www.antea-int.com 20 24 SETTING UP BUSINESS IN COSTA RICA
General Aspects
Costa Rica is a country in Central America, it borders the Caribbean Sea (to the east) and the Pacific Ocean (to the west), Because Costa Rica is located between 8 and 12 degrees north of the Equator, the climate is tropical year round. However, the country has many microclimates depending on elevation, rainfall, topography, and by the geography of
each particular region. Costa Rica’s location provides access to American markets as it has the same time zone as the central part of the United States and direct ocean access to Europe and Asia. The primary language spoken in Costa Rica is Spanish but many people, especially in business life, speak English as well.
Legal Forms of Business Entities
Legal form Feature
Sociedad Anónima or S. A. in Spanish
Must be formed before a notary public, by at least two physical individuals or two existing corporations, or a mix thereof, this is the most widely used corporate structure when organi zing businesses in Costa Rica.
A Sociedad Anónima may be formed by other business entities or individuals or a mix thereof and may be eventually owned by one single individual or other business entity.
Remarks
Must be managed by a board of directors comprised of at least three members (President, Secretary and Treasurer) and must be supervised by a statutory examiner called the “Fiscal”.
There are no limitations for foreign nationals wishing to form these types of companies. In the event the Company does not have a representative residing in Costa Rica, the appointment of a resident agent is then required. Such an agent is necessarily an attorney-at-law.
Article number 155 of our Commerce Code (Law number 3284 of April 24th, 1964) indicates that an Annual Ordinary Shareholders Meeting shall be held at least once a year, during the three (3) months following the end of the fiscal period, in which items concerning the operation of the entity shall be discussed. The duty to hold an Ordinary Annual Stockholders Assembly also applies to Limited Liability Companies
Sociedad de Responsabilidad
Limitada or SRL in Spanish
A minimum of two partners are required (physical individuals or business entities) to initiate its incorporation and its legal standing is not altered in the event a single partner subsequently becomes the sole owner of the capital contribution
Their capital is not represented in shares of stock but in quotas, that cannot be sold to third parties if not previously offered to and approved by the rest of the partners. The Company structure is not lead by a board of directors but by one or more manager.
2 SETTING UP BUSINESS IN COSTA RICA 2024
Formation Procedure: Generally speaking, the formation of any commercial entity follows the steps described below. It is noted that it should be considered that each has specific requirements that must be met in order to adequately incorporate the desired entity and a subsequent consult should be performed with particular legal specialist in each case.
• The founders acquire the services of a Notary Public and prepare a draft deed of incorporation, which will contain the new statutes of the company and the appointment of administrators. • The shares are issued in accordance with contributions from shareholders. • Registration taxes are paid (based on the capital of the company) and the Articles of Incorporation is filed with the Public Registry. • Upon registration of the Articles of Incorporation, the company obtains a corporate identification number (corporate identification).
Closing procedure: According to the Commercial Code, a company is canceled according to the following reasons: • Shareholders agreement. • Completion of the term of company. • Failure to achieve the goal of the company. • Final loss of more than 50% of its capital (if not restored by shareholders or had a proportional decrease).
Branch Offices of Foreign Foreign companies are allowed to open and/or transfer their operations to Costa Rica through branches, subsidiaries and other applicable rules set forth in the local Code of Commerce
The foreign entity must register a shareholders agreement in the National Registry of Costa Rica, which should include: • The appointment of a legal representative in the country for all company business. • Objective, capital, information and competent senior managers of the company. • An express declaration of submission to the Costa Rican law. All documents are validated by the Consulate of Costa Rica in the country of origin and registered in Costa Rica in order to acquire the local legal certificate
The Trust Costa Rican commercial entities and individuals have recently begun using trust to manage their commercial (and personal) interests, in local or international environments, with great success.
