Applying for Free Trade Zone Benefits
To qualify to do business in a Free Trade Zone (FTZ), a company must be incorporated in Costa Rica, either as a subsidiary of a foreign company or as a local company. This process takes approximately four weeks. The second step is to submit to the treasurer's office (Tesoreria Nacional) an FTZ application, which includes a sanitary permit from the Ministry of Health, an environmental impact or feasibility study, and the appropriate legal documents. This will take approximately 1-4 weeks.
FAQs
How easy is it to open a Costa Rican corporation?
Setting up a corporation is a simple process with your lawyer, and usually takes a few months and between $300-$1,000. Alternatively, you may purchase a “shelf corporation,” which is a pre-formed and registered company that is ready to go. If purchasing a shelf company, make sure your lawyer settles any restructuring issues, and verifies that the company holds no preexisting liabilities.
What are the different corporation types?
The Costa Rican Code of Commerce details five different types of corporation, although only two – the Sociedad Anonima (S.A.) and the Sociedad de Responsabilidad Limitada (Limited Liability Company or LLC) – are commonly used. Corporations and LLC’s are easy to manage, especially with respect to decision-making issues and powers of representation.
See Also
Free Trade Zone Tax Exemptions
Companies doing business in a Free Trade Zone receive the following tax exemptions, as long as they cannot claim their Costa Rican-exempted taxes as a business expense in another country.
ContinueFree Trade Zone Exporting Regulations
Companies that do business in Free Trade Zones are required to acquire an export license and are encouraged to file export declarations electronically through an Automated Export System (AES). The AES is a Costa Rican ...
ContinueLast updated: May 19, 2025