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Company Formation · Peru

Set up a company in Peru.

Senior advisory on incorporation, banking and compliance in one of Latin America’s most open economies. We handle SUNARP registration, SUNAT, EsSalud, ProInversión incentives and bank introductions — end-to-end, with a fixed quote in 48 hours.

29.5% Corp. Tax
18% IGV (VAT)
5% Div. WHT
3-5 Weeks to Live
Why Peru

Pacific Alliance gateway. Open economy.

Peru is one of the most open and FTA-rich economies in Latin America. For businesses targeting mining and critical minerals, the Pacific Rim trade corridor, agro-industry, or the Andean consumer market — Lima is a credible, predictable base.

01

20+ free trade agreements

One of the most extensive FTA networks in Latin America — including the United States, European Union, China, Japan, South Korea, the UK and CPTPP. Peruvian-made goods reach over 4 billion consumers tariff-free or preferentially.

02

5% dividend withholding tax

One of the lowest dividend withholding tax rates in the region. Combined with extensive double-taxation treaties, this makes Peru materially attractive for holding company structures and international group repatriation.

03

Mining & critical-minerals leader

World’s second-largest producer of copper and silver, top-ten producer of gold, zinc and lead. Significant lithium reserves in the Puno region position Peru centrally in the energy-transition supply chain.

04

Pacific Alliance member

Founding member alongside Chile, Colombia and Mexico. Free movement of goods, services, capital and people across a combined market of over 230 million consumers and 40%+ of LATAM GDP.

05

Stable monetary policy

One of the most independent central banks in LATAM with a strong record of inflation control. The Sol (PEN) has historically been one of the more stable Andean currencies, supporting predictable financial planning.

06

100% foreign ownership

The Foreign Investment Law guarantees national treatment for foreign investors. 100% foreign ownership is permitted across virtually all sectors, with full rights to repatriate capital, profits and dividends.

Business Structures

Choose the right entity. First time.

The General Corporations Law (Ley 26887) recognises several entity types. For most foreign investors, the Sociedad Anónima Cerrada (S.A.C.) is the right answer — flexible, simple to govern, and accepted in every banking and regulatory channel.

Most common · Recommended

Closed Corporation (S.A.C.)

Sociedad Anónima Cerrada

Separate legal entity, limited liability, simplified governance. The default for foreign investors trading in Peru.

  • Min. 2 shareholders, max. 20
  • 100% foreign ownership permitted
  • No formal minimum share capital
  • Board optional; legal representative required
For listed or larger ventures

Open Corporation (S.A.A.)

Sociedad Anónima Abierta

For larger companies whose shares can be listed on the Lima Stock Exchange (BVL). Higher disclosure and governance requirements.

  • Required if 750+ shareholders or public offering
  • Mandatory board of directors
  • SMV supervision (securities regulator)
  • Full audit and disclosure regime
Smaller ventures · partnership

Limited Liability Company (S.R.L.)

Sociedad Comercial de Responsabilidad Limitada

Partnership-style entity with limited liability. Suitable for smaller ventures or family-owned operations.

  • Min. 2 partners, max. 20
  • Capital in “participations,” not shares
  • Less flexible for capital raises
  • Fully foreign ownership permitted
For foreign parent entities

Branch (Sucursal)

An extension of an overseas parent, registered in Peru. Useful where the parent wants to operate directly without forming a local subsidiary.

  • No separate legal personality
  • Parent liable for branch obligations
  • Locally-resident legal representative required
  • Annual filings of parent and branch accounts
Costs & Timeline

What it costs. How long it takes.

Indicative ranges for a foreign-owned S.A.C. Final fixed quote depends on structure, shareholders and ongoing support level — we confirm within 48 hours of a discovery call.