Its flexibility and numerous possibilities make it an ideal business vehicle a wide array of commercial (and personal) relationships. In fact, it may be used for many business purpose meant to provide assurance and speed in day-today business transactions
3 SETTING UP BUSINESS IN COSTA RICA 2024
Organizational Questions
Topic Feature
Commercial Register
When forming a Costa Rican Company its bylaws must be drafted before a Public Notary and thereafter incorporated with the Mercantile Section at the National Registry. Once the incorporation process has been completed, the Public Registry will issue a corporate identification number (“cédula de persona jurídica” in Spanish), assigning a number which becomes evidence that the company is ready to lawfully start operations.
Remarks
If the company is going to start a business or open a checking account, it must be registered with the Dirección General de Tributación according to the type of business. For example, for: The Income Tax. It is paid and reported annually.
The General Sales Tax. It is paid and reported monthly
rade Register Notification
Transfer of Goods and Machinery
Visa and Residence permit
Every company under operation needs a business license or permit:
1. The type of the license required from the local government (the Municipality) will depend on the type of business (sales of products, rendering of services, administrative services, etcetera.)
2. There is a license fee to be paid to the local government quarterly. For specific details on the license to be paid, it is necessary to know the exact place where the offices will be located.
When performing any legal transaction whereby a piece of real estate is transferred, a transfer tax will apply whose rate is 1.5% of the value of the property according to the public registry.
The General Immigration and Foreign Nationals Office is the agency responsible for issuing general directions on entry visas and residence permits to foreign nationals, these directions are based on local immigration polices, international agreements, treaties, security reasons, convenience, and opportunity for the Costa Rican State.
Municipalities will grant these licenses within a maximum term of 30 calendar days as of the date of the filing of the request. The Municipalities will then collect the applicable tax.
The reference value shall be the market price. This agreement must be documented with a notary public by means of a public deed of transfer and thereafter recorded within the National Registry.
Foreign nationals authorized to enter the country may request an extension, provided that the request is submitted by prior to the termination of the original authorization and under the condition the all extension requirements set forth by the General immigration and Foreign Nationals Office are duly complied with
4 SETTING UP BUSINESS IN COSTA RICA
2024
Employment
Topic Feature
Entry Visa Categories
Labour law
First Group: Foreign nationals of the countries placed in this group may enter Costa Rica without consular visas and will have to right to stay for maximum term of 90 calendar days.
Second Group: Foreign nationals from countries placed in this group may enter Costa Rica without consular visas and will have the right to stay for maximum term of 30 calendar days.
Third group: Foreign nationals placed in this group must request a consular entry visa from the Costa Rica Consular Office abroad and will have the right to stay for maximum term of 30 calendar days, unless they hold residence or a visa from certain regions determined by the Immigrations Authorities. They do not need a consular entry visa if they comply with those specifics rules.
Fourth group: Foreign nationals placed in this group must request a restricted consular visa and a previous consultation from the Director General of the Immigrations and Foreign Nationals Office.
Costa Rican labor regulations are mainly laid out in the Labor Code that has been in force since 1943. However, in past years important amendments have been implemented on certain subject matters so as to comply with the demands of the new global market, as well as recent tendencies in labor laws.
In addition to the Labor Code, there are numerous legal norms and jurisprudence that set regulations for things like the “the thirteenth month” bonus, social security, ad sexual harassment provisions, among others.
Additionally, companies may implement their own sets of rules by performing certain relevant issues. This also includes agreements with their labor force and unions.
Social system Costa Rica has a mandatory social security system providing health insurance for medical attention and disability, old age, and death pensions.
Contributions to the Social Security System for dependent employment relations are as follows: An employer must contribute 26.50% above the employee’s gross salary and withhold 10.67% from the employee’s salary. Both contributions are reported and paid on a monthly basis to the Social Security system
Additionally, the Social Security System offers plans for voluntary and mandatory contributions for independent contractors applicable to 1) individuals not earing income but who receive a rent linked to Costa Rica (for example, housewives and students); and 2) independent professionals or other individuals generating their own income with no associated employer.
