Start with the finca number
Tap the lot on Folio's free map and press Scan property: the finca number, lot area, perimeter and boundary appear on screen. The registered owner, liens, the plano, the title history and the exact maritime-zone position are in the $29 Folio report. Every Registry certificate is ordered by that number.
Open the free mapWhat you are actually paying for
A "title search" in Costa Rica has three parts, and the price depends on how many you buy:
- The Registry fee. The Registro Nacional charges a fixed fee per certificate. It is set by the Registry's board (Junta Administrativa); the current schedule has applied since 1 January 2026.
- The reading. A certificate lists liens and annotations by their registry reference. Someone has to open each one and explain it. This is where lawyers' fees, or Folio's study, come in.
- The ground. A registry record shows what is registered, not what is on the land. A survey is separate: one firm that publishes prices puts survey and inspection at $700 to $1,000 plus tax.
Official Registry fees in 2026
| Document | What it shows (Registry's own guide) | Official fee | Folio price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certificación literal | The finca's description, owner, liens (gravámenes) and annotations; issued immediately | ₡2,930 (about $6.40) | $39 |
| Certificación de estudio registral | A detailed certification of entries held in older books or files not in the automated system; five business days | ₡8,500 (about $18.60) | Folio's $49 study is a reading of every entry, not this certificate |
| Certificación índice de persona | The properties a person or company currently holds | ₡2,930 | $49 property ownership search |
| Certified copy of a plano | The registered survey plan | ₡2,930 | $39 cadastral map copy |
| Certificado catastral | Plan and aerial photo of the finca plus its literal data; only in districts declared a cadastral zone | ₡8,500 | not sold separately |
The Registry also lists ₡2,005 for literal certificates and plans ordered through the Gobierno Digital channel. Fees are set in colones.
How to order a certificate yourself
The Registry's 2025 services guide sets out the steps. On rnpdigital.com, open "Consultas y Certificaciones", sign in with a registered email and password, choose "Registro Inmobiliario" and then the certificate, buy it by card, then go to "Mi Inventario", press "Emitir" and enter the finca number, the province and the derecho. The guide states that no professional is required. If a finca is held in shares (en derechos), each share needs its own request.
What the Registry fee does not buy
- An explanation. The certificate tells you a lien exists and where it is filed; it does not tell you what it says. Folio's $49 registry study reads every lien and easement in full (route, width and beneficiary where registered), chases filings that are presented but not yet registered, and summarises what each entry means for a buyer.
- Legal advice. For a purchase, your own lawyer or notary reviews the title and closes the sale. See what Costa Rica real estate lawyers charge.
- The land itself. Boundaries on the ground, land use, permits and the maritime zone are separate checks. Folio's $1,000 due diligence covers them for a single finca up to about 3 hectares, with attorney coordination where the law requires it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the Registro Nacional charge for a title certificate in 2026?
₡2,930 for a certificación literal under the official fee schedule in force from 1 January 2026, about US$6.40 at the 21 October 2026 reference rate.
What is the difference between a certificación literal and an estudio registral?
The certificación literal certifies, on the spot, a finca's description, owner, liens and annotations. The Registry's estudio registral is a detailed certification of entries held in older books or files and takes five business days. In everyday use, "estudio registral" also means a professional reading of the title before a purchase.
Do I need a lawyer to order one?
No. The Registry's services guide says no professional is required to order these certificates. Reading them before you buy is where a lawyer, or Folio's study, helps.
What do I need to order a title certificate?
The finca number (folio real), the province and the derecho, plus a registered account on rnpdigital.com to order online. The free Folio map shows the finca number when you tap the lot.
How long does it take?
The Registry's guide lists the certificación literal as immediate and its estudio registral of books or files as five business days.
Sources
Fees and service descriptions were read from the original documents on 21 October 2026. Dollar figures are approximate, converted at the Ministerio de Hacienda reference sell rate of ₡457.54 per US dollar published that day.
- Registro Nacional, 2026 service fees (Junta Administrativa agreement J342-2025, in force from 1 January 2026)
- Registro Nacional, notice DPY-CP-01-2026: the Registry updates its 2026 fees (13 January 2026)
- Registro Nacional, Guía de Servicios Inmobiliario Registral 2025 (what each certificate shows, how to order it, delivery time)
- LEGAL co/op Costa Rica, Due Diligence (published price)
- CPG Legal, Costa Rica real estate closing costs (published prices)
- Ministerio de Hacienda, US dollar reference exchange rate (21 October 2026)
Have the title read, not just pulled
Every lien, easement and annotation on the finca, read in full and summarised, for $49.
Order the registry studyThis page is general information, not legal advice. Fees change; confirm the current figure with the Registro Nacional or the firm before you pay. Folio is not a law firm.