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Doing business in Costa Rica
A living guide: 0 pages, every rule cited to its norm, article, date and official text. Last verified 2026-10-30. Information summary, not legal advice.
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1. Start here
- Start here: the legal gateways every foreign investor crosses in Costa Rica
- Salario base, minimum wage and the exchange rate: the reference values behind Costa Rican rules
- Tax and compliance calendar for a company in Costa Rica (late 2026 and 2027)
- The first 90 days in Costa Rica: from apostilled documents to the first monthly filings
- Reform tracker: what changed in Costa Rican business law in 2024 to 2026 and what starts in 2027
- Who regulates what in Costa Rica: a map of agencies for investors
- Costa Rica business and legal glossary: Spanish terms explained in English
2. Macro and country context
- Costa Rica macro at a glance: the Banco Central, the 3 percent inflation target, rates, growth and the fiscal anchor
- Costa Rica's political system and how laws are made: what investors need to know
- Costa Rica public finances: the budget cycle, the fiscal rule, debt and the 2027 budget
- Costa Rica's external sector: exports, free zones, foreign direct investment and reserves
- Costa Rica's population, regions and labor market: where people live and work
3. Investing
- Foreign investment in Costa Rica: equal treatment, no screening or registration, and the treaties that protect investors
- Free zone regime in Costa Rica: who qualifies, the US$150,000 entry ticket, how PROCOMER and COMEX grant it, and how to lose it
- Restricted activities and ownership limits in Costa Rica: coastal concessions, private power, fuels, mining and assets the State cannot give up
- Acquiring a Costa Rican company: COPROCOM merger control, share transfer formalities and deal traps from free zones and concessions
- Public works concessions and PPPs in Costa Rica: Ley 7762, private initiatives, the 20 percent equity rule and the 50 year cap
- Selling to the Costa Rican State: Ley General de Contratación Pública, SICOP, 2026 thresholds, guarantees, appeals and debarment
- Environmental assessment and project permits in Costa Rica: SETENA viability, impact categories, review times and the 1 percent guarantee
- Tourism incentives in Costa Rica: the ICT tourism contract under Ley 6990, what it still exempts and the tenfold misuse fine
4. Entities and setup
- Choosing an entity in Costa Rica: sociedad anónima, sociedad de responsabilidad limitada, E.I.R.L. or branch of a foreign company
- Sociedad anónima (S.A.) in Costa Rica: two founders, 25% paid in at signing, a three member board, a company identified by its cédula jurídica number and the yearly tax on legal entities
- Sociedad de responsabilidad limitada (S.R.L. or Ltda.) in Costa Rica: quotas, managers instead of a board, partner consent for transfers and a 10% legal reserve
- Empresa individual de responsabilidad limitada (E.I.R.L.) in Costa Rica: a one owner company for individuals only, with a fixed object and a manager
- Branch of a foreign company in Costa Rica: the apoderado generalísimo, the power of attorney deed, registration in the Registro Mercantil and moving a foreign company's seat to Costa Rica
- Beneficial ownership in Costa Rica: the Registro de Transparencia y Beneficiarios Finales (RTBF) at the Central Bank, the 15% threshold, the April filing and the 2% of gross income penalty
- Impuesto a las personas jurídicas in Costa Rica: the yearly tax every company, E.I.R.L. and branch pays in January, from ₡69,330 to ₡231,100 in 2026
- Annual compliance for Costa Rican companies: January tax on legal entities, March income tax return, April beneficial ownership return, the yearly meeting and the 31 December 2026 email deadline
- Setting up a company in Costa Rica: official fees, the notary, La Gaceta, the registry and the statutory deadlines after registration
5. FX and capital controls
- FX and capital controls in Costa Rica: free convertibility, managed float, no approval to send money abroad
- Paying dividends and profits out of Costa Rica: no FX approval, 5% legal reserve, 15% withholding