5 SETTING UP BUSINESS IN COSTA RICA 2024
Taxation
There are number of tax systems applicable in Costa Rica which, in general terms, are managed by the General Tax Administration and The General Customs Administration, both under the authority of the Ministry of Revenue. The first Administrative Body is in
Tax Feature
Income Tax on Business Entities
Taxes on Remittances
The general sales tax
charge of: income tax and related, general sales tax, selective consumptions tax, and other minor taxes. The seconds collects customs taxes and other taxes from import operations.
The income tax is applicable to commercial entities established in the country, as well as to branches of foreign entities. This tax applies to earnings received as a result of the development of profitable activities of any type, excepting those activities assigned with a specific tax treatment by means of other enlisted exemptions established by Law.
The foreign remittances tax is levied all incomer or benefits of Costa Rican source that are sent abroad. The tax is generated when an income or benefit of Costa Rican source is settled, credited, or in any other way made available to persons domiciled abroad.
Remarks
Income taxes are applicable to net income and highest rate is 30%
Taxes on Dividends
The general sales tax is levied on the value added in the sale of goods and the provision of some services specifically listed in Act 6826 of November 8, 1982 and its amendments.
The tax must be withheld at the time is settled, credited, or made available to the non-domiciled person. It must be settled within the first 15 calendar days of the immediately following month. Jurisprudence understands that this payment refers to the physical remittance of the funds. The lowest rate is 8.5% and highest rate is 50%
Taxpayers of this tax are all natural persons and legal entities, whether of fact or duly formed, state-owned and private ones, which sell goods or provide services on a regular basis. In addition, all persons of any nature that import goods or pay custom duties for imported goods (Section 13 of the General Sales Tax Act, Ley del Impuesto General sobre las Ventas) and all exporters, whether or not they are taxpayers for this tax, are required to file a reporting form.
This withholding is made on dividends of any kind, ownership interests, and other kinds of profits equivalent to dividends paid or credited to the company’s shareholders or members . This withholding does not apply where dividends are distributed as registered shares or as ownership interests of the same company or where the shareholder is another corporation based in Costa Rica and subject to this tax. In this case, the taxpayers are the shareholders or members of these entities , except where these entities are entities whose contributions to capital are monetary, are based in Costa Rica and are subject to this tax, and the withholding agents are entities whose contributions to capital are monetary and pay that kind of profit.
Regulation provide that taxes to be withheld and paid are 5% and 15% of the total to be distributed, depending on the taxpayer.
6 SETTING UP BUSINESS IN COSTA RICA 2024
Transfer pricing information Under Resolution DGT-R-044-2016, certain types of Costa Rican taxpayers (e.g., large taxpayers and large territorial taxpayers as defined in Resolutions DGT-003-2008 and DGT-09-2008, and companies operating under a free trade zone regime) must file a transfer pricing information return, which requires disclosure of information regarding transactions with related parties, such as the name of the related party, the type and amount of the transaction, the transfer pricing method used in the analysis and the price or margin earned by the local taxpayer.
Resolution DGT-R-28-2017 temporarily suspends the obligation to file the information return. Transfer pricing information returns for fiscal years 2015 and 2016 would have been due on 30 June 2017. This due date is now suspended until further notice. However, taxpayers should maintain the information that would be included on those information returns for when the Tax Administration requests the information.
Resolution DGT-R-28-2017 only applies to the transfer pricing information return, and has no effect on the obligation to document transactions between related parties on an annual basis, which is effective as of 13 September 2013, per Executive Decree N° 37898-H published in Official Gazette No. 176 and applicable to all taxpayers in Costa Rica.
Tax on Legal Entities Are subject to this tax:
• Trading companies
• Branch of a foreign company or its representative
• Limited liability individual enterprises
• Corporations
• Limited liability companies
• Limited partnership
• General partnerships
Obligatory Use of the System of Electronic Invoice
According to the provisions of statute No. 9416, “Act to Improve the Fight Against Tax Fraud”, it is mandatory the application and use of an electronic system to issue electronic invoices, electronic tickets, electronic credit notes, and electronic debit notes as evidence for supporting earning, costs and expenses in conformity with the technical specification and rules defined by Resolution DGT-R-48-2016.
