Peru Company Search Guide 2026: How to Verify a Peruvian Business

TL;DR. Peru’s company registry is the Registro de Personas Jurídicas, part of the broader public registry system administered by SUNARP (Superintendencia Nacional de Registros Públicos). Free basic searches are available online through the SUNARP portal. Certified extracts (Vigencias de Poder and Partidas Registrales) cost PEN 5-50 (~USD 1-13). The primary tax identifier is the RUC (Registro Único de Contribuyentes), issued by SUNAT. Foreign buyers can access basic data without a Peruvian identity document.

What is the official Peru business registry?

Peru’s company registry is the Registro de Personas Jurídicas, one of the registries within SUNARP’s national system. SUNARP (Superintendencia Nacional de Registros Públicos) is an autonomous government agency under the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights, established by Law 26366 of 1994. SUNARP operates 14 Zonas Registrales (regional offices) across the country, with the Zona Registral IX - Sede Lima handling the highest volume of company registrations.

SUNARP’s registry covers: Sociedades Anónimas (SA, including Sociedad Anónima Cerrada SAC and Sociedad Anónima Abierta SAA), Sociedades de Responsabilidad Limitada (SRL), Empresas Individuales de Responsabilidad Limitada (EIRL), Sociedades en Comandita, Asociaciones, Fundaciones, and branch offices of foreign companies (Sucursales). The legal framework is the Ley General de Sociedades (Law 26887 of 1997).

The public search portal is sunarp.gob.pe. SUNARP also operates the Sistema de Intermediación Digital (SID SUNARP) at sidregistral.sunarp.gob.pe for online ordering of certified extracts and vigencias de poder.

Note that company legal existence and corporate registry are held by SUNARP, while the tax identifier (RUC) is managed by SUNAT (Superintendencia Nacional de Aduanas y de Administración Tributaria), a separate agency. Both must be checked for a complete compliance picture.

Peru is a GAFILAT member. Its AML/CFT framework is administered by the Unidad de Inteligencia Financiera del Perú (UIF-Perú), supervised by the SBS (Superintendencia de Banca, Seguros y AFP).

What can you search?

Via SUNARP public portal (sunarp.gob.pe, free):

• Company name search across the national registry index
• Partida registral number lookup (the internal SUNARP record number)
• Basic entity information including legal form, registration date, registered address, and status
• Director and representative (apoderado) search in the Índice de Personas Jurídicas

Via SUNAT (sunat.gob.pe, free):

• RUC lookup by number or company name: returns entity name, RUC status (active/inactive/suspended), declared main commercial activity, and registered address as filed with SUNAT
• Consulta de RUC is publicly accessible without an account

Via SID SUNARP (paid):

• Partida Registral: certified copy of the full company registration record including incorporation deed, capital, directors, and all registered modifications
• Vigencia de Poder: certificate confirming the authority of a legal representative or director
• Índice de Titulares: search for companies associated with a specific individual

SUNARP data updates when a company presents documents for registration. Given Peru’s mixed paper-and-electronic system, there can be delays between a corporate event (board resolution, capital increase) and the registered update.

How much does it cost?

Prices are approximate based on SUNARP’s published fee schedule (TUPA - Texto Único de Procedimientos Administrativos) as of May 2026. PEN/USD conversion used: 1 USD = approximately 3.80 PEN (verify at point of purchase). Fees vary slightly between regional Zonas Registrales.

Do you need a local account or ID?

For the free public search on sunarp.gob.pe and the SUNAT RUC lookup, no account and no Peruvian identity document is required.

For ordering certified extracts and vigencias de poder through SID SUNARP, a user account is required. Account creation at SID SUNARP historically required a Peruvian DNI (Documento Nacional de Identidad) or CE (Carné de Extranjería) for natural persons creating accounts. Foreign users without Peruvian identity documents may face friction in the online ordering system and may need to order through a local representative or legal agent.

In-person requests at SUNARP regional offices accept orders from anyone with a valid identity document (foreign passport is accepted). Payment can be made at the office or via bank deposit voucher.

Is the website in English?

Partially. The SUNARP portal at sunarp.gob.pe has limited English content in informational sections, but the core search interface, ordering system, and all document output are in Spanish only.

The SUNAT RUC lookup is in Spanish. No automated translation is provided for any registry output.