Formation Cost
From $2,800
All-in incorporation: SUNARP registration, RUC tax number, notarised articles, registered office, government fees included.
Ongoing Compliance
From $500 /month
Bookkeeping, monthly SUNAT filings, annual financial statements, statutory filings, payroll for up to 10 staff.
Time to Live
3-5 weeks
From signed engagement letter to certificate of registration, RUC issued and operational bank account opened.
Note: Mining (concessions and exploration), banking, telecoms, fishing and hydrocarbons require sector-specific licences from the relevant ministry which add cost and time. We flag these on the discovery call.
Quick Estimator

Get an estimate in 30 seconds.

Three quick choices. We’ll show you an indicative cost range, monthly support fee and time to live — then send a fixed quote within 48 hours.

Step 1 · Structure

Which entity type do you need?

S.A.C. (Closed Corporation)
S.A.A. (Open Corporation)
S.R.L. (Limited Liability)
Branch (Sucursal)
Step 2 · Setup

What does your shareholding look like?

100% foreign-owned
Joint venture with local partner
Local majority
Step 3 · Services

How much ongoing support do you need?

Formation only
Formation + accounting & compliance
Fully managed
Your indicative estimate
Setup Cost
Monthly Support
Time to Live
Registration Process

From signed engagement to live entity.

The full Peruvian registration sequence under Ley 26887. We handle every step — you sign a couple of notarised documents and review progress weekly.

Name reservation

Check availability and reserve the proposed company name through SUNARP’s online registry. Two backup names recommended.

Authority: SUNARP · Timeline: 1-2 days

Articles of association (Estatuto)

We draft the constitutional documents in Spanish to match the agreed share structure, director arrangements and corporate purpose under Ley 26887. Translated and certified as needed.

Drafted by G&G · Timeline: 3-4 days

Notarisation (Escritura Pública)

The articles must be notarised before a Peruvian notary public, who issues the Escritura Pública de Constitución. Powers of Attorney for non-resident shareholders coordinated in advance.

Authority: Notario Público · Timeline: 3-5 working days

SUNARP filing & certificate

Submit the notarised package to SUNARP. Certificate of incorporation issued on approval. Company is now legally constituted.

Authority: SUNARP · Timeline: 5-10 working days

Tax registration (RUC)

Apply for the company’s Registro Único de Contribuyentes with SUNAT. The RUC is required before any commercial activity or banking.

Authority: SUNAT · Timeline: 1-3 working days

IGV & EsSalud registration

Register for IGV (VAT) and EsSalud (social security) if employing staff. Electronic invoicing setup configured through SUNAT.

Authorities: SUNAT · EsSalud · Timeline: 3-5 working days

Bank account opening

Introductions to banks that actively onboard foreign-owned Peruvian entities. Accounts opened in PEN and USD; both are commonly used in formal commerce.

G&G banking introductions · Timeline: 2-3 weeks (parallel)

Sectoral licences & investment registration

Where qualifying — we register foreign investment with ProInversión and apply for sectoral licences (mining, banking, telecoms). VUCE used for foreign-trade processes.

Authorities: ProInversión + sector regulator · Timeline: variable
Laws & Regulations

The legal framework that applies.

A summary of the Peruvian legislation that governs incorporation, tax, employment, data, environment and intellectual property. We track changes and brief clients ahead of filing deadlines.

Corporate Law

Formation & governance

  • Ley General de Sociedades (Ley N° 26887) — formation and operation of companies
  • Código Civil — contracts and obligations
Tax Law

Corporate & transactional

  • Código Tributario — tax administration
  • Ley del Impuesto a la Renta — income tax
  • Ley del IGV (Ley N° 29646) — value added tax
Employment Law

Workforce & benefits

  • Ley de Productividad y Competitividad Laboral — contracts and conditions
  • Ley de Seguridad Social (EsSalud) — social contributions
  • Ley N° 29783 — occupational health & safety
Data Protection

Privacy & personal data

  • Ley N° 29733 — Personal Data Protection Law
  • Regulator: Autoridad Nacional de Protección de Datos Personales
Environmental Law

Sustainability & permits

  • Ley General del Ambiente (Ley N° 28611) — protection and EIA
  • Regulator: Ministerio del Ambiente
Intellectual Property

Patents, marks & copyright

  • Ley de Propiedad Industrial
  • Ley de Derecho de Autor (Ley N° 822)
  • Regulator: INDECOPI
Why Grant & Graham

We’ve actually done business in Peru.