The due date to pay for this tax with no penalty is January 31 of each year.
The General Directorate of Taxation calculates automatically the tax payable.
Payment can be made through Internet (bank connectivity) or directly in banks by specifying only the identification number.
Are exempted from this tax:
• Micro and small enterprises registered at Ministry of Economy, Industry and Commerce (MEIC, by its acronym in Spanish)*.
• Small and medium farmers registered at the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG, by its acronym in Spanish)*.
Are obliged to use the system of electronic receipts individuals, legal entities or collective entities with no instrumental legal entity to which a taxation rule obliges them the fulfillment of a specific service provision or obligation which may be pecuniary or non-pecuniary because of their status as tax reporting agents, taxpayers, responsible individual/entity, tax withholding or collecting agent, successors of a tax liability or who are obliged to provide the General Directorate of Tribulation with information or collaborate whit it.
7
2024
SETTING UP BUSINESS IN COSTA RICA
Statute for the Strengthening of Public Finance
It was published in the Official Gazette, La Gaceta, of December 20, 2018, by means of resolution DGT-DGH-R-064-2018 of Dirección General de Tributación [General Directorate of Taxation]. The statute comprises two measures for spending restraint and a series of proposal to make changes in two key taxes:
i) Income Tax.
The current statue creates a new tax which levies capital income and capital gains.
The Reform also includes two new aspects: limits on payments to fiscal heavens and the inclusion of OCDE model regarding trading establishments.
ii) Sales General Tax
The current Sales General Tax (IGV, in Spanish) is replaced with the Valued Added Tax (VAT), which levies all sales of goods and all service deliveries.
The VAT levies each of the stages of production of goods or the provision of services, so that the manufacturer or service provider can deduct the tax paid on each stage on which value is added to the goods or services that they sell.
The reforms of Income Tax and Value Added Tax will be effective on July 1, 2019.
The regular fiscal year would be from January to December.
The statue stipulates different rates for the Income Tax for micro enterprises and small enterprises ranging from 5% to 20%.
For employees, the statute establishes two additional rates of 20% and 25% for salaries higher than 2,100,000 Costa Rican colons and 4,200,000 Costa Rican colons.
The tax rate remains the same, 13% for all operations subject to VAT. However, a reduced tax of 4% will apply for:
• Private healthcare services
• Airplane tickets with origin in Costa Rica.
Reduced rate of 2% will apply for:
• Medicines
• Personal Insurance
• Purchase and sale of goods and services by state institutions, CONARE [National Council of Deans, by its acronym in Spanish], SINAES [National System for Accreditation of Higher Education, by its acronym in Spanish] provided that they are necessary for the realization of their goods.
Asset Declaration for Inactive Legal Entities
(Income Tax Return)
General Tax Administration issues informative declarations for Inactive Legal Entities
According to resolution number 075-2019 issued by the General Tax Administration, the inactive legal entities that do not develop any economic activity must register or update their information through the D-140 form (Declaration of Information Update), in addition to declare their assets, passive and capital stock through the D-101 form (Asset Declaration for Inactive Legal Entities), to be applied as of the fiscal period 2020.
All companies registered in Costa Rica that do not carry out activities, must file an assets declaration as of March 15th
The return must include the balance sheet information (assets, liabilities and equity) of the entity. Therefore, it is essential to have the information related to the acquisition values of the assets and rights held by the entity, as well as the indication of whether the funds used correspond to the contribution of the partners (equity) or debit (liabilities).
The rule establishes on a transitory basis that those inactive legal entities that, as of the effective date of this resolution, have complied with the formal duty to file the informative return corresponding to the ordinary tax periods 2020, 2021, and 2022 with the simplified form D-101 of the tax on profits, shall not have to file a new return through the form called “Informative return of inactive legal entities D-195”.
