Promote:
Invest in Haiti
A short guide for companies expanding into Haiti: the economy at a glance, the rules and steps to set up, and who can help, each with its source.
1. Haiti at a glance
PopulationEstimate
11.9 million
Population was 11,906,095 people in 2025.
Source: World Bank, Haiti population, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
GDPEstimate
US$32.1 billion
GDP at current prices was US$32,077,278,409 in 2025, in fiscal year terms ending in September.
Source: World Bank, Haiti GDP, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
GDP per personEstimate
US$2,694
GDP per person at current prices was US$2,694.19 in 2025.
Source: World Bank, Haiti GDP per person, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
Real GDP growthEstimate
−2.7%
Real GDP fell by 2.7 percent in fiscal year 2025, which ended in September 2025, according to the World Bank.
Source: World Bank, Haiti real GDP growth, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
Inflation
16.4%
Inflation was 16.4 percent over twelve months to September 2026, according to the statistics office.
Source: IHSI, consumer price index, September 2026 (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of September 2026
Foreign direct investment inflows
US$12.2 million
Foreign direct investment inflows were US$12.18 million in 2025.
Source: UNCTADstat, Haiti inward FDI flows, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
The currency is the gourde.
Source: Tax administration, page for legal entities (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
2. Before you set up
The investment agency, any one-stop route, the sectors reserved for nationals and the zones, as the guide found them.
Haiti's investment promotion agency is CFI, an autonomous body under the commerce ministry created by the decree of November 16, 2005, published on January 31, 2006.
Source: CFI, about the agency (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
CFI's 2023–2027 strategic plan includes setting up an investment one-stop shop; today CFI guides investors and liaises with ministries on their files.
Source: CFI, facilitation operations (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
As of 2015, per the WTO review, the Investment Code gives national and foreign investors equal rights, and the review names state monopolies, not sectors reserved to nationals. Confirm current limits with CFI.
Source: WTO, Haiti Trade Policy Review, Secretariat report, 2015 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2015
Free zones operate under the law of July 9, 2002 on free zones, open to industry, trade and services; no official list or count of zones is published.
Source: Free Zones Directorate, about the directorate (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of 2026
3. Steps to set up
The main steps, in order, each with the body responsible and its official page.
Setting up in Haiti
- Search that your company name is free, using the commerce ministry's online prior-use search.Ministère du Commerce et de l'IndustrieOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Commerce ministry, Guichet MCI online services (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of 2026
- Have a Haitian lawyer and a notary file the company authorization with the commerce ministry, in three copies.Ministère du Commerce et de l'IndustrieProcessing fee of 2,500 gourdesOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Commerce ministry, public limited company authorization (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
- Deposit one quarter of the minimum capital at the National Credit Bank and get the deposit certificate.Banque Nationale de CréditOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Commerce ministry, public limited company authorization (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
- Register the company's operation and tax identity with the tax administration and keep its receipts.Direction Générale des ImpôtsOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Commerce ministry, public limited company authorization (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
Show 7 more set-up steps
- Let the ministry publish the operating notice in the official journal, Le Moniteur, then request release of the capital deposit.Ministère du Commerce et de l'IndustrieOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Commerce ministry, public limited company authorization (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
- Send CFI an incentive application with five-year projections for the project, the list of goods to import and your company documents.Centre de Facilitation des InvestissementsOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: CFI, frequently asked questions (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
- To operate in a free zone, send the accreditation file to the Free Zones Directorate.Direction des Zones FranchesOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Free Zones Directorate, home page (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of 2026
- Check sector rules and operating conditions with the commerce ministry's industrial control directorate.Ministère du Commerce et de l'IndustrieOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Commerce ministry, missions and directorates (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
- Apply for a work permit if staff will work more than three months, and for a residence permit if they stay over 90 days.Immigration and Emigration ServicesOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: CFI, visas and permits page (opens in a new tab) · as of 2015
- Ask a Haitian lawyer how to buy or lease land; CFI's 2015 guide says leases of national land can run up to 50 years.Centre de Facilitation des InvestissementsOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: CFI, investment guide, March 2015 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
- Ask the central bank how to open accounts and convert gourdes; it publishes a daily reference rate.Banque de la République d'HaïtiOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Central bank, daily exchange rate, October 30, 2026 (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
4. Organizations that help investors
Start with CFI and AGD. Each card links to the organization’s own site.
