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Global Expansion Handbook

Peru

A South American mining and infrastructure economy; projects such as Chancay port strengthen sea links with Asia, and it has an FTA with China. Investors usually form an S.A. or S.A.C., notarised and registered with SUNARP; corporate tax 29.5%, IGV 18%.

MiningInfrastructurePort logistics Tier 2 · Growth markets
Handbook
Updated 2026-11-13
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01Overview

Region
Latin America
Capital
Lima
Currency
PEN
Languages
Spanish
ISO code
PE / PER

Jurisdictions

  • Peru — National level; special zones and regulated sectors have separate rules

Macro indicators such as GDP and population will be added from the World Bank in the data release (P1).

02Market Entry

Industries to study: Agriculture, food & minerals

Foreign ownership

Whether 100% foreign ownership is generally allowed, and key exceptions. Allowed / conditional / not allowed / unverified.

Almost all sectors are open to foreign investment

Applies to
Foreigners may not acquire resources within 50 km of borders without approval; broadcasting capped at 40%
Jurisdiction
Peru
Source
MOFCOM
Local SubsidiaryIncorporate a separate legal entity in the target country Direct ExportSell goods from your home entity directly to overseas buyers

03Business Formation

Common legal entity

The company form most commonly used by foreign investors for a local operating entity.

Corporation (S.A. / S.A.C.)

Applies to
LLCs and branches are also possible
Jurisdiction
Peru
Source
MOFCOM

Registration authority

Primary authority for company or commercial registration.

National Superintendency of Public Registries (SUNARP)

Applies to
Ordinary companies
Jurisdiction
Peru
Source
MOFCOM

Foreign ownership

Whether 100% foreign ownership is generally allowed, and key exceptions. Allowed / conditional / not allowed / unverified.

Almost all sectors are open to foreign investment

Applies to
Foreigners may not acquire resources within 50 km of borders without approval; broadcasting capped at 40%
Jurisdiction
Peru
Source
MOFCOM

Beneficial ownership register

Whether companies must keep or file ultimate beneficial owner information.

Beneficial owners must be declared to SUNAT

Applies to
Ordinary companies
Jurisdiction
Peru
Source
SUNAT

Foreign-entity setup flow

Main approval stages for a foreign investor setting up an entity (no time estimates).

Name reservation at SUNARP → deposit capital → notarial deed of incorporation → SUNARP registration → SUNAT tax ID (RUC)

Applies to
A SAC needs at least two shareholders; Excludes processing time estimates
Jurisdiction
Peru
Source
SUNARP

Local director / representative

Whether a locally resident director, manager or representative is required.

A general manager is required; a foreign national in the role needs suitable immigration status

Applies to
A local representative can be appointed
Jurisdiction
Peru
Source
SUNARP

Local registered address

Whether a local registered address or premises is required at incorporation.

A domicile in Peru is required

Applies to
A compliant office address is acceptable
Jurisdiction
Peru
Source
SUNARP

04Taxation

Headline corporate income tax

Statutory headline rate for ordinary companies, before incentives, exemptions, thresholds or special regimes. Always read with the conditions.

29.5%

Applies to
Ordinary companies
Jurisdiction
Peru
Source
State Taxation Administration

Indirect tax (VAT / GST / SST)

Standard rate and type of VAT, GST or sales & service tax.

VAT (IGV) 18% (including 2% municipal promotion tax)

Applies to
Ordinary companies
Jurisdiction
Peru
Source
SUNAT

Dividend withholding tax (non-residents)

General withholding on dividends paid to foreign shareholders, before treaty relief.

5%

Applies to
On dividends to non-residents
Jurisdiction
Peru
Source
SUNAT

Tax authority

Authority responsible for corporate tax registration and filing.

SUNAT

Applies to
Ordinary companies
Jurisdiction
Peru
Source
State Taxation Administration SUNAT

Tax treaty with China

Whether a double taxation agreement with China is in force. Rates and conditions per the treaty text.

