Puerto rico birth certificate: Puerto Rico New Birth Certificate Law

Puerto Rico New Birth Certificate Law

Puerto Rico’s New Birth Certificate Law

Puerto Rico to Cancel Birth Certificates Issued Before July 1, 2010

Special Note: Effective July 1, 2010, Puerto Rico-issued birth certificates dated before July 1, 2010, need to be replaced by October 30, 2010.

Under a new law in Puerto Rico, all Puerto Rico-issued birth certificates dated before July 1, 2010, will be cancelled as of October 30, 2010, so that new, more secure certificates can be re-issued. Until that date, all birth certificates will remain valid.

This new law is based on collaboration with the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to address the fraudulent use of Puerto Rico-issued birth certificates. They have been used illegally to obtain U.S. passports, Social Security benefits and other federal services.  The government of Puerto Rico has enacted the new law to combat fraud and protect the identity and credit of all people born in Puerto Rico.


Obtaining a Birth Certificate

The Government of Puerto Rico has partnered with document provider VitalChek to provide an expedited method for ordering new birth certificates. To apply through this method please visit:  www.vitalchek.com. Vital Check also offers a bilingual call center available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Processing and shipping fees apply. To apply through this method please call:(866) 842-6765.

Only people who have a specific need for their birth certificate for official purposes should request a new birth certificate on or after July 1, 2010, which is when the Government of Puerto Rico plans to begin issuing the new birth certificates.

If you plan to access services with a state or federal agency, check first on whether a new birth certificate is needed for any identification purposes.  Please consult for contact information the State of Connecticut web site  for a listing of state agencies and the United States Government for federal agencies.  

Those Puerto Rican-born and living in the states will be able to request and receive their new birth certificates through a simple process by mail.  The fee is $5, but will be waived for people over 60 and veterans.


Puerto Rico Birth Certificate Fact Sheet/FAQ’s on How to Obtain a New Birth Certificate (
Please note: Fact sheet may not include recent change by Puerto Rico authorities to extend the cancelation date to October 30 for all birth certificates issued prior to July 1, 2010. )

Fact sheet/ FAQ’s (English)

Fact Sheet/ FAQ’s (Spanish)


Birth Certificate Request Form

Application for Puerto Rican Birth Certificate (English)

Application for Puerto Rican Birth Certificate (Spanish)

Online applications


For further Information

Government of Puerto Rico (Spanish)


Specific Information You Should Know From Connecticut State Agencies

  • Department of Motor Vehicles Licensing and Identification
    Anyone born in Puerto Rico born before July 1, 2010, will need a new birth certificate,  if they don’t have a valid passport, to conduct the following transactions:        
     – New Driver’s License          
    – Transfer of Driver’s License from another state          
    – New Identification Card         
    – Learner’s Permit

New birth certificates will not be needed to renew a valid driver’s license or identity card at this time.  Replacing a lost, stolen or damaged license or identity card generally does not require that you show a birth certificate, providing DMV has your photo on file. 

Puerto Rico Department of Health (PR) | Order Certificates

Puerto Rico Department of Health (PR) | Order Certificates – VitalChek





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We are an authorized online vital records ordering service for Puerto Rico Department of Health.

That means we can process your request fast, affordably, and securely. The only thing faster is doing it in person – but that’s not always possible or convenient, and that’s why we’re here.



Puerto Rico Department of Health
P.O. Box 11854 Fernandez Juncos Station

San Juan, PR,
00910



Phone
866-842-6765



Fax
866-283-5861


Birth Certificates


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About Vital Records from Puerto Rico Department of Health

PUERTO RICO VITAL RECORDS
Puerto Rico Department of Health issues copies of Puerto Rico birth certifications for events that occurred within Puerto Rico. You may order copies of Puerto Rico vital records through VitalChek on an expedited basis.

Available Puerto Rico (PR) Vital Record Types

This is a copy of a birth certification that can typically be used for travel, passport, proof of citizenship, social security, driver’s license, school registration, personal identification and other legal purposes. Birth Certifications are available for events that occurred in Puerto Rico from July 1931 to present.

