What we verified in “From Puerto Rico to Florida: what changes when you move”

Statements and where we checked them

The statements with rules, figures or dates, with the exact place in the source and the date we checked them.

1. Under federal law, all persons born in Puerto Rico on or after January 13, 1941, and subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, are citizens of the United States at birth.

   Sources 1 · 8 U.S.C. §1402: 'All persons born in Puerto Rico on or after January 13, 1941'; 'are citizens of the United States at birth' · Checked October 17, 2026

2. According to the Social Security Administration's operations manual, under Puerto Rico law certified copies of birth certificates issued in Puerto Rico before July 1, 2010 became invalid after October 30, 2010; beginning October 31, 2010 SSA only accepts Puerto Rico birth certificates with an issue date of July 1, 2010 or later; and the new certificate is requested from the Puerto Rico Vital Statistics Office (Demographic Registry).

   Sources 2 · POMS GN 00301.065 (in effect since October 29, 2010): 'certified copies of birth certificates issued from Puerto Rico before July 1, 2010 will be invalid after October 30, 2010'; 'SSA will only accept birth certificates from Puerto Rico with an issue date of July 1, 2010 or later'; 'must contact the Puerto Rico Vital Statistics Office to request the new birth certificate' · Checked October 17, 2026

3. The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles tells new residents that they must obtain a valid Florida driver license within 30 days of establishing residency to drive on Florida roads; that to title and register vehicles, vessels and mobile homes within 10 days of establishing residency they must obtain insurance from an agent licensed to sell insurance in Florida; and that the list of documents depends on status (U.S. citizen, immigrant, non-immigrant). The page has a Spanish version.

   Sources 3 · New Resident - Welcome to Florida!: 'obtain a valid Florida driver license within 30 days of establishing residency'; 'within 10 days of establishing residency'; 'obtain insurance from a Florida insurance agent that is licensed to sell insurance in Florida'; link 'Español' · Checked October 17, 2026

4. The same Florida page says you may be considered a resident when you start working in the state, enroll your children in a public school, register to vote, file for homestead exemption or live in the state for more than six consecutive months; that driver license applications must be made in person at a local office; that you will be given a vision test but may be eligible to receive a license without a written or road test; and that the fee for an initial Class E license is $48.00, with most local Tax Collector offices also charging a $6.25 service fee.

   Sources 3 · New Resident - Welcome to Florida!: 'You may be considered a resident of Florida when you'; 'Have enrolled your children in the public schools of this state'; 'Have registered to vote in this state'; 'Have filed for homestead tax exemption on property in this state'; 'Have lived in this state for a period of more than six consecutive months'; 'must be made in person at any local office offering driver licenses services'; 'you will be given a vision test, however you may be eligible to receive a license without taking a written or road test'; 'The fee for an initial Florida Class E license (including learner’s permit) is $48.00'; 'Most local Tax Collector offices also charge a $6.25 service fee' · Checked October 17, 2026

5. To title and register a vehicle without a lien in Florida, the new-resident page asks for proof of identity for all owners, proof of Florida insurance, the original out-of-state title, form HSMV 82040 signed by all owners and a physical inspection of the vehicle identification number (VIN), which can be done by, among others, a law enforcement officer, a licensed Florida dealer or a county tax collector employee; if an out-of-state lienholder has the title, you must ask them to transfer it to Florida, and the vehicle must be registered either way.

   Sources 3 · New Resident - Welcome to Florida!, 'Title/Registration': 'Proof of identity (required for all owners)'; 'Proof of Florida insurance'; 'Original out-of-state title'; 'ALL owners are required to sign a completed Application for Certificate of Title With/Without Registration (HSMV form 82040)'; 'The VIN must be physically inspected and verified by one of the following'; 'A licensed Florida Dealer'; 'A county tax collector employee'; 'you must contact the lienholder to request that the title be transferred to Florida'; 'you must have your vehicle registered' · Checked October 17, 2026

6. Under Florida law, a nonresident who accepts employment or enters children in a Florida public school must obtain a Florida driver license within 30 days after beginning that employment or education, if they drive on the state's roads; the same deadline applies to the spouse and dependent children.

