Register a Foreign Corporation in Puerto Rico
To register a foreign corporation in Puerto Rico, you must file a Puerto Rico Certificate of Authority with the Puerto Rico Department of State. You can submit this document online, by mail, or in person. The Certificate of Authority for a foreign Puerto Rico corporation costs $150 to file ($250 if filing online or in person). Below, you’ll find answers to frequently asked questions about how to file the Certificate of Authority and register a foreign corporation in Puerto Rico. Or, sign up for our Puerto Rico Foreign Corporation service, and we’ll handle your filing instead!
Free PDF Download
Download the Puerto Rico Certificate of Authority. Fill out the form and submit it to the state.
Do It Yourself Online
Our free account and tools will walk you through registering your Foreign Corporation in Puerto Rico. All for free.
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Hire Northwest and let the experts register your Foreign Corporation in Puerto Rico. Includes 1 year of registered agent service.
$ 375 TotalFree Guide To Registering A Foreign Corporation in PR
How do I register a foreign corporation in Puerto Rico?
Register your foreign corporation in Puerto Rico online using the PR DOC Online Filing Portal
Attach a certificate of existence (certificate of good standing) from your home state and provide the following information:
- Corporation name: Perform a business name search to make sure your corporation’s name is available in Puerto Rico. If your corporation’s name isn’t available, you may select a different name to do business under in Puerto Rico.
- Business purpose
- Home state information
- Name of state, primary address, date of incorporation, duration of corporation, and company name in home state.
- Names and addresses of officers and directors
- Assets and liabilities: This may be a new one for some registering to do business. If you don’t know exact numbers, for your assets, you are allowed to multiply the number of authorized shares by the par value and use the sum as your assets. Current liabilities are classified as obligations the corporation must pay within one year, including accounts payable, salaries, wages, taxes and interest payable. Add those numbers to find your current liabilities.
- Year corporation will cease to exist in Puerto Rico (write perpetual, if no date exists)
- Date corporation started transacting business in Puerto Rico, if applicable
- Principal and mailing addresses
- Name and address of Puerto Rico resident agent
- Typed name and title of person filing the application
After completing the filing and paying the $150 filing fee to the Puerto Rico Department of State, your corporation will instantly be registered to do business in Puerto Rico.
What’s required to register a foreign corporation in Puerto Rico?
- $150 filing fee ($250 if filing online or in person)
- Certificate of Good Standing from your home state
- Internet access (the best and easiest way to file in Puerto Rico is on the Department of State’s website)
What does it cost to register a foreign corporation in Puerto Rico?
$150 by mail or in person, $250 to file online or in person.
How long does it take for the state to process the Puerto Rico Certificate of Authority?
Puerto Rico accepts filings by mail, online, and in person. The time it takes for your application to be processed is reliant on the method in which you file.
Mail: Puerto Rico can take up to 2 weeks to approve your mailed documents, plus you’ll need to factor in added time for the post office to deliver your paperwork.
Online: Online registrations are accepted by Puerto Rico within 24 hours.
In Person: Puerto Rico accepts hand-delivered applications, and will process them while you wait.
What do I need from my home state?
Certificate of Existence or a Certificate of Good Standing.
Does the certificate of good standing need to be an original copy?
Yes.
How current does the certificate need to be?
No more than 6 months old.
Will I need a Puerto Rico registered agent for my foreign corporation?
Yes. Puerto Rico requires foreign corporations to maintain a Puerto Rico registered agent to do business in the state.
When you hire Northwest as your registered agent, it’s a flat rate yearly price of $125 a year. You’ll have an online account that tracks your report due dates, which states your registered in, when your yearly service with us is up, and any documents we receive locally for you are uploaded into your account immediately for complete viewing. If or when you get served with a lawsuit, we can email up to 4 people and your attorney at the same time for real time complete viewing of a lawsuit. You’ll receive annual report reminders. It’s the same price every year, and there are no weird fees or cancellation fees.
You’ll also see all the pre-populated forms and specific filing instructions on the thank you page, in your online account, and they are emailed to you immediately upon signing up for 1 year of registered agent service.
How can I file the Puerto Rico Certificate of Authority?
Online.
What is the state agency that accepts the registration?
Puerto Rico Department of State
Registry of Corporations and Entities
Who has to sign the foreign corporation filing?
Whoever is authorized to complete the filing. This may be a corporation employee, attorney, CPA, or filing service like us.
Are there any weird things about registering a foreign corporation in Puerto Rico?
The registration process is straight forward, but the Puerto Rico annual report for corporations includes a balance sheet (a financial statement). If your corporation’s business volume is under $3 million USD, someone with general accounting knowledge can complete this balance sheet. If your corporation’s business volume exceeds $3 million USD, however, you’ll need the assistance of a CPA licensed in Puerto Rico.
Are there ongoing Puerto Rico annual report and/or initial reporting requirements?
Annual reports in Puerto Rico are due May 1st for foreign corporations. Please see our Puerto Rico annual report page to learn more about the process of maintaining your foreign corporation in Puerto Rico.
WHY HIRE US TO REGISTER YOUR FOREIGN PUERTO RICO CORPORATION?
In short, we simplify the process and provide everything you need to maintain your corporation doing business in Puerto Rico. Additionally, when you hire us to register your foreign corporation in Puerto Rico, you gain the lifetime support of our corporate guides. Call anytime and talk to a real person who can help you navigate any business maintenance issue you encounter.