Informational content only. Not legal, tax, financial or investment advice. Always verify with a licensed professional in Puerto Rico. Data comes from each firm's public website and may change.
Moving from Puerto Rico to Florida is a move between two parts of the United States: no passport, visa or customs paperwork for you. What takes planning is the paperwork after you land and the logistics of your car and belongings.
1. Driver license: 30 days
Florida's motor vehicle agency (FLHSMV) says new residents must get a Florida driver license within 30 days of establishing residency. In Orange, Osceola and Polk, licenses are issued at the county Tax Collector offices, and Polk requires an appointment for license services. Bring originals of your identity documents (birth certificate or passport, Social Security card, two proofs of Florida address); keep them in your carry-on, not in the shipping container.
2. Car: insurance first, then title and registration
FLHSMV asks new residents to get Florida auto insurance and to title and register their vehicles within 10 days of establishing residency. Get a Florida policy before you visit the Tax Collector. If you are shipping a car from San Juan, carriers usually land in Jacksonville, which is the port Crowley recommends for Orlando-area destinations; plan for the truck leg or the drive to Central Florida.
3. Household goods
Household moves from the island travel by ocean container (shared or full). Ask for a written estimate, a detailed inventory and the valuation coverage before loading. Our movers and car shipping list includes companies with offices on both sides.
4. Schools
Each county runs its own district: Orange County Public Schools, the School District of Osceola County and Polk County Public Schools. Enrollment usually asks for proof of address, the child's birth certificate, immunization records (Florida form) and prior school records, so request transcripts from the Puerto Rico school before you leave.
5. Voting
Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens and can register to vote in Florida once they live there. You can register or update your address through the Florida Division of Elections.
6. Taxes in the year you move
Florida has no state personal income tax, but the year you move is usually split between Puerto Rico (Hacienda) and the IRS. A bilingual CPA who files both kinds of return can sort it out.