In case the formal duty has yet to be complied with through the simplified form D-101, the taxpayer must file an informative return for each of the pending periods through form D-195.
It is important to remember that inactive legal entities are considered to be those registered before the Tax Administration only under the economic activity code “960113 Legal entity legally constituted”.
8 SETTING UP BUSINESS IN COSTA RICA 2024
The Law No. 9416 to Improve the Fight against Tax Fraud, was published in December 2016, which incorporates in chapter II the issue of transparency and final beneficial ownership of legal entities and other legal structures. This law establishes the obligation for legal entities (companies, third- party resource managers in favor of their clients, trusts and non-profit organizations) to provide through their legal representatives how their social capital is distributed and identify the final beneficiaries
The information that must be provided corresponds to the identification of the applicable legal entity, summary of the ownership of legal entities, individualized detail by participant in the composition of the stock capital and information on the person who files the information. The declared information will be considered a sworn statement. It is the duty of the obligated party to safeguard this information.
The information must be provided to identify the shareholders of a company and the individuals who exercise control over such company. This information must be supplied annually and within fifteen business days as of the date of the modification of the shareholding composition.
It is a prerequisite that the legal representative or special attorney, whose power must be granted in a public deed, has a valid digital signature to be able to provide this information in the digital platform of the Registry of Transparency and Final Beneficiaries that will be available on the web page of the Central Bank.
Non-compliant entities will be considered as such as of April 30, have not made the respective declaration. Once the list of entities in default has been defined, it will be made available to the respective authorities, thus limiting the ability to submit documents to be registered with the National Registry of Property, as well as subjecting the non-compliant parties to fines equal to a base salary.
9 SETTING UP BUSINESS IN COSTA RICA 2024
Transparency and Final Beneficiaries Registration
Multinational Group
Tax Remarks
Ministry of Finance publishes resolution to determine the economic substance of qualified entities
Following the provisions of article 1 of Law No. 7,092, Income Tax Law, as recently amended by Law No. 10,381 (Amendment to Law 7,092, Income Tax Law, of April 21, 1988, to achieve the exclusion of Costa Rica from the list of non-cooperative countries in tax matters of the European Union), Entities that are part of a multinational group that are considered as unqualified will be subject to the tax on passive income that is extraterritorial.
Regulation No. 44262, called: “Amendment to Executive Decree No. 43,198-H to update it to current legislation”, published on November 28th, 2023, established that the Tax Administration should, through a resolution of general scope, develop how the taxpayer reports its status as a qualified entity and entity belonging to a multinational group. Consequently, resolution No. MH-DGT-RES-0030-2023 is published, entitled: “Objective measurement parameters to carry out the correct assessment of the appropriate economic substance of a qualified entity and its membership of a multinational group, aspects regulated in articles 2 bis, 2 ter and 2 quarter of the Income Tax Law”.
This resolution establishes that an adequate economic substance will be considered to exist when the taxpayer – a legal person – is registered with the CCSS as an employer and has hired at least one employee related to the management of investment assets and income obtained abroad. In the same way, it must have a premises, office, or business center for the development of the activity.
It is also indicated that in order to consider that the company has adequate economic substance in the country, it must have a board of directors of social businesses and risk management and that this body must meet at least twice a year in the national territory. Likewise, it is indicated that an ordinary shareholders’ meeting must be held and have corporate governance policies approved by the Board of Directors or equivalent body. The resolution prohibits the board of directors, the board of directors, or their equivalent from being outsourced or subcontracted.
On the other hand, the resolution indicates that an entity is considered to belong to a multinational group when it complies with the assumptions delimited in the legal standard, as well as with the generally applied accounting principles, within which the provisions of International Financial Reporting Standard number 10 must be assessed.