No treaty

Applies to
Per STA publications
Jurisdiction
Peru
Source
State Taxation Administration

05Banking & Payments

Exchange controls

Whether general exchange controls or cross-border fund rules apply.

Essentially no exchange restrictions

Applies to
Profit remittances bear a 0.005% financial transactions tax
Jurisdiction
Peru
Source
MOFCOM

Banking & financial regulator

Primary regulator for banking and foreign exchange.

Superintendency of Banking, Insurance and AFP (SBS)

Applies to
Ordinary companies
Jurisdiction
Peru
Source
Superintendency of Banking, Insurance and AFP

06Employment

Foreign employee work permit

Main permit types needed for foreign employees to work legally.

Labour Ministry work permit plus Migration residence

Applies to
Ordinary companies
Jurisdiction
Peru
Source
MOFCOM

Labour & work permit authority

Authority for labour rules and foreign employee work permits.

Ministry of Labour and Employment Promotion; National Migration Superintendency

Applies to
Ordinary companies
Jurisdiction
Peru
Source
MOFCOM

Social security contributions

Main employer social security schemes for local and foreign employees.

Health insurance (EsSalud) and pensions (ONP or a private AFP)

Applies to
Employer pays EsSalud; employee pays pension contributions
Jurisdiction
Peru
Source
EsSalud

07Trade & Customs

Customs authority

Authority for import/export clearance and tariffs.

Customs under SUNAT

Applies to
Ordinary companies
Jurisdiction
Peru
Source
MOFCOM

Main free trade agreements

Main regional and bilateral trade agreements relevant to Chinese exporters (not exhaustive).

China–Peru FTA and other bilateral agreements

Applies to
Ordinary companies
Jurisdiction
Peru
Source
MOFCOM

08Investment & Manufacturing

Investment authority / agency

Body responsible for approving, registering or promoting foreign investment.

ProInversión

Applies to
Ordinary companies
Jurisdiction
Peru
Source
MOFCOM

Free zone / SEZ regime

Whether free zones or special economic zones operate under rules different from the mainland.

Special economic zones such as ZOFRATACNA

Applies to
Ordinary companies
Jurisdiction
Peru
Source
MOFCOM

09Digital & IP

IP office

Authority for trademark and patent filing and registration.

INDECOPI

Applies to
Ordinary companies
Jurisdiction
Peru
Source
MOFCOM

Personal data protection law

Main law and regulator governing collection, use and cross-border transfer of personal data.

Personal Data Protection Law (Law 29733)

Applies to
Supervised by the National Authority for Personal Data Protection (Ministry of Justice)
Jurisdiction
Peru
Source
National Authority for Personal Data Protection

10Compliance & Risk

New York Convention party

Whether the country is party to the Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards, which affects enforcing foreign arbitral awards locally.

Yes

Applies to
Foreign arbitral awards can be enforced under the Convention, subject to its limited refusal grounds
Jurisdiction
Peru
Source
UNCITRAL

Live risk monitoring

Geopolitical, conflict and trade-route risk events for Americas, monitored by our sister site Global Risk Monitor.

View Americas risk monitor

Global Risk Monitor · Geopolitical and trade-route risk monitoring

11Step-by-Step

Main setup steps in Peru

  1. 1Name reservation at SUNARP
  2. 2deposit capital
  3. 3notarial deed of incorporation
  4. 4SUNARP registration
  5. 5SUNAT tax ID (RUC)

A SAC needs at least two shareholders

General checklist (setting up a subsidiary)
  1. Decide model and jurisdiction
  2. Confirm licences
  3. Prepare documents
  4. Incorporate
  5. Register for tax
  6. Open bank account
  7. Obtain operating licences
  8. Start operations

Steps follow the setup-procedure fact on this page, without times or fees; rely on the official sources.

12Official Resources

Chinese official resources

Country materials from MOFCOM, the State Taxation Administration and China's overseas commercial offices

Official guides are long Chinese-language PDFs updated on the publishers' schedules. Our structured facts cite local authorities as primary sources; use these guides to cross-check.

Local authorities