Puerto Rico Resident Agent Service

Why Puerto Rico requires a resident agent

A Puerto Rico corporation must keep a designated office (oficina designada) in Puerto Rico with its resident agent (agente residente) there. The agent can be the corporation itself, an individual living there, a foreign entity authorized to do business there, or a legal entity formed under local law, and its business office must coincide with the designated office and normally be open in working hours for service of process. Under Chapter III, LLCs likewise need a registered office and resident agent (art. 19.04), and an authorized foreign corporation must keep both at all times (art. 13.10(A)). Ley 164-2009 arts. 3.01-3.02, 13.10(A), 19.04; 14 L.P.R.A. §§ 3541-3542, 3810, 3954

What happens if you lapse

• If your resident agent resigns and no successor is named, and 30 days pass after the resignation filing with no new resident agent designated, the Secretary of State cancels the corporation's certificate of incorporation and annuls its authority to do business in Puerto Rico. Ley 164-2009 art. 3.06(B); 14 L.P.R.A. § 3546
• A foreign corporation that has gone 60 days or more lacking a Puerto Rico resident agent or designated office faces a proceeding by the Secretary of State under art. 13.15 to revoke its certificate of authorization, with a 60-day cure window after notice, and once revoked, service of process on the corporation goes to the Secretary of State as its agent (art. 13.15(D)). Ley 164-2009 arts. 13.14(C)(2), 13.15; 14 L.P.R.A. §§ 3814-3815
• Violating Chapter XIII, which covers the art. 13.10(A) duty to keep a resident agent and designated office continuously, can bring a foreign corporation a fine of at least $200 for each violation, and any agent who does business in Puerto Rico on behalf of a noncompliant foreign corporation faces a fine of $100 to $500. Ley 164-2009 art. 13.14(A)-(B); 14 L.P.R.A. § 3814
• If the certified resident agent of a foreign corporation dies, resigns, or leaves Puerto Rico, the corporation has 10 days to substitute a new resident agent, designate it, and certify it to the Secretary of State. Ley 164-2009 art. 13.10(D); 14 L.P.R.A. § 3810

Switching to us

We prepare and file the change of resident agent for you. Puerto Rico charges $50 for an LLC Ley 164-2009 Art. 21.01(A)(2), 14 L.P.R.A. § 4041 and $60 for a corporation Departamento de Estado de Puerto Rico, Forms for Corporation.

Official Puerto Rico links

• Puerto Rico Department of State - (787) 722-2121 ext. 4402
• Business entity search
• Statutes

Frequently asked

Do I need a resident agent in Puerto Rico?

Almost every state does, and the Puerto Rico rule is set out above with its citation. Where the law leaves a choice, a resident agent is still the practical way to make sure service of process reaches you.

How much does Puerto Rico resident agent service cost?

$129 a year, with no setup fee, the same price in all 50 states plus DC, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Service of process is received and scanned the same business day.

Can I switch my Puerto Rico resident agent to ResidentAgents.com?

Yes. Order online and we prepare the change of agent filing for you; the state's filing fee is shown on this page.