Certified registry documents are in formal legal Spanish. Key terms for compliance interpretation include: representante legal (legal representative), apoderado (authorized signatory with power of attorney), junta general de accionistas (shareholders’ meeting), and directorio (board of directors). Foreign buyers should obtain certified Spanish-to-English translations for use in foreign legal proceedings.

What’s the turnaround time?

Free public searches on sunarp.gob.pe are instantaneous. SUNAT RUC lookups are real-time.

Online orders through SID SUNARP for vigencias de poder and partidas registrales are typically delivered as PDF within 24-72 hours during business hours. Physical certified prints may take 3-5 business days.

In-person requests at SUNARP’s Lima office (Av. Nicolás Arriola) can be completed same-day for simple vigencias de poder when the registry record is fully digitized. Some older records require physical file retrieval, which can extend turnaround to 3-5 days.

Is there an API?

No public API is available from SUNARP for registry data extraction.

SUNAT’s RUC verification is available through an unofficial scraping layer used by local developers, but no official API for third-party programmatic RUC queries exists as of May 2026. Automated queries to SUNARP or SUNAT portals violate their terms of service.

Local data aggregators offer API-based access to Peruvian company data built on top of registry and supplementary sources.

What you legally cannot do

SUNARP’s terms of use prohibit automated bulk downloading of registry records. Commercial redistribution of certified registry documents without authorization is not permitted.

Peru’s data protection law, Law 29733 (Ley de Protección de Datos Personales) and its regulations under Supreme Decree 003-2013-JUS, restrict the use of personal data of directors and shareholders obtained from the registry. The ANPD (Autoridad Nacional de Protección de Datos Personales) supervises compliance.

Company information obtained from SUNARP for legitimate CDD or AML purposes is within permitted use provided it is not automated in bulk and the purpose is documented. Use of registry data to build commercial marketing databases or for purposes unrelated to the stated due diligence function is prohibited.

Practical tips for foreign compliance buyers

• Distinguish RUC from the partida registral. The RUC is the tax identifier issued by SUNAT and used across customs, procurement, and invoicing. The partida registral is SUNARP’s internal record number for the company’s corporate file. Both are needed for a complete check. Start with a SUNAT RUC lookup (free, instant) to confirm tax status, then order the SUNARP partida for corporate details.
• Check RUC status on SUNAT first. A Peruvian company with an inactive or suspended RUC cannot legally issue invoices or operate commercially. This is often the fastest compliance signal available before spending on a SUNARP extract.
• SAA vs SAC disclosure differs. Sociedad Anónima Abierta (SAA) companies are regulated by the SMV (Superintendencia del Mercado de Valores) and must disclose financials and major shareholders publicly at smv.gob.pe. SAC (Sociedad Anónima Cerrada) companies have no mandatory public financial disclosure. Verify entity type from SUNARP before scoping due diligence.
• Vigencia de Poder for counterparty signing authority. If you are dealing with a Peruvian counterparty’s signatory, a SUNARP Vigencia de Poder confirms that the named individual has current authority as of the date of issuance. This is a standard KYC document in Peruvian commercial practice.
• GAFILAT and SBS context. Peru’s UIF-Perú is a member of the Egmont Group. The SBS supervises AML compliance for regulated entities. For current FATF standing, see fatf-gafi.org.
• Sucursales (branches) of foreign companies. Foreign companies operating in Peru through a branch must register with SUNARP and appoint a local representative. The branch’s SUNARP record includes the foreign parent’s details. For due diligence on a Peruvian branch, the parent company’s home country registry is the authoritative source for ultimate ownership.

Alternatives if you cannot access SUNARP directly

• Aggregator search (free, indicative only): OpenCorporates has limited coverage of Peruvian entities and lags official data considerably. Useful for a quick name flag; not for compliance-grade verification.
• SUNAT RUC public search: sunat.gob.pe provides free, real-time RUC status and basic entity information without an account. This is often the most accessible first step for foreign compliance buyers.
• SMV CONASEV: For publicly listed Peruvian companies and SAAs, the SMV portal at smv.gob.pe provides free access to disclosed financial statements, material events, and shareholding disclosures. For the full global due diligence framework, see our Global Business Due Diligence Guide.