   Sources 4 · Fla. Stat. §322.031(1): 'shall, within 30 days after beginning such employment or education, be required to obtain a Florida driver license' · Checked October 17, 2026

7. According to Florida's Division of Elections, to register to vote you must be a U.S. citizen, a Florida resident and at least 18 years old; you can register online at RegisterToVoteFlorida.gov or at any tax collector's office that issues Florida driver licenses or ID cards; the deadline to register for an election is 29 days before that election; and if you are issued a new Florida driver license or ID number after registering, you should contact your Supervisor of Elections so your voter record reflects it.

   Sources 5 · Register to Vote or Update your Information (Florida Department of State, Division of Elections): 'Be a Citizen of the United States of America'; 'Be a Florida resident'; 'Be at least 18 years old'; 'Online at RegisterToVoteFlorida.gov'; 'Through any tax collector's office that issues Florida driver licenses or state identification cards'; 'The deadline to register to vote for an upcoming election is 29 days before the election'; 'please contact your Supervisor of Elections to ensure that your voter record reflects the latest number' · Checked October 17, 2026

8. According to the Florida Department of Revenue, you are a Florida resident when your true, fixed and permanent home and principal establishment is in Florida; filing a declaration of domicile, qualifying for homestead exemption or registering to vote in Florida can establish residency, while other actions, such as obtaining a Florida driver's license, only indicate an intent to establish it.

   Sources 6 · Tax Information for New Residents, GT-800025 (R. 08/25), p. 1: 'when your true, fixed, and permanent home and principal establishment is in Florida'; 'Filing a declaration of domicile, qualifying for homestead exemption, or registering to vote in Florida can establish residency'; 'obtaining a Florida driver's license, only indicate an intent' · Checked October 17, 2026

9. According to the Florida Department of Revenue, Florida does not impose personal income tax, inheritance tax, gift taxes or tax on intangible personal property; retail sales of most goods are subject to a 6% state sales tax plus the county's discretionary sales surtax; the 6% use tax applies to motor vehicles brought into the state within six months of purchase, with credit for a similar tax of 6% or more paid to another state or territory, and vehicles used in another state or territory for six months or longer are presumed not to have been purchased for use in Florida; deeds that transfer an interest in real property and mortgages are subject to documentary stamp tax, and mortgages also to a nonrecurring intangible tax; and the homestead exemption on a primary residence is up to $50,000 of assessed value and limits how much the assessment can increase each year.

   Sources 6 · Tax Information for New Residents, GT-800025 (R. 08/25): 'Florida does not impose personal income tax, inheritance tax, gift taxes, or tax on intangible personal property'; '6% state sales tax, plus any applicable discretionary sales surtax'; 'Florida's 6% use tax applies to motor vehicles brought into the state within six months of purchase'; 'Vehicles used in another U.S. state or territory for six months or longer'; 'Documentary stamp tax'; 'homestead exemption of up to $50,000' · Checked October 17, 2026

10. You can get a free copy of your credit report from each of the three major agencies (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion) once a week at AnnualCreditReport.com or by calling (877) 322-8228.

    Sources 7 · How do I get a free copy of my credit reports?: 'You can get a free copy of your credit report from each of the three major consumer reporting companies (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion) once a week at AnnualCreditReport.com'; 'go to AnnualCreditReport.com or call (877) 322-8228' · Checked October 17, 2026

11. Under Florida law, a person who on January 1 has the legal title or beneficial title in equity to real property in the state and who in good faith makes the property their permanent residence is entitled to an exemption from all taxation, except for assessments for special benefits, up to the assessed valuation of $25,000; and to an additional exemption of up to $25,000 on the assessed valuation greater than $50,000 for all levies other than school district levies.