Read More…

This is a copy of a birth certification that can typically be used for travel, passport, proof of citizenship, social security, driver’s license, school registration, personal identification and other legal purposes. Birth Certifications are available for events that occurred in Puerto Rico from 1931 to present.

Read More…

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Apostille and legalization of documents of the State of Puerto Rico, USA

Home → State → Puerto Rico

Do you have a document issued in the State of Puerto Rico? Do you need to use this document abroad?

Then you will need to issue an apostille, and it’s as easy as 1-2-3!

1. Download the order form, print and fill it out.
2. Mail us the original of your document along with the order form. You can send us a copy of the document in advance in electronic form, and we will check whether the document is ready for apostille or needs additional certification (free service).
3. Receive your apostilled document by mail anywhere in the world!

Most frequently requested documents for apostille in Puerto Rico:

  • Birth certificate
  • Death certificate
  • Marriage certificate
  • Certificate of divorce
  • Driving license
  • Copy of passport and other identification documents
  • Diploma and report card
  • General power of attorney
  • FBI background check
  • Corporate documents
  • Affidavits

Why do I need an apostille for documents in the State of Puerto Rico?

In accordance with the Hague Convention, in order for documents issued in the United States to have legal force outside the United States, they must be certified by a special stamp – “Apostille”. Apostille certifies the authenticity of the signature and the legal capacity of the official who signed the document, as well as the authenticity of the seal that affixes the document. At the same time, the apostille does not confirm the content of the document on which it is affixed. If you plan to use a document issued in the state of Puerto Rico in a country that is a party to the Hague Convention, then you need an Apostille in order for your document to be legally recognized in that country. Documents with an apostille do not require further legalization.

In the US, documents are apostilled by the Secretariat of the state that issued the document. This means that if your birth certificate is issued in the state of Puerto Rico, then the apostille on the birth certificate must also be obtained in the state of Puerto Rico.

The Puerto Rico Apostille is only affixed to documents certified by the official signature and seal of a licensed notary public of the State of Puerto Rico, a Judge of the State of Puerto Rico, or the State Registrar of Puerto Rico.

The process of obtaining an Apostille on a US document can be complex and time consuming. Trust this process only to experienced professionals who fully understand the procedure for obtaining an Apostille in the United States, taking into account the unique requirements of some countries and the peculiarities of obtaining an Apostille in each state. Global Apostille has been providing professional document authentication and legalization services since 2004. We will help you get an apostille for documents from any of the 50 US states, as well as federal documents.

You will find detailed information and a description of the process of legalizing your documents for sending abroad by visiting our Services page.

Visa to Puerto Rico | Equator

Submitted on Tue, 10/06/2015 – 18:18 by aadmin

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Visa to Puerto Rico

To visit Puerto Rico, the free Caribbean state, Belarusians, Ukrainians and Russians require a US visa, as this country has long lived under the laws of the United States. This means that those who already have a valid US entry visa can safely travel to Puerto Rico. In order to get a job on the island, you will need a working American visa. There is simply no proper or separate Puerto Rican visa. Even if the tourist intends to visit exclusively on the island, without visiting the mainland of the dominant state, he will have to deal with the issuance of a US visitor or tourist visa.

The first thing you should do to start applying for a visa to travel to Puerto Rico on your own is to decide on its type. To do this, you need to read the official information that is posted on the website of the United States Visa Information Service. It is preferable to try to get the so-called combined visa – the B-1 / B-2 form.

The next step is to complete the Nonimmigrant Visa Electronic Application Form (DS-160). Filling out such a questionnaire is carried out only in English, with the exception of the field in which the name and surname of the applicant are indicated (they must be written in the state language of the country of residence). You should prepare in advance for the process of entering data into the electronic form, since the system takes only 20 minutes for this. The received confirmation with a barcode must be printed and saved.

After filling out and submitting the electronic application form, you need to pay the consular fee, which is 160 dollars. In case of a negative response to the visa, the fee is not returned to the applicant. You can make a payment in the currency of your country using Internet banking, or you can do it through a branch of one of the banks, or through the post office. The payment receipt will be valid for one year.