- Foreign loans and intercompany debt in Costa Rica: no FX registration, 15% interest withholding, 20% of EBITDA cap
- Dollar contracts and payments in Costa Rica: valid and enforceable, payable in colones at the reference rate unless an exception applies
- MONEX, the BCCR reference rate and who may trade foreign currency in Costa Rica
- Export proceeds in Costa Rica: no surrender requirement, but prove liquidation or entry when the Banco Central asks
- Cash and transfer reporting in Costa Rica: declare US$10,000 at the border, bank registers of US$10,000 transfers
6. Taxes
- Taxes in Costa Rica: 30% corporate income tax, 15% on dividends and capital gains, 13% VAT, withholding on payments abroad and municipal taxes
- Corporate income tax in Costa Rica: 30% on Costa Rican source profits, small company brackets from 5%, prepayments and the 15 March return
- Withholding tax on payments abroad from Costa Rica: 15% on dividends, branch profits and interest, 25% on royalties and services, treaty rates
- VAT in Costa Rica: 13% on goods and services, reduced rates of 4%, 2%, 1% and 0.5%, reverse charge on services from abroad and monthly returns
- Transfer pricing in Costa Rica: arm's length rule, 25% related party test, annual return above 1,000 salarios base and five year APAs
- Interest deduction limits in Costa Rica: 20% of EBITDA for net non bank interest, indefinite carryforward and no deduction without withholding
- Tax losses in Costa Rica: three year carryforward, five years for agricultural, new industrial and audiovisual companies, no carryback
- Costa Rica's tax treaties: four income tax treaties in force (Spain, Germany, Mexico, UAE), the BEPS multilateral instrument and treaty rates
- Capital gains tax in Costa Rica: 15% on gains, 2.25% of price option for older assets, 2.5% buyer withholding when non residents sell real estate
- Digital services tax in Costa Rica: 13% VAT on cross border digital services, collected by registered providers or by card issuers
- Local taxes in Costa Rica: 0.25% municipal property tax, the municipal business licence tax and the yearly tax on legal entities
- Payroll taxes in Costa Rica: CCSS health 9.25% and pensions 5.58% for employers in 2026, FODESAF, IMAS, INA, Banco Popular and the salary tax
- Customs duties in Costa Rica: tariff plus 1% import tax on customs value, 13% import VAT and WTO valuation
- Tax incentives in Costa Rica: free zone income tax holidays of 8 to 12 years, 6% and 15% rates for strategic manufacturers, and reductions for new SMEs
- Tax audits and disputes in Costa Rica: four year review period, 50% to 100% penalties with voluntary reductions, appeals to the Tribunal Fiscal Administrativo
7. Labor and employment
- Employing people in Costa Rica: the Código de Trabajo, CCSS and INS registration, the 2026 minimum wage table and the main costs of a hire
- Employment contracts in Costa Rica: written contract contents, indefinite term by default, fixed terms of one or five years and the first three months
- Minimum wage in Costa Rica: the 2026 decree table from ₡373,092.30 a month, the 1.70% increase for 2027 and the switch to daily minimums
- Working hours and overtime in Costa Rica: 8 hours by day, 6 by night, 48 a week, overtime at 150% and a 12 hour daily ceiling
- Aguinaldo, vacations and public holidays in Costa Rica: a thirteenth month paid by 20 December, two weeks of vacation and nine paid holidays
- Maternity, paternity and family leave in Costa Rica: four months of maternity leave paid half by the CCSS, eight paternity days and pregnancy dismissal protection
- Termination and severance in Costa Rica: notice up to one month, cesantía of 19.5 to 22 days a year capped at eight years, and the dismissal letter
- Social security and occupational risk insurance in Costa Rica: CCSS registration, worker and employer contributions, the INS policy and the labour capitalisation fund
- Unions, solidarista associations, strikes and collective bargaining in Costa Rica: 12 founders, union leader protection and the 2020 strike rules
- Outsourcing, intermediaries and contractors in Costa Rica: joint liability of the client, the presumption of employment and group employer rules