10 SETTING UP BUSINESS IN COSTA RICA 2024
Fiscal Incentives
Tax Feature
The Free Zone Regime Is a liberatory regime of import taxes; it also grants beneficiaries exemption from income tax. Depending on the category you enter, the company can obtain the benefits of exemption from this tax for periods ranging from 8 to 12 years, or pay a percentage of 6%. Entering the scheme requires the minimum investment that is determined according to the geographical location in which the activities will be carried out and whether they would be carried out in an industrial park or not.
The incentives granted by the Costa Rican government to companies that benefit from the Free Trade Zone regime are defined by the World Trade Organization (WTO) as prohibited subsidies, since such incentives are subject to export results, as a condition for enjoying tax benefits, especially regarding income tax
International conventions Costa Rica has signed treaties against Double Taxation. Currently, there are four signed treaties with: Spain, Germany, Mexico and the United Arab Emirates.
Remarks
The companies that can apply for the free zone regime are classified as follows:
• Industrial companies that process and assemble export or reexport products to third markets outside Central America.
• Marketing companies - who repackage or redistribute nontraditional export or non-export products.
• Companies that provide services, for which they must be in a strategic investment sector and meet the strategic eligibility index.
• Service companies that operate and provide shipyard, reconstruction, repair and maintenance services to cargo ships carrying exports.
• Public limited companies and people who carry out scientific research to improve technological and agro-industrial activities..
Agreements in force:
• Germany Law 9345 since October 2016
• Spain Law 8888 since January 2011
• México Law 9644 since April 2019
• United Arab Emirates Law 9963 since June 2021
11 SETTING UP BUSINESS IN COSTA RICA
2024
Foreign Investment
The Costa Rican Foreign commerce policy seeks the promotion, the facilitation, and the consolidation of international insertion, with an aim towards enhancing the growth of the economy and, as a consequence, to improve the living conditions of Costa Ricans.
Likewise, Costa Rica maintains a policy to actively negotiate and implement preferential agreements. In additions to its participation in the CACM, Costa Rica has a series of
Tax Feature
free trade agreements in effects with Canada, the Caribbean countries, Chile, Mexico, China, The United States, Central America, The Dominican Republic, Peru, Singapore and Panama.
World Trade Organization Costa Rica signed the GATT in 1990 and it is a founding member of the WTO. Cost Rica grants the Most Favored Nation (MFN) status to it all partners. The Marrakech Agreement of the WTO was ratified by the Legislative Assembly on December 26, 1994.
Free Trade Agreements Currently in Effect
Since 1963, Costa Rica has formed part of the General Treaty for Central American Economic Integration which established the Central American Common Market (MCCA for initials in Spanish). The MCCA is made up by Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, Costa Rica and Panamá, which joined in 2013.
Remarks
Costa Rica has used the transition periods available to developing countries; currently, it is using the term extension until 2015 for the granting of subventions to exports as provided for in the Free Trade Zone programs and the Active Improvement System.
Central America today has a common external tariff and modern commercial norms. It has successfully achieved a free trade zone with the liberalization of trade of agricultural and industrial goods; exceptions are roasted and raw coffee, cane sugar, ethyl alcohol and alcoholic drinks, and petroleum products (although proposals exist to create a bilateral system incorporating these products in the free trade category).
Foreign Investment System
Costa Rica has a generally open foreign investment system, although there are some relevant exceptions. The State holds exclusive rights in regard to the importation, refining, and distribution of petroleum oil and its derivatives; insurance services; railroads, maritime ports, and air ports; some postal services; and single concessions in some power and telecommunications services. Some of these activities may be subject to concessions pursuant to applicable laws. The Telecommunications General Law number 8653 were published in June and July of 2008, respectively.
There is no special law in Costa Rica in terms of foreign investment, although several laws and regulations seek to promote these activities, including Tax Exemption Regimes and faster Immigration Procedures. The set of international treaties explained before are also intended to promote foreign investment and activity in our country. The most favored nation treatment is guaranteed to foreign investors in sections set forth in bilateral investment treaties, free trade agreements, or under the General Trade Services Accord. Foreign investors are entitled to the same incentives and benefits granted to Costa Rican companies.
