COSTA RICA IMMIGRATION & MOVING EXPERTS

The benefits & features of this incentive plan have a major impact on people moving here to Costa Rica.

*Duty-free importation of personal effects,    furniture, etc.

*Reduced transfer taxes when                      purchasing property. 

*Duty-free importation of up to two                cars/boats.

*Purchase of personal residence counts

  towards resident investor status.

*Additional incentives. .

LAW FOR THE ATTRACTION OF INVESTORS, RENTHOLDERS & PENSIONERS

This is a basic recap of the benefits being awarded to individuals and their immediate families 

applying for a legal status in Costa Rica. .

Object of the Law – to contribute to the strengthening of the Costa Rican economy. 

Incentives:

a) Tariff exemption and all import taxes present for a single time, for the importation of household items. Among those items to be included: household furniture, electrical appliances, home decoration items, kitchen and bathroom utensils, bedding.

b) Beneficiaries may import up to two land, air and/or sea transportation vehicles, for personal or family use, free of all import, customs and value-added taxes. In the event of loss of the vehicle due to theft, total destruction by fire, flood, collision or accident, which occurred during the term of validity of the benefits granted in accordance with the provisions of the second paragraph of Article 12 of this law, the owner may import another vehicle free of the indicated taxes.

The beneficiary of this law, who has imported a vehicle under the conditions indicated in the previous paragraph, may sell or transfer vehicle to third parties, in which case the provisions of Article 10 of Law 7088, Tax Readjustment and Resolution will apply. 18th CA Tariff and Customs Council, of November 30, 1987.

c) The amounts declared as income to become a creditor to the benefits of this law will be exempt from income tax.

d) Exemption of 20% of the total transfer tax, in real estate acquired within the term of this law, provided that the beneficiary is the registered owner of the property.

e) Exemption from import taxes for instruments or materials for professional or scientific practice, carried out by the person with the migratory category of investor, pensioner resident or rentier resident. The person must demonstrate, before the Ministry of Finance, that what is imported corresponds to their economic activity and has criteria of proportionality and reasonableness.

For the category of investors, for the term established by this law, a new investment range is established, with a capital of not less than US$150,000.00, according to the official sale exchange rate. determined by the Central Bank of Costa Rica, whether in real estate, registrable assets, shares, securities and productive projects or projects of national interest. In those cases where the investment is regulated by special laws, it will be analyzed individually.

Those foreigners who obtain some of the categories indicated below may apply for the incentives mentioned above:

Investors Conditions real estate or registrable property:

The applicant must be the registered owner of real estate or personal property duly registered with the National Registry, for a minimum amount of not less than $150,000.00 in currency of the United States of America. This means that assets are to registered in an active Cost Rica Corporation with the shares reflecting the fact that the financial criteria have been met.

The applicant must demonstrate that they have a real share(s), valued in an amount of not less than $150,000.00 in currency of the United States of America.

This type of investment will only be allowed in companies with economic activities in the country, not in inactive legal entities.

Investors, rentiers or pensioners who opt for the benefits granted in Article 5 of this law may only do so during the first five years from its entry into force.

Investors, rentiers or beneficiary pensioners who opted for said benefits during the first five years of the law, will keep them for a period of ten years from the date they were granted.

Information valid from its publication date, given at the Presidency of the Republic, San José, July 5th, 2021.