The next step is to collect all the required documents, which include a printed letter with an invitation to an interview at the US Embassy, ​​confirmation of application, a valid passport, a photo of the established sample. With all these documents, the visa applicant is sent for an interview at the specified time.

In most cases, the applicant will have to submit some additional documents. For example, these can be official papers that confirm the validity of a planned trip to Puerto Rico (an invitation from relatives or friends, an invitation from a travel agency). An employee of the American diplomatic mission can also check whether the applicant has really strong ties with the country of residence (these can be copies of marriage certificates, certificates of real estate, birth certificates of children, etc.). The main task of such documents is to confirm the desire of the applicant for a US visa to return later to their homeland. You will also need a certificate from work with the amount of salary indicated in it, information about the length of service and position held. The unemployed can prepare a sponsorship letter stating that a potential sponsor is willing to fund a trip. It is also advisable to have an insurance policy with you that is valid throughout the trip.

As soon as a positive decision is made on the application, the visa applicant will receive a response to his e-mail. The visa itself will be delivered to him in a convenient way. Officially, the period for issuing a US visa is not regulated by any framework, everything will depend on the degree of workload of the employees of the diplomatic mission. As a rule, a decision on a visa is made within two weeks.

Many people applying for a US visa seek the help of various travel agencies and agencies, but it is worth remembering that in any case they will need to appear for a personal interview at the diplomatic mission. And no agency can influence its result, so you need to prepare with all responsibility. All the employees of such an agency can help with is collecting the necessary documents, filling them out correctly in English and sending them to the addressee. You will have to pay at least $ 100 for such services.

The multiple-entry US visa you receive will be valid for 1 to 3 years. Most often, a one-year visa is issued. If necessary, it can be extended by paying another $100 as an additional consular fee.

Teenagers who have already reached the age of 14 apply for a US visa in a similar way. Children under 14 years of age must have a birth certificate, parents’ passport or their own, notarized permission to leave the country (if they are traveling alone or with one of their parents).

If a valid or old passport already contains an American visa that was once received, it will be much easier to apply for the next one, although there are still cases of refusal. A positive decision on this issue is also facilitated by visas from Canada, Great Britain or Schengen visas in the applicant’s passport.

As for the time of stay in the country (in this case, Puerto Rico), it is not determined by the American embassy or consulate – the decision is made right at the point of arrival directly by the visa officer. At the same time, he studies some documents: the invitation of relatives, hotel reservations, information on the travel agency, the availability of financial resources. The visa officer has the right to refuse entry to the territory of Puerto Rico to any tourist, without even stating the reason for the refusal. The airport tax is not charged by the Puerto Rican side.

Customs regulations: any foreign currency can be brought into Puerto Rico, and the same applies to its export from the country. In this case, the amount is also not limited, subject to declaring more than 10 thousand dollars. Gold items must also be included in the declaration.

Adult tourists can bring into Puerto Rico 200 cigarettes per person (or the equivalent of 2 kg of tobacco or 50 cigars). Persons over the age of 21 are allowed to import alcoholic beverages, but not more than one quart (946 ml) strong alcohol. Gifts worth up to $100 are also allowed. All items for personal use are exempt from duty.

Canned and fresh meat (pork, beef, poultry, etc.) and all alcoholic beverages (including absinthe) containing artemisia absinthium are prohibited from entering Puerto Rico. It is prohibited to import into the country seeds and plants (except for flowers without soil and with a special phytosanitary certificate), canned caviar, fish, vegetables, fruits of any plants, eggs, dairy products, insects, rare animals and products from them (for example, haberdashery crocodile skin), lighters, matches, illegal weapons (a special permit is required for the import of hunting weapons), drugs containing drugs, Cuban cigars. Difficulties for a tourist may also arise when trying to import into Puerto Rico any items manufactured or purchased in Iraq, Iran, Syria, Afghanistan, Sudan, Libya, Montenegro, Serbia, North Korea, Vietnam, Cuba, Cambodia. The importation from the territory of Haiti of drums with leather membranes, as well as any media containing calls for violence and extremism, is restricted.

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