12 SETTING UP BUSINESS IN COSTA RICA 2024
Tourism Incentives CCosta Rica grants incentives to tourism activities in a number of ways. Such incentives were created upon the Incentives Law for the Development of Tourism number 6990 (ILDT). Incentives set forth in the ILDT may be fully or partially granted, depending on the applicant company and the Tourism Agreement signed between the Company and the Costa Rican Institute of Tourism (ICT in Spanish). Pursuant to Article 29 of the ILDT, benefits may also be subject to certain requirements and conditions. The Agreement clarifies which incentives may or may not be granted to the requesting companies according to their characteristics, the company must show evidence that it has previously qualified as a tourism company with the ICT.
Law 9996 for the Attraction of Investors, Pensioners and Retirees
This new law aims to encourage the attraction of investors, rentiers and pensioners to contribute to the reactivation of the Costa Rican economy in a postCovid-19 pandemic period.
The great innovations introduced by this new regulation are:
The minimum amount that a foreign investor must invest to obtain a 10-year residence in Costa Rica is decreased. Currently, this amount is $200,000 (¢122 million) and becomes $150,000 (¢92 million).
Tax incentives are provided for investors, pensioners and rentiers:
• Duty free and all taxes for a single time for the import of the household goods.
• Up to 2 land, air and/or sea transport vehicles may be imported, for personal or family use, free of all import, tariff and value-added taxes.
• Income to qualify for the benefits of this law will be exempt from income tax.
• Exemption of 20% of the total transfer tax, in those real estate that are acquired.
• Exemption from import taxes for instruments or materials for professional or scientific practice. They will not be automatically considered as tax residents
Investors, rentiers or pensioners may opt for these benefits during the first 5 years of validity of the law. Benefits will be maintained for a period of 10 years from the date they were granted.
Law 10008
Digital Nomads
For natural persons who provide their services outside of Costa Rica, it is also attractive to come to work in Costa Rica. During the year 2021, Costa Rica enacted the law number 10008, “Law to Attract Workers and Remote Service Providers of International Character” or Law of Digital Nomads, as its name suggests, seeks that Costa Rica is seen as a country of foreign investment. Among the benefits offered by this law, are:
• Income tax exemption
• One-year Visa, extendable and with multiple exits.
• Duty-free importation of any equipment necessary for work
• One-year driver’s license recognition
To be considered a digital nomad in Costa Rica, the requirements are minor:
• Be a foreigner, going to Costa Rica to work.
• Demonstrate a monthly income over $3 thousand and a $5 thousand minimum if traveling with family.
• Getting health insurance that covers the applicant for the entire duration of his/her stay in the country. All members of the family group must also be covered.
• Make a one-time payment for the granting of a non-resident visa, as a Worker or Remote Service Provider.
13
UP BUSINESS IN COSTA RICA 2024
SETTING
This guide has been prepared by
DESPACHO O.VINDAS & ASOCIADOS, an independent member of Antea
DESPACHO O.VINDAS & ASOCIADOS Boulevard Rohrmoser 131, 250 mts este de Plaza Mayor, contiguo al Parqueo de Prisma Dental, 1225 Tel.: + 506 2296-2270
info@ovindas.com
www.ovindas.com
Mallorca, 260 àtic 08008 – Barcelona
Tel.: + 34 93 215 59 89
Fax: + 34 93 487 28 76
Email: info@antea-int.com
www.antea-int.com
This publication is intended as general guide only. Accordingly, we recommend that readers
appropriate
any particular problems that they encounter. This information should not be relied on as a substitute for such an advice. While all reasonable attempts have been
to ensure that the information contained herein is accurate, not Antea Alliance of Independent Firms neither its members accepts no responsibility for any errors or omission it may contain whether caused by negligence or otherwise, or forany losses, however caused, sustained by
SETTING
seek
professional advice regarding
made
any person that relies upon it. © 2024 ANTEA
UP BUSINESS IN COSTA RICA
2024