Puerto Rico Department of State
 | |
 Palacio de la Real Intendencia serving as the main offices. | |
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | July 25, 1952 |
| Type | Executive department |
| Jurisdiction | Executive branch of the government of Puerto Rico |
| Headquarters | San Juan, Puerto Rico |
| Agency executive | David Bernier , Secretary of State |
| Child agencies |
Bureau for Cultural Exchange and Technical Cooperation Intellectual Property Office Office of Protocol, International, and Interstate Relations Passport Acceptance Office Trademark Office |
| Key document | Constitution of Puerto Rico |
| Website | www.estado.gov.pr |
The Department of State of Puerto Rico (Spanish: Departamento de Estado de Puerto Rico) is responsible of promoting the cultural, political, and economical relations between Puerto Rico and foreign countries, and other jurisdictions of the United States. It also carries out other administrative functions such as:
- publish, certify, and sell copies of the laws and rules of the government of Puerto Rico;
- regulate the use of the flag and coat of arms of Puerto Rico;
- issue licenses for the exercise of professions or occupations regulated by the state through the Examining Boards;
- prepare and keep various records: consuls, corporations and partnerships, trademarks, notaries and intellectual property among others;
- processing applications for passports of citizens of the United States, a task delegated by the federal government of the United States; and
- coordinate matters of protocolary nature that concern the government of Puerto Rico
The Department also keeps record of government appointments made by the Governor, promulgates the proclamations issued by it or by the Secretary of State, and provides assistance to people who visit the island with educational or research purposes through the Bureau for Cultural Exchange and Technical Cooperation of the Department.
The Department of State is statutorily charged with the operation of Puerto Rico's Trademarks Office, the Corporate Registry, the Commercial Transactions (UCC) Registry, the Puerto Rico Office of Protocol, International and Interstate Relations, the Passport Acceptance Offices and providing support to twenty professional examining boards and the Office of the Intellectual Property Registrar. The offices of Puerto Rico's Department of State occupy two historical buildings adjoining Old San Juan's Plaza de Armas, the "Palacio de la Real Intendencia" and the "Edificio de la Diputación Provincial".
Secretary
- 1952–1964: Roberto Sánchez Vilella
- 1965–1966: Carlos J. Lastra
- 1966–1969: Guillermo Irizarry
- 1969–1973: Fernando Chardon
- 1973–1974: Victor M. Pons
- 1975–1977: Juan A. Albors
- 1977–1979: Reinaldo Paniagua Diez
- 1979–1981: Pedro R. Vazquez
- 1981–1985: Carlos Quiros
- 1985–1988: Héctor Luis Acevedo
- 1988–1988: Alfonso Lopez Char
- 1988–1990: Sila M. Calderon
- 1990–1992: Antonio J. Colorado
- 1992–1992: Salvador M. Padilla Escabi
- 1993–1995: Baltasar Corrada del Rio
- 1995–1999: Norma Burgos
- 1999–2001: Angel Morey
- 2001–2003: Ferdinand Mercado
- 2004–2004: Jose Izquierdo Encarnacion
- 2005–2005: Marisara Pont Marchese
- 2005–2009: Fernando J. Bonilla
- 2009–2013: Kenneth D. McClintock
- 2013–present: David Bernier