In Short: How to Get a Certificate of Good Standing in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico’s good standing document is the Certificate of Compliance, issued by the Puerto Rico Department of State, Registry of Corporations and Entities. Order it through the online Registry or in person using the Good Standing request form. The official form lists $20 for LLCs, $15 for for-profit corporations and no cost for nonprofits. The Department of State does not publish a processing time.
- Official name: Certificado de Cumplimiento (“Good Standing”), meaning Certificate of Compliance
- Issued by: Puerto Rico Department of State, Registry of Corporations and Entities
- Fee: $20 for LLCs, $15 for for-profit corporations, no cost for nonprofits (official request form)
- How to order: Online through the Registry of Corporations and Entities, or in person
- Turnaround: Not published by the state
- Free status check: Search your entity in the online Registry
- What keeps you in good standing: Corporations file the annual report by April 15; LLCs pay $150 annual fees by April 15
Puerto Rico’s version of a certificate of good standing is the Certificate of Compliance from the Department of State. It confirms that your LLC or corporation has filed its annual reports or paid its annual fees. This page explains the document, the fees on the official request form, how to order it and the April 15 deadline that decides whether you qualify. For U.S. states, read our guide on how to get a certificate of good standing.
What a Puerto Rico Certificate of Good Standing Is
The Puerto Rico Department of State (Departamento de Estado) issues the Certificate of Compliance, which the Department labels “Good Standing.” It comes from the Registry of Corporations and Entities, the office that keeps the official record of every corporation and LLC organized or registered in Puerto Rico.
The Certificate of Compliance confirms one specific thing: the entity is up to date on its annual obligations to the Department of State. For a corporation, that means its annual reports are filed. For an LLC, it means its annual fees are paid. An entity behind on either does not receive the certificate.
These parties ask for a Puerto Rico Certificate of Compliance:
- Banks: to open a business account in Puerto Rico or on the mainland.
- U.S. states: when a Puerto Rico entity registers to do business in a state.
- Lenders: to approve business financing.
- Payment processors: to approve or re-verify a merchant account.
- Buyers and investors: to confirm the entity is current before a deal closes.
- Government agencies: for licenses, permits and contracts.
How to Order a Certificate of Compliance in Puerto Rico
The Registry of Corporations and Entities accepts requests online and in person. For the online route:
- Open the Puerto Rico Registry of Corporations and Entities (the English version of the site).
- Search for your corporation or LLC by name or registry number.
- Open the entity record and confirm the status.
- Request the Good Standing certificate from the entity record.
- Pay the fee shown in the Registry at checkout.
- Save the certificate once the Registry issues it.
For an in-person request, complete the official Good Standing request form (11-CORPINF05) and submit it to the Registry of Corporations and Entities with the fee listed on the form. The Department of State’s corporations page has current office details.
Puerto Rico Certificate of Good Standing Fees and Processing Time
| Method | Fee | Turnaround |
|---|---|---|
| Request form, LLC (domestic or foreign) | $20 | Not published by the state |
| Request form, for-profit corporation (domestic or foreign) | $15 | Not published by the state |
| Request form, nonprofit corporation | No cost | Not published by the state |
| Online Registry | Shown in the Registry at checkout | Not published by the state |
The fees above come from the Department of State’s official request form. The online Registry displays its price at checkout, so check the amount there before you pay.
How to Check Puerto Rico Good Standing Status for Free
Search your entity in the Registry of Corporations and Entities at no cost. The record shows whether the corporation or LLC is active and whether the Department of State has registered any change in its status.
Check the record before you request the certificate. If the corporation’s annual report or the LLC’s annual fees for the prior year are missing, the Registry does not issue the Certificate of Compliance until you file or pay.
How a Puerto Rico LLC Stays in Good Standing
Puerto Rico treats LLCs and corporations differently:
- LLCs: file no annual report, but pay $150 in annual fees on or before April 15 each year.
- Corporations: file an annual report by April 15 each year. If April 15 falls on a weekend or holiday, the deadline moves to the next business day.
Missing the April 15 deadline brings penalties, and continued failure leads to cancellation of the entity by the Department of State. A cancelled entity cannot get a Certificate of Compliance.
Your Puerto Rico entity also keeps a registered agent on file with the Registry. The agent receives legal papers and Department of State notices, including reminders about the April 15 deadline. If you live outside Puerto Rico, a reliable agent is how those notices reach you. See how Puerto Rico’s deadline compares with the states in our list of annual report filing requirements by state.
What to Do If Your Puerto Rico Business Is Not in Good Standing
If the Registry shows your entity is behind, the fix depends on what is missing:
- Search your entity in the Registry of Corporations and Entities and note its current status.
- For an LLC, pay the $150 annual fees for every year owed.
- For a corporation, file every missing annual report.
- Pay the penalties the Registry assesses for the late filings or payments.
- Confirm your registered agent information is current.
- Search the record again, then request the Certificate of Compliance.
If the Department of State has already cancelled the entity, contact the Registry of Corporations and Entities through its corporations page before you file anything. Our guide on how to reinstate an administratively dissolved LLC explains the general process across U.S. jurisdictions.
Using a Puerto Rico Certificate in Another State
A Puerto Rico corporation or LLC that wants to operate in a U.S. state registers there as a foreign entity, and the state asks for a recent Certificate of Compliance from the Puerto Rico Department of State. The state then issues its own registration. Our guide to certificate of good standing vs certificate of authority explains the difference.
$0 formation fee plus the state filing fee. Registered agent free for the first year.
Puerto Rico Certificate of Good Standing FAQs
What is the Puerto Rico Certificate of Compliance?
The Certificate of Compliance is Puerto Rico’s good standing certificate. The Department of State, Registry of Corporations and Entities, issues it. It confirms the entity has filed its annual reports or paid its annual fees.
How much does a Puerto Rico good standing certificate cost?
The official request form lists $20 for LLCs, $15 for for-profit corporations and no cost for nonprofit corporations. The online Registry shows its price at checkout.
How do I order a Puerto Rico good standing certificate?
Search your entity in the online Registry of Corporations and Entities and request the certificate from the entity record, or submit the official request form 11-CORPINF05 in person. Pay the fee and save the certificate once it is issued.
When are Puerto Rico annual reports and fees due?
Corporations file their annual report by April 15, or the next business day. LLCs file no annual report but pay $150 in annual fees on or before April 15. Missing the deadline brings penalties and eventual cancellation.
How long does it take to get a Puerto Rico Certificate of Compliance?
The Puerto Rico Department of State does not publish a processing time. Check your entity status in the Registry first, because missing annual reports or fees stop the certificate from being issued.
Fees verified against official Puerto Rico sources in October 2026. State fees change; confirm the current amount on the Puerto Rico Department of State site before you order.