    Sources 8 · Fla. Stat. §196.031(1)(a) ('A person who, on January 1, has the legal title or beneficial title in equity to real property in this state and who in good faith makes the property his or her permanent residence'; 'up to the assessed valuation of $25,000') and (1)(b) ('an additional exemption of up to $25,000 on the assessed valuation greater than $50,000 for all levies other than school district levies') · Checked October 17, 2026

12. Under section 196.011 of the Florida Statutes, a person entitled to an exemption must file an application with the county property appraiser on or before March 1 of each year; and in each succeeding year, on or before February 1, the property appraiser mails a renewal application, which is accepted as evidence of the exemption unless the appraiser denies it.

    Sources 9 · Fla. Stat. §196.011(1)(a) ('shall, on or before March 1 of each year, file an application for exemption with the county property appraiser') and (7)(a) ('in each succeeding year on or before February 1, the property appraiser shall mail a renewal application to the applicant') · Checked October 17, 2026

13. Under section 193.155 of the Florida Statutes, homestead property is reassessed every January 1 and the change may not exceed the lower of 3 percent of the prior year's assessed value or the percentage change in the Consumer Price Index; and it is assessed at just value as of January 1 of the year following a change of ownership.

    Sources 10 · Fla. Stat. §193.155(1)(a)–(b) ('shall not exceed the lower of the following'; 'Three percent of the assessed value of the property for the prior year'; 'The percentage change in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers') and (3)(a) ('shall be assessed at just value as of January 1 of the year following a change of ownership') · Checked October 17, 2026

14. Under Florida law, a residential property insurer must offer alternative deductible amounts applicable to hurricane losses equal to $500, 2 percent, 5 percent and 10 percent of the policy dwelling limits; and the hurricane deductible applies on an annual basis to all covered hurricane losses, so that if a hurricane loss has already occurred in the calendar year, a later hurricane may be subject only to the remaining deductible amount.

    Sources 11 · Fla. Stat. §627.701(3)(a) ('the insurer must offer alternative deductible amounts applicable to hurricane losses equal to $500, 2 percent, 5 percent, and 10 percent of the policy dwelling limits') and (5)(a) ('The hurricane deductible shall apply on an annual basis to all covered hurricane losses') · Checked October 17, 2026

15. Florida law defines hurricane coverage as coverage for loss or damage caused by the peril of windstorm during a hurricane, including damage to the interior of a building or to property inside it caused by rain, hail, sand or dust when the direct force of the windstorm first damages the building and causes an opening; and defines a hurricane as a storm system declared a hurricane by the National Hurricane Center, with a duration beginning when a hurricane warning is issued for any part of Florida and ending 72 hours after the termination of the last hurricane watch or warning issued for any part of Florida.

    Sources 12 · Fla. Stat. §627.4025(2)(a) ('Hurricane coverage') and (2)(c) ('a storm system that has been declared to be a hurricane by the National Hurricane Center of the National Weather Service'; 'Beginning at the time a hurricane warning is issued for any part of Florida'; 'Ending 72 hours following the termination of the last hurricane watch or hurricane warning') · Checked October 17, 2026

16. Under Florida law, residential property insurance rate filings must include actuarially reasonable discounts, credits or other rate differentials, or appropriate reductions in deductibles, for properties on which fixtures or construction techniques demonstrated to reduce windstorm losses have been installed, including those that enhance wind uplift prevention, roof strength, roof covering performance, roof-to-wall strength and opening protection.

    Sources 13 · Fla. Stat. §627.0629(1): 'must include actuarially reasonable discounts, credits, or other rate differentials, or appropriate reductions in deductibles, for properties on which fixtures or construction techniques demonstrated to reduce the amount of loss in a windstorm have been installed or implemented'; 'enhance wind uplift prevention, roof strength, roof covering performance, roof-to-wall strength' · Checked October 17, 2026

17. The NAIC notes that floods and earthquakes are not covered by a typical homeowners policy; that you are not required to purchase insurance from the company your lender recommends; and that there are unbiased sources for comparing what insurers charge for the same coverage, including your state's insurance department.