- Telework in Costa Rica: Ley 9738, the written telework addendum, employer paid equipment, digital disconnection and telework from abroad
- Workplace harassment, discrimination and occupational safety in Costa Rica: Ley 7476 policies, the three month procedure and health committees
- Labour claims, inspections and fines in Costa Rica: one year to sue, fines of 1 to 23 salarios base and conciliation under the Reforma Procesal Laboral
8. Immigration
- Visas and residence in Costa Rica: the three migration categories, who may work and how long each status lasts
- Business visitors and visa free entry to Costa Rica: the four visa groups, the 180 day limit and when a visitor needs a permit
- Work residence for executives, managers and specialised staff in Costa Rica: the 25% salary premium, documents and employer checks
- DGME company registry in Costa Rica: the A to G categories and the fast track for foreign staff residence
- Investor residence in Costa Rica: the US$150,000 threshold, qualifying assets and the end of the Ley 9996 incentive window
- Rentista and pensioner residence in Costa Rica: US$2,500 and US$1,000 a month and how to prove the income
- Digital nomad stay in Costa Rica: US$3,000 a month, US$50,000 health cover and the income tax exemption
- Family members of foreign residents in Costa Rica: spouses, children under 25 and permission to work
- Costa Rican immigration fees, guarantee deposits and processing times: what a residence file actually costs
- Permanent residence in Costa Rica: three years of temporary residence, freedom to work and the four year absence rule
- Naturalisation in Costa Rica: five or seven years of official residence, the Spanish and civics exam and the Civil Registry procedure
- Employer duties when hiring foreigners in Costa Rica: status checks, inspections and fines of 2 to 12 salarios base
- Overstays, cancellation of residence and deportation in Costa Rica: the US$100 monthly fine and the five year ban
- CCSS insurance and tax status of foreign residents in Costa Rica: what immigration law requires
9. Trade and customs
- Trade and customs in Costa Rica: how the Central American customs code, the Ley General de Aduanas and PROCOMER fit together
- Importing goods into Costa Rica: customs agents, documents, payment, deferred payment, de minimis and courier shipments
- Exporting goods from Costa Rica: optional customs agent, PROCOMER single window, origin certificates and temporary exports
- Costa Rica's trade agreements: CAFTA-DR, the EU and UK association agreements, China, Mexico, Canada, Korea, the UAE and more, with approving laws
- Rules of origin in Costa Rica: controlled certification by PROCOMER, self certification, EUR.1 and invoice declarations, and origin rulings
- Free zone trade rules in Costa Rica: 25% local market sales, transfers between free zone companies, local suppliers and the PROCOMER usage fee
- Temporary imports and inward processing in Costa Rica: one year temporary admission, the perfeccionamiento activo regime, reexport and reimport
- Authorized economic operator in Costa Rica: four year OEA certification, deferred payment without guarantee and faster clearance
- Customs penalties and appeals in Costa Rica: fines in pesos centroamericanos, 50% reductions, contraband above US$5,000 and the Tribunal Aduanero Nacional
10. Capital markets and finance
- Capital markets, banking and credit in Costa Rica: who supervises, how to raise money, rate caps and deposit guarantee
- Banks and financial entities in Costa Rica: licence, ₡12,000 million minimum capital, foreign bank branches
- Public offerings, bonds and listings in Costa Rica: SUGEVAL authorisation, commercial paper and the Bolsa Nacional de Valores
- Foreign securities and remote foreign brokers in Costa Rica: the Ley 10973 recognised jurisdiction regime of 2026
- Tender offers, 10% holdings and insider dealing in Costa Rica's securities market
- Investment funds in Costa Rica: SAFIs, open and closed funds, real estate funds and their taxation
- Insurance and reinsurance in Costa Rica: SUGESE authorisation, capital in development units and cross border cover
- Interest rate caps, usury and loan terms in Costa Rica: BCCR maximum rates, microcredit, default interest and fees
