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Setting up a company in Costa Rica: steps, timing and what it costs

The procedure itself is short and you do not do it: a notary does. What is yours to do is decide what, know what to expect, and know what starts running the moment the company number comes out.

6 min readTicuenta
In one sentence: the deed is drawn up before a notary, the stamp duties are paid, it is filed online with the National Registry, and registration takes on the order of five to ten business days. Out of that comes the cédula jurídica, the company's tax number.

What to decide before you go to the notary

The notary drafts; the notary does not decide. Bringing this settled saves time and corrections:

  • The type: S.A. or S.R.L. Not a matter of style: it changes how many people it takes to run it and whether someone can join without permission. The comparison.
  • The name. It can be a chosen name or a numbered company. If you pick a name, bring alternatives in case it is taken.
  • Who the members are and with what percentages.
  • Who administers it and with what powers. An S.A. needs a president, a secretary, a treasurer and an auditor filled; an S.R.L. needs one manager.
  • The share capital and the registered address.
The question almost nobody asks first. Do you actually need a company? As an individual you can invoice and file with no fixed annual cost, and a company costs money every January whether it trades or not. The corporate tax.

The procedure

  • Deed before a notary

    The notary drafts the incorporation agreement with what you decided. The members sign.

  • Stamps and registry fees

    There are fiscal stamps and fees paid on filing. The amount depends on the declared share capital, among other things.

  • Filing with the National Registry

    Done online, through the Registry's platform. The notary handles it.

  • Registration and the company tax number

    If there are no defects, registration comes through in the order of five to ten business days. With it the cédula jurídica is born.

What it costs

No closed figure here, because there is not one: the cost depends on the declared capital, the notary's fees and the stamps. Ask for a quote before you commit, and ask for it broken down — notarial fees are one thing and duties are another.

What starts running the moment it is registered

This is the part that surprises people, and the reason the decision deserves thought. From registration the company owes:

  • The corporate tax, every January, trading or not.
  • The beneficial owners declaration, with a short deadline right after incorporation.
  • The inactive company information return, if it does not trade.
  • And if it does trade: tax registration, electronic invoicing and the monthly filings.
And stopping payment does not close it. Three consecutive years unpaid is grounds for dissolution, and the debt then follows the last registered members. The dormant company.

If you are a foreigner

You do not need to be a resident to be a member or an administrator of a Costa Rican company, and this is the usual route for buying property here. Three practical notes:

  • You will need an identification the system accepts. A passport works for the deed; for tax purposes you may need a NITE.
  • Most foreign buyers end up with an S.R.L., and usually for the right reason: no board to staff and control over who joins.
  • A company that only holds a house is still a company. Budget the January cost before deciding it is the cheaper route.
From Ticuenta

From the tax number to the first invoice

Once the company exists and its activity is registered, the credentials go in once and the invoicing starts.

See how it works

About this article. The procedure and the registration times are those of the National Registry; the obligations that arise on registration come from Law 9428 and the beneficial owners regime. No cost figure is given because it depends on capital, fees and stamps — ask for an itemised quote.

Verified as of 24 September 2026. This is information, not legal advice — incorporating is a matter for a notary.

Sources: National Registry Current legal texts (Sinalevi)

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