Company Registration in Costa Rica
Capital: San Jose.
Official languages: Spanish.
Currency: Costa Rican colon.
Company registration provides the following benefits:
- No local office required.
- Income from foreign sources is not subject to tax.
- Developed infrastructure and high level of service for legal entities.
- Limited liability.
Costa Rica is one of the smallest countries in Central America. It is located in the narrowest part of the isthmus connecting the two continents. In the southwest the country is washed by the Pacific Ocean, in the northeast by the Caribbean Sea.
Costa Rica is famous for being one of the most liberal jurisdictions for doing offshore business. The key advantage of the country is the territorial principle of taxation of companies.
Taxation and Reporting Features
Corporate Income Tax:
- Standard rate: 0-30%
- Special regimes for Free Zones: 0%
- Tax exemptions for certain sectors: up to 8 years
VAT:
- Standard rate: 13%
- Exemptions for essential goods and services
- 0% on exports and international services
Dividends:
- 15% withholding tax for residents
- Exempt for non-residents under certain treaties
Company registration in Costa Rica is regulated by the National Registry. The company name, structure, and purpose must be submitted and authorized through this system.
To register a company, an application signed by the director must be submitted, detailing the company's basic information. It must be accompanied by documents such as the articles of incorporation, declaration, copies of IDs, and Tax Identification Numbers (TIN) of shareholders and directors.
Once the company is incorporated, registration details will appear in the official bulletin. To complete the registration, it is necessary to register with the tax authorities and the social security system.
At the time of registration, the company must have:
- A Tax Identification Number from the tax office — necessary for tax purposes and bank account setup.
- Articles of Incorporation certified by a notary public.
- A bank certificate confirming the deposit of the required capital to start the company. It must include the company name, shareholders, and their capital contributions.
- A receipt for the registration fee payment to the National Registry.
SRL in Costa Rica
- Limited liability
- Minimum 1 director / 1 shareholder
- Simple business structure
Company Registration in Costa Rica
Additional information
- Financial reporting: Mandatory annually
- Audit: Required for certain types of companies
- Annual Return: Due within a specific period
- Tax return: Submit to the tax authority
- Employer's Return: If there are employees
- Registers: Shareholders and directors (mandatory)
- Directors' details Not publicly available
- Shareholders' details Not publicly available
- Financial reporting Confidential (not published)
Timeline and Stages
- 01
Prepare documents and choose a company name
1-2 days - 02
Conduct a name search in Costa Rica's Companies Registry
1 day - 03
Submit documents either online or offline
1 day - 04
Receive CI and Business Registration certificates
20 days - 05
Open a corporate bank account in Costa Rica
2-4 weeks
The bottom line
Costa Rica, with its favorable tax environment, provides unique business opportunities. The lack of income tax on income outside the country, coupled with the lack of local office requirements, makes the country an attractive choice for entrepreneurs looking to optimize their tax obligations and grow their business internationally. However, when choosing a jurisdiction for a company, it is necessary to take into account not only current legislation, but also its possible changes in the future. We recommend consulting with IT-OFFSHORE lawyers to avoid possible legal consequences and ensure compliance with laws.
Our company offers comprehensive support for the company at all stages - from registration to full support of its activities. We not only help you legally register a company, but also take on many subsequent tasks.
In particular, our scope of services includes maintaining accounting and tax records, providing nominee directors and shareholders, leasing a legal address, obtaining all necessary licenses and permits for the company. We actually ensure the full operation of the business in accordance with the laws of a particular jurisdiction.
Cost calculation
Add the required options for your company:
FAQ
Can you register a company remotely?
Yes, in most cases — you can.
Remote company registration is available in the vast majority of popular jurisdictions today. Modern corporate services, electronic document management and professional registered agents make it possible to complete the entire registration process without being physically present in the country.
The process typically works as follows: you provide the required documents electronically, sign them remotely — via a notary, apostille or electronic signature — and a local registered agent handles all communication with government authorities and document submission on your behalf.
This has been made possible by several factors: most countries allow foreign founders and directors, corporate service providers operate remotely across the globe, and the digitisation of government registries has significantly streamlined and accelerated the procedures.
The one step that may still require in-person presence is opening a corporate bank account — however, even here many banks and fintech platforms now offer remote identity verification.
What documents are needed for registration?
Registering a company in most jurisdictions requires a standard set of documents. For individuals — founders and directors — the typical requirements include: a certified copy of a passport, proof of residential address (utility bill or bank statement no older than 3 months), and in some cases a bank reference letter or CV.
For corporate shareholders, the required documents include: certificate of incorporation, articles of association, register of directors and shareholders, and confirmation of the ownership structure.
Do I need to keep accounting records and submit reports?
Accounting and reporting requirements vary significantly depending on the jurisdiction. In most countries, companies are required to maintain proper bookkeeping, file annual financial statements and submit tax returns.
At the same time, there are a number of jurisdictions where reporting requirements are minimal or effectively non-existent for non-resident companies. These include, for example, the Marshall Islands, the Cook Islands, Panama, Belize, Seychelles and Vanuatu — in these countries, companies that do not conduct business within the territory of the registration state are generally exempt from mandatory financial reporting and audit requirements.
We provide full company administration services, including preparation and submission of annual reports, liaison with local authorities and ensuring full compliance with all corporate requirements of the jurisdiction.
Is it possible to open a bank account for a company?
Yes, opening a corporate bank account is possible for virtually any jurisdiction, however this process deserves careful attention. Today businesses have two main options: traditional banks and fintech platforms.
Traditional banks offer a full range of financial services, but account opening requirements have become increasingly stringent — KYC procedures, source of funds confirmation, business plans and in some cases in-person presence may be required. Fintech platforms — such as Wise, Airwallex, Revolut Business and others — open accounts significantly faster and remotely, making them a popular solution for international companies at an early stage.
Is it possible to use nominee directors?
Yes, the use of nominee directors and shareholders is a common and legitimate practice in international corporate structuring. A nominee director is formally listed in the company registry but acts exclusively in accordance with the instructions of the beneficial owner, providing an additional layer of privacy.
This service is particularly in demand in jurisdictions where information about directors and shareholders is entered into a public register — for example, in Cyprus, the United Kingdom, Malta and a number of other EU countries. In offshore jurisdictions, nominee services are also widely used to simplify corporate governance and protect ownership structures.
We provide nominee director and shareholder services for any jurisdiction we work with.
