Transfer of Property (Real Estate) in the Registro Nacional

Buying or selling a property (house, lot, commercial space) in Costa Rica requires registering the transfer in the Registro Nacional for it to have legal validity.

Requisitos documentales:

• Literal certification of the property, to verify that the seller is the registered owner and that there are no liens (mortgages, seizures) that would prevent the transfer.
• Cadastral map registered in the Catastro Nacional that matches the physical reality of the land.
• If either party is a corporation, a current legal entity certification.
• The property must be up to date with the real estate tax and municipal services fees.
• Identity card (cédula de identidad) or equivalent document of buyer and seller.

Proceso:

1. A notary public formalizes the sale through a public deed. 2. The transfer tax is paid: 1.5% of the declared value of the property, before the notary registers the deed. 3. The notary registers the deed in the Registro Nacional.

Cambio reciente: el sistema TRIBU-CR del Ministerio de Hacienda has become a mandatory prior step before formalizing the transfer registration with the Registro Nacional — confirm with the responsible notary that this step is completed before signing.

Nota: this procedure obligatorily requires a notary public. The amounts and exact requirements may vary depending on the type of property; confirm with the notary or directly with the Registro Nacional (rnpdigital.com) before starting.