National Registry Site Gets Facelift

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The Costa Rican National Registry website was updated for 2011, you can see the results here: Costa Rican National Registry Official Web Site Most of the same services are still there, you can look up company names and ID numbers, you can see who owns a vehicle according to license plate number and look at real estate properties to see if information has been altered.

However it now appears that one must be a registered user in order to get this information, previously the registry used only CAPTCHA images in order to prevent unauthorized robots from crawling the site.  (Companies like PPR have special permission to access database online and "crawl" the site that way. )  Users may register here:

https://www.rnpdigital.com/shopping/registro.jspx

One piece of information is now prominent on the site, regarding the validity of digital certificates.  Although apparently they may not be used (yet) in court cases, other entities must accept them as valid, from the National Property Registry FAQ page:

1. How does a digital certificate work?

R / User must first issue the required certificate directly through www.rnpdigital.com. This is important to remember:

* You can purchase as many certificates and consultations as you need with a single purchase.
* Must make payment through online payment tool that the site provides using a debit or credit card (either VISA or MasterCard) from any  issuing bank.
* Legal Stamps are automatically charged.
* It is important to take note of the certification number the system indicates, if you want you can print the certificate on any paper or device.
* The certification number may be used for any procedure that requires certification.  Indicate the certification number to the entity receiving the document, which will perform online verification of the document through www.rnpdigital.com.

2. What is the online verification process for those receiving digital certificates?

The institution must verify the authenticity of the information the registered user provides:

* Verify the certification number.
* Log in to www.rnpdigital.com
* Enter the verification module, and the certification number. (This module is below the area of "user" and "password" system with text such as RNPDIGITAL-1-2010)
* Clicking on the link "Download", which is enabled at the bottom of the check module.
* Open the certification that is displayed in PDF format and verify information that is required.
* For purposes of internal documentation, the recipient can print and file the certification verified.

3. What is the validity of digital certificates?

15 calendar days from the date of issue, you can validate any number of times during that period. This period was determined according to Registry Regulations, this is the period of time the registry has to formally register documents submitted.

4. Should I use security paper, stamps or signatures in the issuance of digital certificates?

The National Registry intends to provide DIGITAL, not NOTARY certification via the portal.  The concept is that the National Registry provides digital proof directly to end users (both parties), therefore printed or notary certification is not the main proof, it is the digital information itself provided by the registry.  Therefore normal bond paper is suitable, although notaries using the system may use security paper if they desire.

5. What legal validity do consultations and digital certificates have?

They have the same legal validity as registry or notarized certificates, based on: 

* Article 71 of Executive Decree 26771-J OF 18 MARCH 1998 AND SECTION 369 OF THE CIVIL CODE.
* Article 369 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 5 CLAUSE D) OF THE ACT OF CERTIFICATES, DIGITAL SIGNATURES AND ELECTRONIC DOCUMENTS NO. 8454.
* Executive Order No. 35488-J, PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE No. 196, 8 OCTOBER 2009.

6. Should I use the certification or consultation immediately, or I can us it later?

You can buy as many certifications or queries you want in a single purchase, and use them in gradually as needed. (Remaining shown on "My Inventory").

7. How I can check or verify the notary who issues the certification?

The certification is not issued by a notary public, but by the National Registry. Once the certificate is issued, a document number is generated that allows verification via the web page.

Users may also find out the requirements for a particular process ( https://www.rnpdigital.com/Requisitos%20para%20tramites ) and download application forms to submit to the National Registry. ( https://www.rnpdigital.com/forms_tramites/ )