Haiti Company Search Guide 2026: How to Verify a Haitian Business

TL;DR: VERIFY FLAG (limited access). Haiti’s company registry function is severely impaired by political instability, gang violence, and institutional breakdown that escalated dramatically from 2021 and worsened through 2024–2025. Commercial entity registration historically went through the Tribunal de Commerce in Port-au-Prince; business name and industrial property registration through the Office National de la Propriété Industrielle (ONAPI) at onapi.ht. Both institutions have faced severe operational disruptions. Foreign compliance buyers should assume limited, unreliable access and apply enhanced due diligence (EDD) as the baseline for any Haitian counterparty. [VERIFY: Confirm current registry operational status before any engagement. Conditions change rapidly.]

What is the official Haiti business registry?

Haiti’s commercial registration system has historically been divided across several institutions, none of which has provided a fully integrated, publicly searchable electronic registry comparable to those in more stable jurisdictions:

Tribunal de Commerce (Commercial Court): Company incorporation and registration in Haiti historically required registration with the Tribunal de Commerce in Port-au-Prince (and smaller courts in Cap-Haïtien, Les Cayes, and other towns). The Tribunal issues the Patente (business licence) and maintains registration records for companies formed under the Code de Commerce (Commercial Code). Access to the physical registry has been severely disrupted by security conditions in Port-au-Prince since 2021, with gang violence effectively shutting access to many government institutions for extended periods.

Office National de la Propriété Industrielle (ONAPI): ONAPI (onapi.ht) handles trademark, patent, and industrial property registration. It also processes some business name registrations. ONAPI has maintained a web presence and has attempted to expand online services, but security conditions have affected its operations considerably.

Registre du Commerce et des Sociétés (RCS): A commercial registry under the Centre de Facilitation des Investissements (CFI) was intended to modernise business registration in Haiti, following reforms under the Loi sur les Sociétés Commerciales (Commercial Companies Act). The degree to which this registry is currently operational as of 2026 should be verified before reliance.

Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MCI): The MCI has authority over business licensing and investment facilitation, but its operational capacity has been severely affected by political and security conditions.

The practical reality as of May 2026: Haiti has been in a state of severe political and institutional crisis since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in July 2021. Gang control of large portions of Port-au-Prince, including areas near government ministries, has made in-person registry access dangerous or impossible for extended periods. The formation of the Transitional Presidential Council in 2024 and subsequent security operations have not yet fully restored institutional function. Compliance buyers should treat Haiti registry access as severely limited and unreliable until verified otherwise.

What can you search?

Under normal conditions (pre-2021 baseline):

• Business name search through ONAPI online portal (onapi.ht)
• Tribunal de Commerce records (in person, Port-au-Prince, Cap-Haïtien, etc.)
• CFI investment registry (limited, for registered investors)

As of May 2026: Online ONAPI search may provide basic name and trademark information. Physical Tribunal de Commerce access is severely limited due to security conditions. Practical ability to obtain certified company extracts from government sources is minimal without local on-the-ground representation. [VERIFY: Contact ONAPI or a Haiti-specialist attorney for current operational status before any engagement.]

How much does it cost?

The Haitian gourde (HTG) has experienced severe depreciation; the exchange rate was approximately HTG 130–140 = USD 1.00 in 2024–2025. Verify the current rate before any transaction. USD cash is widely accepted in Haitian business practice. Fees above are indicative based on pre-crisis baselines; actual costs in current conditions are subject to material uncertainty.

Do you need a local account or ID?

For any meaningful engagement with Haitian registry institutions, local on-the-ground representation by a Haitian attorney or established local firm is essential. Security conditions make remote access the only practical option for foreign compliance buyers, and even local attorneys face constraints in accessing government offices in Port-au-Prince. Requests for certified documents should be routed through local counsel.

Is the website in English?

No. Haiti’s official languages are French and Haitian Creole. All registry materials, government websites, and company documents are in French (formal/official) or Haitian Creole (commonly spoken). No English interface is available. Foreign compliance buyers need French-reading capability or translation assistance for all Haitian registry materials.

What’s the turnaround time?

Under pre-crisis conditions, Tribunal de Commerce filings and extracts took days to weeks. As of 2026, given ongoing institutional disruptions, turnaround is highly variable and may extend to weeks or months even for simple name searches. In cases where offices are inaccessible due to security conditions, documents may be unobtainable until conditions improve. Compliance buyers should build material buffer time into any Haiti-related due diligence and plan for the possibility that official registry documentation cannot be obtained.

Is there an API?

No. There is no public API for Haitian company registry data.

What you legally cannot do

Haiti’s legal framework includes protections for commercial registry information, though enforcement capacity is severely limited given current conditions. General principles applicable to registry data use in Haiti include:

• Using business registry data for unsolicited commercial solicitation is not permitted
• Misrepresenting unofficial information as certified registry documents violates Haitian commercial law
• Haiti’s AML/CFT framework under the Loi sur le Blanchiment des Avoirs (Anti-Money Laundering Act) establishes obligations for financial institutions regarding suspicious transaction reporting; these apply regardless of registry access limitations

For cross-border due diligence principles, see the Global Business Due Diligence Guide.