Senior advisers only

Every Peru engagement is led by a practitioner who has incorporated, banked and operated in Latin America — not by a junior reading the SUNARP website with Google Translate open.

Bilingual delivery

All filings and notarial work in Spanish, all client communication in English. Certified translations included where needed. No language friction in either direction.

End-to-end accountability

Incorporation, RUC, EsSalud, banking, ongoing compliance — one team, one point of contact, one fixed quote. No handoffs, no surprises.

Honest advice on jurisdiction

If Peru isn’t the right answer for your business — if Chile, Colombia, Panama or Mexico would serve you better — we’ll tell you on the discovery call. No commission gets in the way of the right answer.

Frequently Asked

Common questions about incorporating in Peru.

Can a foreign national or company own 100% of a Peruvian S.A.C.?
Yes. The Foreign Investment Law (Decreto Legislativo 662) guarantees national treatment for foreign investors. 100% foreign ownership is permitted across virtually all sectors, with full rights to repatriate capital, profits and dividends. Narrow restrictions apply in specific border-zone real estate and certain transport sectors.
Is there a minimum share capital requirement?
There is no statutory minimum share capital for an S.A.C. under Ley 26887. In practice, we typically recommend a nominal authorised capital of PEN 1,000 to PEN 10,000 (USD 250-2,600) for most operating businesses, which supports banking introductions. The capital must be paid up at incorporation.
What is the corporate tax rate in Peru?
The standard corporate income tax rate is 29.5%. Dividends are subject to a 5% withholding tax — one of the lowest rates in the region. Special regimes exist for mining (with additional royalties and the Mining Tax IEM), agro-industry, and CETICOS / ZOFRATACNA free zones (where 0% income tax can apply for qualifying export activity).
Do I need to be physically present in Peru to incorporate?
No. Incorporation can be completed remotely via Powers of Attorney executed at the Peruvian consulate in your home country (or apostilled). However, most banks require a physical KYC meeting with at least one director or legal representative before opening the operational account. We coordinate this so the trip is short and productive.
Do I need a Peruvian legal representative?
Yes. Every Peruvian company must have a Representante Legal (legal representative) who is responsible for signing on behalf of the company and dealing with SUNAT. This person does not need to be Peruvian, but in practice having a locally-resident representative materially simplifies day-to-day operations. We can arrange a qualified nominee representative as part of our service.
How long does it take to incorporate in Peru?
From signed engagement to a usable company — certificate of incorporation, RUC issued, statutory filings done and operational bank account live — typically 3 to 5 weeks. Pure incorporation (SUNARP certificate and RUC) takes around 2-3 weeks. Sectoral licences and ProInversión investment registration extend the timeline.
Will I need to file annual accounts and audits?
All Peruvian companies file monthly tax returns with SUNAT and annual financial statements. Audited financial statements are mandatory for S.A.A.s and for any company exceeding defined revenue or asset thresholds (and the SMV may require audits for regulated sectors). Electronic invoicing is mandatory for almost all companies. We coordinate all of this through our ongoing compliance retainer.
Can I operate in US dollars?
Yes. Peru is officially a Sol (PEN) economy, but USD is widely used in formal commerce, real estate and B2B contracts. Most banks offer parallel USD accounts. Many invoices can be issued in USD as long as the equivalent PEN value is shown for tax purposes. There are no foreign exchange controls on capital, dividends or profit repatriation.
Start the Conversation

Ready to set up
in Peru?

Tell us in 25 minutes what you need. We’ll tell you honestly whether Peru is the right jurisdiction, which structure makes sense, and what it will cost — with a fixed quote in 48 hours.