Local data suppliers

• Equifax Peru (equifax.com.pe). Operates Peru’s primary commercial credit bureau. Provides business credit reports, risk scoring, and payment behavior analysis for Peruvian entities. Used by banks, telecoms, and insurers for counterparty and credit risk assessment.
• Infocorp (infocorp.com.pe). Peru’s leading consumer and commercial credit information bureau, operated by Equifax. Covers both individual and business credit histories and is widely integrated into Peruvian banking KYC workflows.

Use SUNARP for the authoritative corporate filing record and SUNAT for tax status. Use Equifax Peru or Infocorp when you need payment behavior, credit history, or risk scoring on top of registry data.

FAQ

Can a foreign company access Peru’s SUNARP registry directly?

For free public searches and SUNAT RUC lookups, yes, with no Peruvian identity document required. For ordering certified extracts through SID SUNARP’s online system, account creation may require a Peruvian DNI or CE, creating friction for foreign buyers without Peruvian identity. In-person requests at SUNARP offices accept foreign passports. For foreign compliance buyers who need certified documents regularly, engaging a local legal agent or notary is the practical solution.

What is the RUC number in Peru?

The RUC (Registro Único de Contribuyentes) is the 11-digit tax identifier issued by SUNAT to Peruvian legal entities and individuals conducting business. For companies, the first two digits are typically “20” (indicating a legal entity). The RUC links a company’s tax obligations, VAT invoicing, customs, and government procurement records. It is the primary cross-system identifier for commercial and compliance purposes in Peru, alongside the SUNARP partida registral number. Do not confuse the RUC with the partida registral, which is a SUNARP-internal record number.

What entity types are registered with SUNARP in Peru?

The main forms include: Sociedad Anónima Cerrada (SAC), Sociedad Anónima Abierta (SAA), Sociedad de Responsabilidad Limitada (SRL), Empresa Individual de Responsabilidad Limitada (EIRL), Sociedad en Comandita Simple and por Acciones, Sociedad Colectiva, and Sucursal (branch of a foreign company). Associations, foundations, and cooperatives are also registered with SUNARP under separate registers. The SAC is the most common form for SMEs and foreign subsidiaries; the EIRL is used for sole-trader operations with limited liability.

Does Peru have a beneficial ownership (UBO) registry?

Peru does not have a fully public UBO registry as of May 2026. However, AML regulations require Peruvian companies and reporting entities to identify and verify ultimate beneficial owners as part of CDD obligations, with information reported to the UIF-Perú. The SBS requires supervised financial institutions to collect UBO data. Legislative proposals for a formal public beneficial ownership register are under discussion as part of Peru’s GAFILAT mutual evaluation commitments and OECD accession process. For listed companies, the SMV requires disclosure of major shareholders (5%+ stakes) at smv.gob.pe.

How current is the data in SUNARP?

SUNARP updates when a company presents documents for registration. Fully electronic processes through SID SUNARP update within hours of filing. Older records that have not yet been fully digitized may show delays between a corporate event (capital increase, director change) and the registered update, particularly in regional offices. Annual accounts are not filed with SUNARP (they go to SUNAT for tax purposes and to SMV for regulated companies), so financial data is not available in the SUNARP record. For the most current director and representative information, request a Vigencia de Poder dated as close as possible to the check date.

Is Peru on the FATF grey list?

No. Peru is not on the FATF grey list as of May 2026. Peru is a GAFILAT member and its AML/CFT regime has been subject to mutual evaluations under FATF standards. The UIF-Perú is a member of the Egmont Group of Financial Intelligence Units. For current FATF country status, see fatf-gafi.org.

What is the difference between SUNARP and SUNAT records?

SUNARP holds the corporate legal record: incorporation, capital, shareholders (for certain entity types), directors, powers of attorney, amendments, and mergers. SUNAT holds the tax record: RUC assignment, declared commercial activity, address for tax purposes, VAT and income tax filing history, and invoice registry. These are separate databases. A complete compliance check requires both: SUNARP for legal existence and corporate structure, SUNAT for tax status and commercial activity. For regulated companies, the SMV adds a third layer of financial disclosure.

Last verified: May 2026. Sources: SUNARP (sunarp.gob.pe), SUNAT (sunat.gob.pe), SMV (smv.gob.pe), UIF-Perú (uif.pe), FATF (fatf-gafi.org). For the full global due diligence framework, see our Global Business Due Diligence Guide.