Starting a Business · Peru
Starting a business in Peru: foreigner's guide (2026)
Peru shaded by its starting a business status
Foreign nationals may own up to 100% of a Peruvian company and receive legally equal treatment to domestic investors under Constitutional Article 63 and Decree Laws 662 and 757. Company formation requires 6–7 sequential steps including notarization, SUNARP registration, SUNAT tax ID, and mandatory FDI registration with ProInversión, with a typical timeline of 2–4 weeks. There is no statutory minimum share capital for most entity types, but a Peru-domiciled legal representative is required.
Key points
Peru's Constitution (Art. 63) and Decreto Legislativo 662 guarantee equal treatment for foreign and domestic investors; foreigners may hold 100% equity in virtually all sectors with no discriminatory fees or taxes on foreign capital.
Restricted activities include air and maritime cabotage, private security services, and weapons manufacturing. Per Art. 71 of the Constitution, foreigners cannot own property within 50 km of Peru's borders without an explicit supreme-decree exemption.
Steps are: (1) reserve company name via SID-SUNARP (~$6, 24–72 hrs digitally); (2) draft articles of incorporation with a lawyer; (3) deposit share capital at a Peruvian bank; (4) notarize as a Public Deed; (5) register with SUNARP (~$50–$150 fee); (6) obtain RUC tax ID from SUNAT; (7) obtain municipal operating license.
The Ley General de Sociedades sets no statutory minimum capital for most entity types (SAC, SRL). In practice, Peruvian banks typically require a minimum corporate account deposit of approximately PEN 1,000 (~USD 270).
The company must designate a legal representative domiciled in Peru (Peruvian national or registered foreign resident). Foreign founders may act remotely via an apostilled power of attorney without travelling to Peru.
Foreign investments must be registered with ProInversión; approval takes a maximum of 25 business days from filing. Legal Stability Agreements are available to investors contributing at least USD 5 million (general sectors) or USD 10 million (mining/hydrocarbons) within two years.
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Last verified 5/24/2026 · Orientation, not legal advice - verify against the primary sources linked above. Explore the full world map →