Home › Blog › Costa Rica Public Holidays 2026 Costa Rica Public Holidays 2026: Calendar & Payroll Rules (HR Guide) Quick take: Costa Rica distinguishes mandatory-pay holidays (paid even if not worked; if worked they’re paid double) and non-mandatory-pay holidays (payment depends on pay modality and whether they are worked). Below you’ll find the 2026 […]
Tag: costa-rica
Costa Rica Medical Visa: Requirements & Steps (2025)
Home › Blog › Costa Rica Medical Visa (Treatment) Costa Rica Medical Visa: 2025 Guide for Patients, Companions & Clinics Quick take: Travelers coming to Costa Rica primarily for medical treatment may enter visa-free (many nationalities, up to 90 days) or need a consular visa depending on passport and stay length. Expect a hospital letter, […]
Costa Rica–China FTA: 2025 Investor Guide
Home › Blog › Costa Rica–China Free Trade Agreement (FTA) Costa Rica–China Free Trade Agreement (FTA): 2025 Investor Guide for Market Entry & Tariff Savings Quick take: The Costa Rica–China FTA—signed April 8, 2010 and in force since August 1, 2011—removes tariffs on most goods over staged schedules, adds clear rules of origin, and […]
Costa Rica Digital Nomad Visa (2025): Step-by-Step Guide
Costa Rica Digital Nomad Visa (2025): Requirements, Benefits & Step-by-Step Guide Quick take: Costa Rica’s Digital Nomad status (non-resident Stay for Remote Workers/Service Providers) offers a 1-year legal stay—extendable once—if you prove stable monthly income of USD 3,000 (solo) or USD 4,000 (with dependents), hold valid health insurance for the stay, and pay the application […]
Christmas Bonus (Aguinaldo) in Costa Rica: 2025 Employer & Employee Legal Guide
Christmas Bonus (Aguinaldo) in Costa Rica: Employer & Employee Legal Guide (Updated 2025) Quick take: In Costa Rica, the aguinaldo is a mandatory year-end payment equal to the average monthly earnings earned from Dec 1 to Nov 30 (sum of ordinary + salary-type extraordinary pay ÷ 12). It must be paid no later than Dec […]
Buy Land in Costa Rica: Your Legal Guide
Home › Blog › Buy Land in Costa Rica Buy Land in Costa Rica: 2025 Legal Guide & Step-by-Step Closing for Foreign Buyers Quick take: Foreigners can own property outright in Costa Rica with the same rights as locals—except in the Maritime Terrestrial Zone (ZMT), where use is via municipal concessions. A secure close hinges […]
How to Move to Costa Rica from US | 2025 Expat Guide
Home › Blog › How to Move to Costa Rica from the U.S. How to Move to Costa Rica from the U.S. (2025): Residency, Cost & Step-by-Step Checklist Quick take: Moving to Costa Rica from the U.S. is straightforward if you pick the right residency path (pensionado, rentista, investor, digital nomad, marriage/CR-child), prepare apostilled documents, […]
15 Common Costa Rica Investing Mistakes Foreign Investors Make in Costa Rica (and How to Avoid Them)
15 Common Costa Rica Investing Mistakes — and How to Avoid Them (2025 Legal Playbook) Costa Rica Investing Mistakes Quick take: Costa Rica is a rule-of-law jurisdiction with predictable registries and permitting—if you structure correctly, check zoning and water availability before buying land, respect coastal concession rules, and keep up with taxes and transparency (RTBF/UBO). […]
Costa Rica Corporate Tax 2025 (Law 9428): Rates, Deadlines & Penalties
Home › Blog › Costa Rica Corporate Tax (Law 9428) Corporate Tax on Legal Entities in Costa Rica (Law No. 9428): 2025 Rates, Deadlines, Penalties & Practical Guide Quick take: All Costa Rican legal entities—active or inactive—must pay the annual Corporate Tax under Law 9428. The amount depends on income brackets tied to the official […]
Tax Crime in Costa Rica
Home ›Blog ›Tax Crime in Costa Rica Tax Crime in Costa Rica (2025 Guide): Legal Thresholds, Penalties, Procedure, and Risk Mitigation Quick take: In Costa Rica, tax fraud becomes a criminal offense—not just an administrative infraction—when the amount defrauded reaches at least 500 base salaries.In 2025, the base salary is ₡462,200, so the criminal threshold […]
Mexico vs Costa Rica (2025): The Ultimate Expat Comparison
Home › Blog › Mexico vs Costa Rica for Expats Mexico vs Costa Rica (2025): Comparing the Best Destinations for Expats Quick take: Both Mexico and Costa Rica are top picks for expats. Mexico stands out for lower cost of living, big-city culture, and diverse coastlines; Costa Rica shines for eco-lifestyle, stability and a strong […]
Is Costa Rica Safe to Visit in 2025?
Yes—when you plan smart. This guide blends safety insights with practical legal advice: your rights as a visitor, what to do in emergencies, compliant ways to extend your stay, and how to rent or invest with confidence. Bilingual counsel from AG Legal keeps your trip—and your paperwork—safe. Turn over the following cards! American Tourists 🇺🇸 […]