    Sources 14 · NAIC, Homeowners Insurance: 'Floods and earthquakes are not covered by a typical homeowners policy'; 'You are not required to purchase insurance from the company your lender recommends'; 'unbiased sources' · Checked October 17, 2026

18. FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) provides insurance to reduce the impact of flooding; most homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage; homes and businesses in high-risk areas with federally backed mortgages are required to have flood insurance; and there is typically a 30-day waiting period for an NFIP policy to go into effect.

    Sources 15 · FEMA, Flood Insurance (updated January 2, 2026): 'Most homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage'; 'are required to have flood insurance'; 'typically a 30-day waiting period for an NFIP policy to go into effect' · Checked October 17, 2026

19. FEMA's Flood Map Service Center is the official public source for flood hazard information: you search by address, place or coordinates to see the official map, and downloaded or printed information may be superseded by new maps.

    Sources 16 · FEMA Flood Map Service Center: 'the official public source for flood hazard information'; 'Enter an address, a place, or longitude/latitude coordinates'; 'may change or become superseded by new maps over time' · Checked October 17, 2026

20. Under the federal Flood Disaster Protection Act, a regulated lending institution may not make a loan secured by a building in a special flood hazard area where insurance is available unless the building is covered by flood insurance for the term of the loan in an amount at least equal to the outstanding principal balance or the maximum coverage available, whichever is less.

    Sources 17 · 42 U.S.C. §4012a(b)(1)(A), flood insurance purchase requirement: 'not to make, increase, extend, or renew any loan secured by improved real estate or a mobile home'; 'an area having special flood hazards and in which flood insurance has been made available'; 'covered for the term of the loan by flood insurance in an amount at least equal to the outstanding principal balance of the loan or the maximum limit of coverage made available'; 'whichever is less' · Checked October 17, 2026

21. Citizens Property Insurance Corporation, the insurer created by the State of Florida, explains that, in compliance with section 627.715 of the Florida Statutes, most of its new and renewing personal residential policies with wind coverage must have and maintain flood insurance by January 1, 2027, under a phase-in the Florida Legislature created in December 2022: homes in an NFIP Special Flood Hazard Area must have a flood policy; outside that area, from January 1, 2024 homes with dwelling coverage of $600,000 or more, from 2025 those of $500,000 or more, from 2026 those of $400,000 or more and from January 1, 2027 all policies regardless of value; and condominium unit-owner policies, tenant content policies and policies that exclude windstorm or hail coverage are not required to buy flood insurance.

    Sources 18 · Citizens, Flood, section on Citizens flood insurance requirements: 'must also have and maintain flood insurance coverage by January 1, 2027'; 'under a phased-in approach created by the Florida Legislature in December 2022'; 'must have and maintain a flood policy'; 'Policies with dwelling value ( Coverage A ) of $600,000 or more'; 'Policies with a dwelling value of $500,000 or more'; 'Policies with a dwelling value of $400,000 or more'; 'All policies, regardless of value'; 'Condominium unit-owner policies, tenant content policies, and policies that exclude windstorm or hail coverage are not required to purchase flood insurance coverage' · Checked October 17, 2026

22. According to IRS Publication 570 for tax year 2025, bona fide residents of Puerto Rico generally pay tax to Puerto Rico on their worldwide income and may generally exclude Puerto Rico source income from their U.S. tax return; if all of your income is from Puerto Rico sources, you are not required to file a U.S. tax return; U.S. Government wages do not qualify for the exclusion; a person who was a bona fide resident of Puerto Rico for at least 2 years before moving can exclude Puerto Rico source income earned before the date they changed residence; and Form 8898 is filed when you become or cease to be a bona fide resident of a territory and your worldwide gross income for that year is more than $75,000.

