This is where you’ll find the majority of red tape in setting up your business. Try not to be put off - once you’ve got the all of the following out of the way, the most frustrating part is over.
Before setting up your business, you need to make sure you have the appropriate visa. There is a specific visa for those who want to create a company and remain in Peru. This is called "visa de inversionista" (investor visa).
To get one, the investor (you) must put up a share capital of US$ 25,000. In addition you must submit a business plan before DIGEMIN (Dirección General de Migración y Naturalización). In obtaining this, you must promise that the company will hire 5 employees within the 2 next years. Alternatively, and more realistically, you can grant power of attorney to a lawyer who will establish the company, after which you will need to get a work visa to manage the company yourself.
Now you can get started with registering your company. You need to register the name of your company at the Public Registry. This should be approved (providing the name does not conflict with that of any existing company) within 30 days. Naturally, you’ll also need to open a Peruvian bank account - details on which you can find in our Peru money guide.
Next, you need to file the articles of incorporation as well as signing the by-laws before a public notary. You then need to execute the public deed before the notary, after which you will receive full registration of your company when you file the deed with the Public Registry.
You’ll then need to organise your company’s tax. To get your Tax Roll Number, you have to register with SUNAT (Superintendencia Nacional de Administración Tributaria).
After this, you should be all set to start operating as a business in Peru.