- Secured lending in Costa Rica: movable collateral registry, mortgages and out of court enforcement
- Trusts (fideicomisos) in Costa Rica: how they work and why lenders use guarantee trusts
- Factoring and electronic invoices in Costa Rica: assigning receivables and listing invoices as securities
- Deposit guarantee and bank resolution in Costa Rica: ₡6,000,000 per person per entity
- Financial consumer protection and credit information in Costa Rica: fraud refunds, disclosure and the SUGEF credit bureau
- Payments, card fees and virtual assets in Costa Rica: BCCR fee caps, SUGEF registration and the 2026 crypto rules
11. Real estate and land
- Buying and owning property in Costa Rica: equal rights for foreigners, notary deeds and the Registro Nacional
- Title registration and due diligence in Costa Rica: Registro Inmobiliario, cadastral plans and priority
- Transfer tax and closing costs in Costa Rica: 1.5% transfer tax, 0.5% registry fee and notary scale
- Property tax in Costa Rica: 0.25% municipal impuesto sobre bienes inmuebles
- Solidarity tax on luxury homes in Costa Rica: 0.25% to 0.55% when construction exceeds ₡143 million
- Beachfront land in Costa Rica: the maritime terrestrial zone and municipal concessions
- Condominiums in Costa Rica: Ley 7933 regime, common areas, dues and assemblies
- Residential and commercial leases in Costa Rica: three year minimum, rent increases and eviction
- Short term rentals in Costa Rica: Ley 9742 registration with ICT and Hacienda
- Rental income tax in Costa Rica: 15% on rents with a flat 15% deduction
- Selling property in Costa Rica: 15% capital gains tax, 2.25% option and 2.5% withholding on non residents
- VAT on real estate in Costa Rica: property sales, rents and construction
- Zoning, subdivision and building permits in Costa Rica
- Forests, rivers and water rights on Costa Rican land: protection strips and concessions
- Border strip and inalienable state land in Costa Rica
- Indigenous territories in Costa Rica: land that non indigenous buyers cannot acquire
- Expropriation in Costa Rica: public interest declaration, administrative appraisal and court set fair price
12. Sectors
- Key regulated sectors in Costa Rica and who regulates them
- Private power generation in Costa Rica: Ley 7200 plants, ICE purchase contracts and ARESEP tariffs
- Rooftop solar and self consumption in Costa Rica: distributed energy resources under Ley 10086
- Oil, gas and fuels in Costa Rica: the petroleum moratorium to 2050, the RECOPE monopoly and the 2026 opening to biofuels and green hydrogen
- Mining in Costa Rica: concessions, the open pit metal mining ban, surface fees and quarry rules
- Telecommunications in Costa Rica: spectrum concessions, SUTEL authorisations, FONATEL and 5G security rules
- Electric vehicles in Costa Rica: tax incentives, used EV rules and the 2026 charging station regime
- Medicinal cannabis and hemp in Costa Rica: licences, fees and the 1% THC line
- Casinos and online betting call centres in Costa Rica: the Ley 9050 taxes
- Coffee in Costa Rica: ICAFE registration, regulated margins and the export levy
13. Regulation
- Competition law in Costa Rica: cartels, abuse of dominance, fines and leniency
- Consumer protection in Costa Rica: information duties, warranties, online sales and fines
- Personal data protection in Costa Rica: Ley 8968, PRODHAB, consent and breach notice
- Anti corruption and corporate criminal liability in Costa Rica: Ley 9699 and compliance programmes
- Anti money laundering in Costa Rica: who is obligated, KYC, SUGEF registration and fines
- Environmental liability and waste in Costa Rica: polluter pays, Tribunal Ambiental and waste duties
- Intellectual property in Costa Rica: trademarks and patents, terms and official fees
14. Disputes
- Disputes in Costa Rica: courts, arbitration, enforcing foreign judgments and awards, and investment protection
- Commercial litigation in Costa Rica: courts, the oral ordinary process, interim relief, appeals, cassation and costs
- Debt collection in Costa Rica: the monitorio, executory titles, mortgage and pledge foreclosure, attachments and auctions
- Commercial arbitration in Costa Rica: one Model Law statute for domestic and international cases, the clause, tribunal, interim measures and annulment