    Sources 19 · Publication 570 (2025), Puerto Rico chapter: 'may generally exclude Puerto Rico source income from their U.S. tax return'; 'If all of your income is from Puerto Rico sources, you are not required to file a U.S. tax return'; 'U.S. Government wages do not qualify for the exclusion'; 'for at least 2 years before moving from Puerto Rico'; 'that you earned before the date you changed your residence'; Form 8898: 'Your worldwide gross income… is more than $75,000' · Checked October 17, 2026

23. Publication 570 explains that you are considered a bona fide resident of Puerto Rico for the part of the tax year before the date of your move if you are a U.S. citizen, were a bona fide resident of Puerto Rico for at least the 2 tax years immediately before the year of the move, cease to be a bona fide resident and to have a tax home in Puerto Rico during that year, and have a closer connection to Puerto Rico than to the United States for the part of the year before the move; and that if you are required to file Form 8898 and do not, you may owe a $1,000 penalty unless you show reasonable cause.

    Sources 19 · Publication 570 (2025), 'Year of Moving From a Territory', 'Puerto Rico': 'You will be considered a bona fide resident of Puerto Rico for the part of the tax year preceding the date on which you move if you'; 'Are a bona fide resident of Puerto Rico for at least 2 tax years immediately preceding the tax year of the move'; 'Cease to have a tax home in Puerto Rico during the tax year'; 'Penalty for Not Filing Form 8898'; 'you may owe a penalty of $1,000'; 'due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect' · Checked October 17, 2026

24. The VITA and TCE programs prepare basic returns for free for people who generally make about $70,244 or less (individual sites may set their own limit), persons with disabilities and limited English speakers; find a site with the IRS locator or by calling 800-906-9887.

    Sources 20 · Free tax return preparation for qualifying taxpayers: 'offer free basic tax return preparation to qualified individuals'; 'individual VITA sites may establish their own'; 'People who generally make about'; '70,244 or less'; 'Persons with disabilities'; 'Limited English-speaking taxpayers'; 'use the VITA Locator Tool or call 800-906-9887' · Checked October 17, 2026

25. Puerto Rico's Notarial Act defines the notary as the legal professional who exercises a public function; only those already authorized and attorneys admitted to the profession whom the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico authorizes may practice as notaries; and its statement of motives explains that, in that function, the Puerto Rican notary is not the attorney of any of the parties, represents no client and represents the public faith.

    Sources 21 · Ley Notarial de Puerto Rico (rev. August 27, 2026), Statement of motives, Art. 2 and Art. 7: 'el notario puertorriqueño no es abogado de ninguno de los otorgantes'; 'no representa a cliente alguno, representa a la fe pública'; 'El notario es el profesional del Derecho que ejerce una función pública'; 'los abogados que en el futuro fueren admitidos al ejercicio de la profesión'; 'autorizados por el Tribunal Supremo de Puerto Rico para ejercer el notariado' · Checked October 17, 2026

26. Under Florida law, a notary public who is not an attorney and advertises in a language other than English must include with the ad a notice in English and in that language stating that they are not an attorney licensed in Florida and may not give legal advice or accept fees for it; and a notary who is not authorized to represent a person in an immigration matter may not advertise as a notario público, notario or immigration consultant.

    Sources 22 · Fla. Stat. §117.05(10) and (11)(b): 'A notary public who is not an attorney who advertises the services of a notary public in a language other than English'; 'I AM NOT AN ATTORNEY LICENSED TO PRACTICE LAW IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA, AND I MAY NOT GIVE LEGAL ADVICE OR ACCEPT FEES FOR LEGAL ADVICE'; 'use the terms notario público, notario, immigration assistant, immigration consultant, or immigration specialist' · Checked October 17, 2026

27. HUD-approved housing counselors give independent advice on buying, renting, defaults and credit, often at little or no cost.

    Sources 23 · Find a Housing Counselor: 'advice on buying a home, renting, defaults, forbearances, foreclosures, and credit issues'; 'often at little or no cost to you' · Checked October 17, 2026