had insurance And reflectors, but thy did not check our car. Overall very friendly. Money exchange opposite to Peruvian Aduana.

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Easy peasy border crossing Peru to Bolivia: Just follow the instructions in the comment below. Took us over one hour to cross as we got here during lunch time. No one in Peru or Bolivia looked at the car. No one asked about the dog. On Bolivia side is a ATM, bank and money exchange place.

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Yes Yes to all things others have said: try not to cross crossing Fridays as its mayhem with the border streets, if you're crossing into Peru then sweet talk the Border guy on the other side to let to buy seguros in puno (if the Peru seguros offices are closed like on Saturdays and sundays), and they didn't look at our vehicle at all. IMPORTANT NOTE: we didn't realize this until crossing into Ecuador, but the Peruvian aduana gave my wife 90 days, gave our Vw bus 90 days, and gave me only 60 days. we all got stamped at the same time, and I can only surmise they did this to be able to extract a bribe later on...which they were did when we checked out at Ecuadorian border.

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bussy, also on weekdays. Bought the mandatory soat insurance for 100s in Arequipa banc on peruvian side, for a station wagon (5seats). (insurance will cover only injuries, no damage to vehicles). valid for one year.
For our friend with his camioneta it was,not possible to buy insurance here, as they dont have the model in the computer. Still he was able to cross the border, with the promise to buy it in Puno.
There is a aduana checkpoint ~12km before Puno, but they didnt ask for soat.
Make sure you buy also reflectors (2 at front, 2 at back, 2x2 at sides), even if your car doesnt need them. Saves you many discussions with police. There was a control directly at the entry to Puno asking for insurance and reflectors. Only after a lot of disscusion they let us go

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Straightforward border crossing, but lot of pedestrians. When leaving Bolivia 45 min. on Bolivian side, 20 min for Peru. Peruvian customs carefully looked at insurance. ATM around the corner in Peru.

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Of course, we were here with our big rig a Friday ! But it was 4pm and the market was in the last opening time. For us, it was only the most colorful border crossing we lived, but we could imagine how crazy it was few hours before.
Market is on the both side.

So, from Peru to Bolivia :
Peru - We stop the RV near the yellow gate, just before the bridge. Then go to the immigration, few meters before, on the left on the road. Then go back to the gate, on Sunat, to cancel vehicle paper. They give you the half of the paper and you can go.
On the bridge we pay a fee 5s or 12b for the town.
Bolivia - We park our RV just after the bridge, on the right. Then we go to immigration. It's a building on the right of the road which goes to the left. Then go back on the beginning of the buildings, in front of the bridge, just between the 2 roads. For your vehicle, you have to give driver license, vehicle paper, your passport and the little part of the form that the immigration just let you. All 4 with copies. Then someone want to see the VIN number on your car and give a vehicle permission paper.

Change rate on Peru side for soles to bol was 2.10 this day

With my wife and our 3 children, we cross this border in 1h20. Probably the fastest of all the americas.

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do not cross this border on friday! big local street market. full of people and almost impossible to get through. with bigger rigs impossible on a friday! the same if you come from bolivia.

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To get to the border, coming from Bolivia, turn right into town, in a dirt street where a small yellow sign says "Desaguadero Bolivia Peru". Avoid on Fridays, we had to drive through a chaotic open market. We took long on Peruvian side because hadn't hired the insurance in advance. A bank nearby sells the insurance SOAT. After that, the Aduana was very simple.

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Don't stay on panam to cross boarder, that is for semis/truckers. Pretty easy/slow boarder crossing.

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