Haiti risk context: essential reading for compliance buyers

Political and security instability: Haiti has been in severe political crisis since 2021. Gang control of large portions of Port-au-Prince, the assassination of President Moïse, successive governments lacking constitutional legitimacy, and natural disasters (2021 earthquake, 2024 events) have collectively impaired all government institutions, including the judiciary and commercial registry. The situation as of May 2026 remains fluid. [VERIFY current conditions via US State Department Travel Advisory, UN Security Council reports on Haiti (BINUH), or Haiti-specialist security assessments before any engagement.]

FATF grey list status: [VERIFY: Confirm Haiti’s current FATF status at fatf-gafi.org/en/countries/detail/Haiti.html. Haiti has been subject to CFATF enhanced follow-up and FATF monitoring given material AML/CFT framework and effectiveness gaps.]

Mandatory enhanced due diligence (EDD): Given the combination of: (1) severely limited registry access, (2) FATF grey list concerns, (3) high levels of political and security instability, and (4) UN reports of criminal gangs with ties to political figures and business networks, standard KYC is insufficient for Haitian counterparties. EDD with specialist Haiti-focused intelligence is the minimum appropriate standard.

OFAC considerations: While the US does not maintain complete Haiti sanctions (unlike Cuba), individual Haitian officials and gang leaders have been designated under the Global Magnitsky Act and other OFAC sanctions programmes for human rights violations, corruption, and drug trafficking. Screen all Haitian counterparties against the SDN list at sanctionssearch.ofac.treas.gov. The EU and Canada have also imposed targeted sanctions on Haitian officials.

Correspondent banking de-risking: Many international banks have de-risked Haiti relationships, making international wire transfers involving Haitian entities difficult. This is a practical constraint in trade finance and payment processing for Haitian counterparties.

Practical tips for foreign compliance buyers

• Assume limited registry access. Until conditions improve, plan for the possibility that certified registry documents cannot be obtained. Build alternative verification approaches: audited financial statements, professional references, sanctions screening, open-source intelligence (OSINT), and specialist Haiti-focused due diligence firms.
• Engage Haiti-specialist counsel. Several law firms in Port-au-Prince and in the diaspora (Miami, Montreal, New York, Paris) specialise in Haitian corporate law and due diligence. These firms have local networks that may allow access to registry information even when government offices are formally inaccessible.
• Diasporan business context. Haiti’s business community includes material diaspora connections, particularly in the United States (Miami, New York), Canada (Montreal), and France. Haitian-owned businesses may be structured with entities in multiple jurisdictions; trace the full corporate structure rather than relying solely on the Haitian legal entity.
• HTG depreciation. The Haitian gourde has depreciated considerably against the USD. Prices and fees quoted in HTG may be outdated quickly; always confirm current rates.

Alternatives if you cannot access Haitian registries directly

• ONAPI online portal (onapi.ht): Best available online source for business name and trademark information; subject to operational disruptions.
• Haiti-specialist law and due diligence firms: The most reliable route to corporate verification under current conditions.
• UN and US government resources: BINUH (UN Integrated Office in Haiti) reports, US Embassy Port-au-Prince business resources, and US State Department Country Commercial Guide for Haiti provide background context.

Local data suppliers

No independent commercial credit bureau operates in Haiti as of May 2026. Credit risk assessment relies on specialist due diligence firms, direct financial statement review, trade reference checks, and Caribbean-wide risk intelligence platforms.

FAQ

Can a foreign company access Haiti’s business registry?

Under current conditions (May 2026), practical access to certified Haitian company registry documents is severely limited due to security-related institutional disruptions. The best approach for foreign compliance buyers is to engage a Haiti-specialist law firm with local representation. Basic name information may be available through the ONAPI online portal.

What languages are used in Haitian company documents?

All formal company documents in Haiti are in French. Haitian Creole is used for everyday business communication. No English-language official documents are produced by the Haitian registry system.

Is Haiti on the FATF grey list?

[VERIFY: Confirm current status at fatf-gafi.org/en/countries/detail/Haiti.html. Haiti has been subject to enhanced follow-up by CFATF and FATF monitoring due to material AML/CFT framework and effectiveness gaps.]

What is the gourde (HTG) exchange rate?

The Haitian gourde (HTG) is not pegged to any currency and has depreciated considerably. The rate has ranged from approximately HTG 100–140 = USD 1.00 in recent years. Verify the current rate before any transaction at the Banque de la République d’Haïti (brh.ht) or a commercial foreign exchange reference.

Are there US or international sanctions on Haiti?

The US does not maintain complete Haiti sanctions comparable to the Cuba CACR. However, OFAC has designated specific Haitian individuals under the Global Magnitsky Act and other programmes for human rights violations, corruption, and narcotics trafficking. The EU and Canada have also imposed targeted sanctions on specific Haitian officials and gang leaders. Screen all Haitian counterparties against relevant SDN and consolidated sanctions lists before onboarding.

Last verified: May 2026. Sources: Office National de la Propriété Industrielle Haiti (onapi.ht); Banque de la République d’Haïti (brh.ht); US State Department Haiti Travel Advisory (travel.state.gov); UN Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) reports; OFAC SDN list (sanctionssearch.ofac.treas.gov); FATF Haiti country page, [VERIFY current status]. For the full global due diligence framework, see our Global Business Due Diligence Guide.