Certified Copies in Puerto Rico: Where and What It Costs
Certified copies
Ordering Certified Copies in Puerto Rico
Where to order a certified vital record or corporate record issued in Puerto Rico, what it costs, what the office requires, and what happens to it afterwards.
- Birth certificate
- $5.00 for the first copy in a 12-month period, $10.00 for the second and third
- Death certificate
- $10.00
- Marriage
- $10.00
- Divorce
- $10.00 for Puerto Rico divorces, $20.00 for out-of-jurisdiction
Vital records
Issued by: Puerto Rico Department of Health, Demographic Registry
Post to: Department of Health, Demographic Registry, P.O. Box 11854, Fernandez Juncos Station, San Juan, PR 00910
Verify current fees: 787-765-2929 ext. 6100
| Record | Certified copy |
|---|---|
| Birth | $5.00 for the first copy in a 12-month period, $10.00 for the second and third |
| Death | $10.00 |
| Marriage | $10.00 |
| Divorce | $10.00 for Puerto Rico divorces, $20.00 for out-of-jurisdiction |
What Puerto Rico requires
- Money order payable to the Secretary of the Treasury. No cash, no personal cheques.
- Send a legible front and back photocopy of valid unexpired ID, your signature, and a pre-addressed stamped envelope.
- Applicants over 60 living in Puerto Rico, and veterans, may be exempt from the fee.
- Courier address: Metro Center Building, 5 Mayaguez Street, 9th Floor, Hato Rey, PR 00918.
Corporate records
A certificate of good standing and certified copies of formation documents for a Puerto Rico entity come from Puerto Rico Department of State, normally online and often the same day.
Puerto Rico Department of State
- Order from the state where the entity was formed, not where it trades.
- A certificate of good standing is a statement of current status. A certified copy of the articles is a different product; if a foreign authority asks for the formation documents, you need the latter.
- Ask for a certified or exemplified copy. A plain download from the state website carries no seal and cannot be authenticated.
What happens next
Once you hold the certified copy, authentication in Puerto Rico goes through Puerto Rico Department of State, at $3.00 per document, paid in internal revenue stamps (code R5120), regardless of page count.
Questions people actually ask
Where do I order a Puerto Rico birth certificate?
From Puerto Rico Department of Health, Demographic Registry. Post to Department of Health, Demographic Registry, P.O. Box 11854, Fernandez Juncos Station, San Juan, PR 00910. A certified copy is $5.00 for the first copy in a 12-month period, $10.00 for the second and third.
Does the Puerto Rico Secretary of State issue birth certificates?
No. Vital records come from the health department; the Secretary of State handles corporate records and, in most states, the apostille. They are separate offices with separate fees.
What will Puerto Rico reject?
Money order payable to the Secretary of the Treasury. No cash, no personal cheques.
Can I have it apostilled straight away?
Yes, and that is the right order. Order the certified copy first, then send it for authentication. Do not sign, stamp or laminate it in between, and do not open a sealed envelope.
This guide is published by a private document processing service. It is not legal advice and we are not a government agency. Requirements change without notice, so confirm anything critical with the mission before you post documents.