Each card says what it can help with:Get adviceFind financeMeet requirementsResearch markets
Investment and business setup
- Get advice
National investment promotion agency
CFI
Centre de Facilitation des Investissements
Guides investors through permits, company setup and investment incentive files, and follows projects after they start.
Visit CFI (opens in a new tab)Source: CFI, frequently asked questions (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
- Get advice
Free zones authority
DZF
Direction des Zones Franches
Receives accreditation requests for free zone users and serves as secretariat of the free zones council.
Show 1 more organization
Industrial parks company
SONAPI
Société Nationale des Parcs Industriels
Provides sites for manufacturing companies and organizes and manages public industrial parks.
Customs and tax
- Meet requirements
National customs authority
AGD
Administration Générale des Douanes
Clears export shipments, collects duties and publishes the customs code and product nomenclature.
Visit AGD (opens in a new tab)Source: Customs administration, missions (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
- Meet requirements
National tax authority
DGI
Direction Générale des Impôts
Registers companies for tax and publishes tax laws, forms and the new tax code.
Visit DGI (opens in a new tab)Source: Tax administration, page for legal entities (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
Show 1 more organization
Economy and finance ministry
MEF
Ministère de l'Économie et des Finances
Oversees customs, tax and statistics, and publishes budget and economic indicators.
Visit MEF (opens in a new tab)Source: Economy ministry, home page (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
Chambers and industry associations
- Get advice
Industrial employers association
ADIH
Association des Industries d'Haïti
Supports members with customer, import and export procedures and publishes industry reports.
- Get advice
Bilateral chamber of commerce
AmCham
AmCham Haiti
Runs networking events, training and a membership directory for businesses linked to the United States.
Visit AmCham (opens in a new tab)Source: AmCham Haiti, home page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
5. Worth knowing
Logistics and border performance
The IMF says security and humanitarian crises keep deteriorating, and customs issued October 2026 notices on dry ports, transshipment and land imports in transit.
What to do: Ask your freight forwarder and customs broker which ports and routes are open before you ship.
Sources: IMF, Haiti staff-monitored program third review, May 2026 (opens in a new tab); Customs, dry ports and transshipment notice, October 2026 (French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
Tax code
A decree in the September 30, 2026 official journal replaces the 2022 tax code and takes effect on October 1, 2026.
What to do: Confirm with the tax administration how the new code changes your project's tax treatment.
Sources: Official Gazette, tax code decree, September 30, 2026 (in French) (opens in a new tab); Tax administration, home page (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
Currency and settlement
The IMF says the real exchange rate appreciated 31 percent in fiscal year 2025 while the nominal rate held near 130 gourdes per United States dollar.
What to do: Confirm how you can convert and move gourdes before you commit capital.
Sources: IMF, Haiti staff-monitored program third review, May 2026 (opens in a new tab); Central bank, daily exchange rate, October 30, 2026 (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
Climate and water
The IMF says Hurricane Melissa in October 2025 disrupted economic activity and added to humanitarian needs.
What to do: Include storm and flood risk in your site selection and insurance checks.
Source: IMF, Haiti staff-monitored program third review, May 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
Show 1 more
Security conditions
The IMF says Haiti's security crisis continues, and the State Department rates travel at Level 4, Do Not Travel.
What to do: Review official travel advice and insurance cover before any site visit.
Sources: IMF, Haiti staff-monitored program third review, May 2026 (opens in a new tab); State Department, travel advisories data, Haiti (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
6. How Promote:Global helps
- Compare Haiti with other countriesSet Haiti beside other countries on investment momentum, fundamentals and trade access, before site, tax and legal work.
- Find advisors and service firmsAsk an advisory firm a scoped, paid question, or browse firms that list their own services, from legal work to logistics.
- Organize your next stepsKeep each product and market in a project, with a roadmap of steps you work through.
Turn this guide into your Haiti project.
Use Promote:Global to explore markets, understand requirements and organize your next steps.
Promote:Haiti is an independent guide by Promote:Global, not an official government portal. The organizations named here are independent public and membership bodies, not Promote:Global partners, and every link goes to their own site.
Facts read from public sources, with an editorial cut-off of October 30, 2026. Nothing here is investment, legal, tax or sanctions advice. Check current status with the organization before you rely on it.