Company Formation in Peru
Register a company in Peru through the S.A.C. structure, with notarized incorporation, tax registration, and foreign-investment documentation handled correctly from the start.
How to Set Up a Company in Peru
Most foreign-owned companies in Peru incorporate as a Sociedad An贸nima Cerrada (S.A.C.), a closed corporation that doesn't require a board of directors and keeps share transfers private rather than filed with the public registry. It allows between 2 and 20 shareholders with full foreign ownership. Formation is executed as a notarial deed (escritura p煤blica) before a notario p煤blico and registered with SUNARP's Registro de Personas Jur铆dicas. There is no statutory minimum capital, though at least 25% of the subscribed capital must be paid in and deposited in a Peruvian bank account before incorporation is complete. Once registered, the company obtains its RUC (tax ID) from SUNAT. Standard incorporation takes 7 to 15 days once documents are ready, but non-resident founders using an apostilled power of attorney should expect the process to run closer to 6 to 12 weeks end to end, with corporate bank account opening as the least predictable stage.
Key Requirements
Entity type: Sociedad An贸nima Cerrada (S.A.C.), Peru's standard vehicle for foreign investors, allowing 2 to 20 shareholders and full foreign ownership without a mandatory board of directors
Minimum capital: none set by law, though at least 25% of subscribed capital must be paid in and deposited in a Peruvian bank account before incorporation is complete
Registering agency and tax authority: SUNARP records the incorporation through its Registro de Personas Jur铆dicas, and SUNAT issues the RUC (tax ID) once the company is registered
Notarization: required. Incorporation is executed as a notarial deed (escritura p煤blica) before a notario p煤blico and then filed with SUNARP
Foreign-shareholder specifics: the legal representative must hold a carnet de extranjer铆a or a passport with a visa authorizing income-generating activity in Peru, and foreign capital contributions are typically registered with ProInversi贸n's foreign investment registry to document eligibility for future repatriation
Document requirements: powers of attorney and corporate documents from abroad generally need an apostille and certified Spanish translation before a Peruvian notary will accept them
Common Challenges
The 25% capital deposit is a bootstrapping problem for foreign founders
Peru requires at least 25% of subscribed capital to be deposited in a Peruvian bank account as part of the incorporation checklist itself, before the company legally exists. A foreign investor with no prior banking relationship in Peru has to solve this before registration can be completed.
The municipal operating license is a separate step from SUNARP and SUNAT
A licencia de funcionamiento from the district municipality where the business operates is required in addition to SUNARP registration and RUC issuance, with requirements that vary by district rather than being centrally standardized.
New companies are electronic invoicing issuers from day one
Since mid-2026, most new RUC registrants are designated electronic invoice issuers immediately upon registration, not after a grace period. A new entity needs its electronic invoicing set up before it can legally bill its first customer.
How NavviPal Helps
End-to-end S.A.C. formation, from the notarial deed through SUNARP registration and RUC issuance with SUNAT
Coordination of the 25% capital deposit and local banking relationship so incorporation isn't stalled waiting on a bank account
Coordination of apostille and certified Spanish translation for foreign powers of attorney and corporate documents before they're needed
Ongoing guidance on the municipal operating license and electronic invoicing setup so the entity can bill legally from day one
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Peru require a 25% capital deposit before incorporation is complete?
Peru requires at least 25% of subscribed capital to be deposited in a Peruvian bank account as part of the incorporation checklist itself, before the company legally exists. This creates a real bootstrapping problem for a foreign investor with no prior banking relationship in Peru, since that banking step has to be solved before registration with SUNARP can be completed.
Is there a minimum capital requirement to form an S.A.C. in Peru?
No fixed minimum is set by law. The requirement instead is structural: at least 25% of whatever capital the shareholders subscribe must be paid in and deposited in a Peruvian bank account before incorporation is complete.
What ID does a foreign legal representative need to act for a company in Peru?
The legal representative must hold a carnet de extranjer铆a or a passport with a visa authorizing income-generating activity in Peru. Foreign capital contributions are also typically registered with ProInversi贸n's foreign investment registry to document eligibility for future profit repatriation.
Is a municipal operating license required in addition to SUNARP and SUNAT registration in Peru?
Yes. A licencia de funcionamiento from the district municipality where the business operates is required in addition to SUNARP registration and RUC issuance, and requirements vary by district rather than being centrally standardized.
Does a newly formed company in Peru have to issue electronic invoices right away?
Yes. Since mid-2026, most new RUC registrants are designated electronic invoice issuers immediately upon registration, not after a grace period. A new entity needs its electronic invoicing set up before it can legally bill its first customer.
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