- Enforcing arbitral awards in Costa Rica: local awards, foreign awards under the New York and Panama Conventions, and the Sala Primera
- Foreign court judgments in Costa Rica: recognition by the cassation chambers, requirements and enforcement
- Investment protection and investor State arbitration in Costa Rica: ICSID, bilateral investment agreements and CAFTA DR
- Mediation and conciliation in Costa Rica: Ley 7727, court conciliation, settlement effects and authorised centres
- Claims against the State in Costa Rica: contentious administrative courts, the one year deadline, interim measures and payment of judgments
- Amparo and constitutional challenges in Costa Rica: the Sala Constitucional, two month deadline, suspension and damages
- Insolvency in Costa Rica for creditors: the single concurso under Ley 9957, the collection stay, ranking, creditor votes and cross border recognition
- Consumer claims in Costa Rica: strict liability, the Comisión Nacional del Consumidor, six month deadline, conciliation and fines in salarios base
- Limitation periods in Costa Rica: four years commercial, ten years civil, one year short claims, labour, the State and how to interrupt
- Cross border service, evidence and documents in Costa Rica: Hague Service and Evidence Conventions, Inter American conventions, letters rogatory and apostille
15. Exiting
- Exiting Costa Rica: the routes out, what each costs in tax and time, and the clearances that gate every registry filing
- Dissolving and liquidating a Costa Rican S.A. or S.R.L.: Gaceta notice, 30 day opposition, liquidators, final statement and payout, with the notarial route
- Selling shares or quotas of a Costa Rican company: 15% gains tax with a minimum value rule, quota consent, indirect real estate transfer tax and the beneficial ownership update
- Selling a Costa Rican business as a going concern: three Gaceta notices, 15 day creditor call, deposited price, and buyer liability for tax and employees
- Taking money out before or instead of exiting Costa Rica: dividends at 15%, capital reductions with a three month creditor window, and free conversion
- Merging, converting or moving the seat of a Costa Rican company: one month opposition window, tax neutral reorganisations and retransfer of a foreign seat
- Closing a branch of a foreign company in Costa Rica: the general power of attorney, final remittance tax and the tax on legal entities until cancellation
- Closing a business in Costa Rica and the workforce: notice, cesantía up to eight years, vacations and aguinaldo, and the labor privilege in liquidation
- Closing with Hacienda, the CCSS and the Registro Nacional: deregistration in one month, the clearances that block filings, and four or ten years of exposure
- Dormant Costa Rican companies: three unpaid years of the tax on legal entities dissolve the company, partners stay liable, and reinstatement is possible for three years
- When the Costa Rican company cannot pay: the concurso replaces ordinary liquidation, look back periods for gifts and preferences, and subordination of related parties
- Who pays after a Costa Rican company closes: directors, liquidators, legal representatives and partners
16. What is normal abroad but not here
- What is normal abroad but works differently in Costa Rica
- A thirteenth month salary paid by 20 December, free of income tax and CCSS contributions
- Dismissal without cause is allowed, but costs notice and cesantía of up to eight years
- A 48 hour week, overtime at 50% extra and a 12 hour daily ceiling
- A legal interest rate ceiling reset every six months: 36.48% in colones and 30.11% in dollars for the second half of 2026
- Dollar contracts are valid, but the debtor may usually pay in colones
- An annual tax just for keeping a company registered: ₡69,330 to ₡231,100 in 2026
- Leases run at least three years, renew automatically and dollar home rents cannot be raised
- An implied warranty, a 30 day claim window and eight days to cancel off premises and online sales
- Accepted electronic invoices are enforceable titles and can be traded; payers have ten business days to object
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