Countries › Costa Rica › Guide › 8. Immigration › DGME company registry in Costa Rica: the A to G categories and the fast track for foreign staff residence

DGME company registry in Costa Rica: the A to G categories and the fast track for foreign staff residence

Last verified: 2026-10-29 · Status: Changing

Companies that move executives and specialists regularly can register with DGME under Decreto 36576-G-COMEX and file their staff's residence through a dedicated company window. Free zone and inward processing companies (category A) are registered automatically through PROCOMER since the 2024 reform; exporters, R&D firms and others need a COMEX letter. Accreditation lasts four years; staff residence is decided within 30 business days and granted for two years.

Key facts

Validity of DGME company registry accreditation	4 yearsDecreto 36576-G-COMEX art. 16(6), as of 2025-06-21 · in force
DGME deadline to decide staff residence for accredited companies	30 business daysDecreto 36576-G-COMEX art. 19(5), as of 2011-05-20 · in force

The rule

1. Companies may use the regulation if they need a regular flow of active or executive staff, operate under export promotion regimes, have COMEX backing, an ICT tourism declaration or registration with SUGEF, SUPEN, SUGEVAL, SUTEL, SUGESE or the airline association, and are incorporated in Costa Rica, generate direct jobs and contribute to development.Decreto Ejecutivo 36576-G-COMEX, art. 1, 2011-05-09 official text · verified 2026-10-29

2. Categories: A, export promotion regimes run by COMEX and PROCOMER (free zones, inward processing); B, exporters outside those regimes, R&D firms and technical higher education in priority areas; C, tourism lodging with four or more stars and airlines; D, financial entities supervised by SUGEF, SUPEN, SUGEVAL or SUGESE; E, telecoms supervised by SUTEL; F, multinationals with operations in at least three other countries; G, contractors of the State for more than a calendar year.Decreto Ejecutivo 36576-G-COMEX, as amended by Decreto 44793, art. 3, 2024-11-18 official text · verified 2026-10-29 · changed: Decreto 44793 (published 20 December 2024, in force 21 June 2025) widened category B to R&D and priority technical education.

3. Free zone, inward processing and other COMEX and PROCOMER regime companies are registered in category A automatically, with DGME checking their status electronically with PROCOMER; they file no registration application, stay registered while current with their regime and are removed if they renounce it or it is revoked.Decreto Ejecutivo 36576-G-COMEX, as amended by Decreto 44793, art. 5, 2024-11-18 official text · verified 2026-10-29

4. Category B applicants file a request by the legal representative, a COMEX recommendation letter (sent by COMEX to DGME within three business days), a corporate certificate under three months old, ID of the representative, CCSS and occupational risk compliance and the last income tax return.Decreto Ejecutivo 36576-G-COMEX, as amended by Decreto 44179, art. 6, 2023-07-11 official text · verified 2026-10-29

5. DGME reviews a complete company application within five business days, may ask once for missing items (10 business days to reply) and decides within 15 business days; accreditation lasts four years (category G for the contract term) and must be updated one month before expiry.Decreto Ejecutivo 36576-G-COMEX, as amended by Decreto 44793, art. 16, 2024-11-18 official text · verified 2026-10-29

6. Accredited companies may request temporary residence for managers, executives, specific professionals and specialised technicians, rotating qualified professionals and scientists and specialised staff, and their spouse and children under 25 or with disabilities; DGME decides within 30 business days and grants residence for two years.Decreto Ejecutivo 36576-G-COMEX, art. 17 to 19 and art. 21, 2011-05-09 official text · verified 2026-10-29

7. COMEX letters for registry entry follow their own regulation, amended by Decreto 45347 of 19 September 2025, in force 2 February 2026.Decreto Ejecutivo 45347, whole decree, 2025-09-19 official text · verified 2026-10-29 · changed: Reform of the COMEX letter regulation in force from 2 February 2026.

Worked example

A free zone manufacturer hiring three engineers from its parent files their residence through the company window without a separate registry application: DGME checks the PROCOMER status, then has up to 30 business days per complete file.

Step by step

Check which category the company fits; free zone and inward processing companies are already in category A.
For categories B to G, gather the sector authority proof (COMEX letter, ICT declaration, supervisor registration or State contract) and compliance certificates.
File the company application; reply to any request within 10 business days.
File each employee's residence through the company window with the family members.
Update the accreditation one month before the four year term ends.

Common traps

If the company loses its free zone status, it drops out of category A and its staff lose the fast track.
If accreditation requirements change substantially and the company ignores the warning, DGME cancels the accreditation and the residences of its foreign staff (art. 16(7)).
Residence under the regulation is for two years; at expiry the foreigner must leave unless renewed.

Sources

← Work residence for executives, managers and specialised staff in Costa Rica: the 25% salary premium, documents and employer checksInvestor residence in Costa Rica: the US$150,000 threshold, qualifying assets and the end of the Ley 9996 incentive window →

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