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Nearshore · Lima, Peru
Nearshore in Peru: your time zone, no clock changes.
Lima keeps New York time in winter and Chicago time in summer. Talent from strong universities, a clear legal framework and sourced data so you can compare with other destinations.
Why Peru?
Peru is on UTC-5 all year: the same time as New York in winter and as Chicago in summer. For a U.S. company, that means a full shared workday with the team and no night shifts. gmedia.la is a software development company based in Lima since 2010 that works on those hours, in English and Spanish, with engineers who use AI and a senior engineer reviewing the work.
Comparison
Peru vs. other nearshore destinations
Two data points that can be compared with a source: time zone and the country English level.
Time zone
- PeruUTC-5 all year, no clock changes
- ColombiaUTC-5 all year, no clock changes
- MexicoEnded daylight saving time in 2022 (except border areas)
- ArgentinaUTC-3, no daylight saving time
- BrazilNo daylight saving time since 2019
- ChileChanges clocks twice a year
English (EF EPI 2025, score)
EF English Proficiency Index 2025: 123 countries, 2024 tests. It is a self-selected sample and does not predict any one person level, which is why we assess the English of every candidate. Mexico keeps a fixed time zone except in border areas; Chile changes clocks twice a year.
Talent
Engineers trained at well-regarded universities
Peru has 25 institutions in the QS Latin America 2026 ranking. Some with a strong engineering profile:
PUCP in Latin America (QS 2026), the best in Peru.
Universidad de Lima in the same ranking.
UPC, up 10 places from the previous ranking.
Source: QS Latin America University Rankings 2026 (published October 2025), as reported by the universities themselves. UNI and UTEC also train engineers, but we do not cite them by ranking because we have no verified comparable position.
Economy and trade
A stable framework for hiring from the U.S.
Peru inflation in 2025, according to the central bank report (BCRP). The central bank is independent and has a target of 2% ± 1 point.
The U.S.–Peru Trade Promotion Agreement takes effect, opening the services sector and setting clear rules for investment. It does not remove tariffs on services, because services do not pay them.
Sources: Central Reserve Bank of Peru (December 2025 inflation report) and USTR.
Legal framework
What to know before you sign
A general overview for U.S. companies. This is not legal advice: consult an attorney in the U.S. and in Peru for your case.
Intellectual property
In Peru, the copyright law (Legislative Decree 822) presumes, unless agreed otherwise, that the economic rights to software pass to the party that commissions it. Even so, we recommend an express, written assignment of rights in the contract. Moral rights are not transferable.
Hiring through a company, not a freelancer
In Peru, a "service lease" (locación de servicios) contract can be treated as an employment relationship if there is de facto subordination (fixed hours, direct orders, long-term exclusivity). Hiring through a Peruvian company, which is the employer, reduces that exposure for your company.
U.S. contractor classification
Federal rules on independent contractor vs. employee are under review in 2026, and states such as California, Massachusetts and New Jersey apply stricter standards. Check this with your advisor.
Invoicing and payments
In general, exports of services from Peru are not subject to IGV (Peruvian sales tax) if they meet the legal requirements (provider domiciled in Peru, client not domiciled in Peru, and service used abroad). We invoice in U.S. dollars.
Full transparency
What to know about Peru
No destination is perfect. These are the points we review with our clients before we start.
Politics
Peru has had several changes of president in the last decade. Even so, the economy and the central bank have stayed on course, and remote engineering work does not depend on the political cycle.
Safety and travel
The U.S. State Department rates Peru Level 2, "Exercise Increased Caution," mainly because of crime. This affects visits, not remote work. If you visit the team, we help you plan the trip.
Talent scale
Brazil, Mexico and Argentina have more developers overall, according to third-party estimates. Peru competes on quality, time zone and proximity, not on volume. In English, speaking is the weakest skill according to EF, which is why we verify the English level (B2 or higher) of every candidate.
Next step
If Peru works for you, here is how to work with us
IT staffing from Peru
Choose a role and level; you get 2 or 3 vetted candidates in 5 days.
See profiles → TeamDedicated team
A team exclusively for your product, managed and aligned with you.
See dedicated teams →If you would rather direct the engineer yourself inside your team, see staff augmentation.
Frequently asked questions
What people ask about nearshore in Peru
Still have a question? Write to us and we will reply within 24 hours.
What is nearshore, and why choose Peru?
Nearshore means hiring software development in a country close to your time zone. Peru is on UTC-5 all year: it has the same time as New York in winter and as Chicago in summer, and never more than one hour of difference from U.S. Eastern or Central time. It also has well-regarded engineering universities, a free trade agreement with the U.S. and low inflation.
What is the time difference between Peru and the U.S.?
Peru uses UTC-5 and does not change clocks in summer. In winter it matches Eastern time (New York) and is one hour ahead of Central time (Chicago); in summer it matches Central time and is one hour behind Eastern time. There is always a full shared workday with both zones.
Peru, or Mexico, Colombia, Argentina or Brazil?
It depends on what you prioritize. Peru and Colombia share UTC-5 all year; Argentina leads the region in English according to EF; Brazil, Mexico and Argentina have more developers overall, according to third-party estimates. Peru stands out for its stable time zone and its balance of English, universities and economic stability. You can review the data in the comparison on this page.
How good is the English of Peruvian engineers?
According to the EF English Proficiency Index 2025, Peru ranks 52nd of 123 countries, at the "moderate" level, above Brazil, Colombia and Mexico in the region. It is a national indicator and does not predict any one person, which is why we verify the English level (B2 or higher) of every candidate before presenting them to you.
Who owns the code, and how is intellectual property protected?
You do. We sign an NDA and an intellectual property rights assignment from the start, express and in writing. This is general information and not legal advice: consult an attorney in the U.S. and in Peru for your case.
Do I hire the engineer directly or through gmedia.la?
Through gmedia.la. The engineer is part of our team in Peru: we handle the contract, payments, benefits and HR support. That way you avoid the risk of independent contractor reclassification.
Is it safe to work with a team in Peru?
For remote work, yes: the economy is stable and inflation was 1.5% in 2025 according to the central bank. For travel, the U.S. advises caution mainly because of crime; we can help you plan a visit if you need one.
Evaluating Peru for your next team?
In a 30-minute call we answer your questions about time zone, hiring and process.
