Under Costa Rican law, there are three types of legal entities which offer limited liability to its shareholders. These are:

(1) the Limited Partnership (Sociedad en Comandita),
(2) Limited Liability Company (Sociedad de Responsabilidad Limitada) and,
(3) the Corporation (Sociedad Anonima).

The Costa Rican Corporation (Sociedad Anonima) is the most widely used corporate form of business organization in Costa Rica.

The main feature of the corporation is that the liability of the shareholders is limited to their capital contributions and stock ownership in the corporation is easily transferable to third parties.

Starting a Business

Follow this link to read an excerpt from "The Legal Guide to Costa Rica" on the initial steps in starting a business in Costa Rica.

Basic Principles of the Costa Rican Corporation

This article by Roger A. Petersen provides detailed information on the Costa Rican corporation, from incorporation to management, capital to administrative requirements.

Using a Costa Rican Shelf Corporation

Practical information on the use of the Costa Rica shelf corporation and associated requirements.

Commercial Code(Codigo de Comercio) Full Text in Spanish

The Commercial Code encompases all legislation which governs commercial transactions in Costa Rica. Included are Merchants, Corporate Formation, Contracts, Negotiable Instruments, Promissory Notes, Checks, Letters of Credit, Bankruptcy

Free Zone Law (Ley de Zonas Francas) Full Text in Spanish

The Free Zone Law sets forth the requirements and benefits provided to enterprises which set up operations in Costa Rican "Free Zones"

Official web site for the Ministry of Foreign Commerce which is responsable for trade promition between Costa Rica and foreign countries. The web site list general information as well as all existing bi-lateral trade treaties of which Costa Rica is a signatory.

External link to the current text of the foreign trade law.