Economic Overview
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Costa Rica Overview – World Bank
http://www.worldbank.org/en/country/costarica/overview
An upper middle-income country, the country has experienced steady economic expansion over the past 25 years.
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CIA World Factbook – Costa Rica
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/cs.html
Economic overview and statistics from the CIA
Industry Trends & Business Climate
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Business Climate in Costa Rica
http://www.vipbusinessbook.com/en/business-climate-costa-rica
Costa Rica is a strategic destination for multinational companies operating in sectors such as services, advanced manufacturing, life sciences, and light manufacturing.
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Business in Costa Rica
http://www.costarica.net/features/business.htm
Costa Rica remains one of the safest and most attractive country for foreign investment in Latin America.
Establishing a Presence
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Business Types – Types of Corporations — Costa Rica
http://costarica-information.com/about-costa-rica/economy/investment-business/costa-rican-legal-entities/types-of-corporations-1
Currently, in Costa Rica there are only two main types of Corporations.
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Business Types – Costa Rica.Net
http://www.costarica.net/features/business.htm
See “Starting Business in Costa Rica” on this site
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Costa Rica Incorporation
http://www.companiescr.com/Business_Start_Up_In_Costa_Rica.html
Business registration and license requirements
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Setting Up a Corporation – Costa Rica
https://costarica.com/business/setting-up-a-corporation/
Business Registration Requirements – The 5 steps required to register a new corporation are described on this site
Taxes
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Corporate – COSTA RICA – Taxes in Costa Rica
http://www.costaricaweb.com/business/cindetaxes.htm#corporate
See “Corporate Taxes” on this site
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Personal – COSTA RICA – Taxes in Costa Rica
http://www.costaricaweb.com/business/cindetaxes.htm#individual
See “Individual Income Tax” on this site
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Personal – Costa Rica Individual – Taxes on personal income
http://taxsummaries.pwc.com/uk/taxsummaries/wwts.nsf/ID/JDCN-89HS3X
Income taxes on individuals in Costa Rica are levied on local income irrespective of nationality and resident status.
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Corporate – Costarica-Corporate Tax
http://www.costaricatax.com/corporate.htm
Costa Rica has a graduated tax structure, capping out at a 30 percent tax rate for corporate income levels at $100,000 or higher.
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VAT – Costa Rica Sales Tax Rate | VAT | 2006-2016
http://www.tradingeconomics.com/costa-rica/sales-tax-rate
The Sales Tax Rate in Costa Rica stands at 13 percent.
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VAT – Costa Rica Taxes – A More Inclusive 13% Value Added Tax
http://www.welovecostarica.com/public/1034.cfm
The Government will keep the same 13%, excluding the professional services and rents which will be 6%
Visas
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Passport & Visa Requirements – Costa Rica
http://costarica.com/visa/
Costa Rica Entry and Transit Requirements
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Embassy of Costa Rica: Tourist Visa Requirements
http://costarica-embassy.org/index.php?q=node/72
Not all people who wish to travel to Costa Rica need a tourist visa; this will depend on your nationality, purpose of visit, country of residence and duration of stay.
Infrastructure
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Costa Rica: Transportation – TripAdvisor
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g291982-c109576/Costa-Rica:Transportation.htm
Thuis site provides links to recommended public transportation
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Costa Rica Transportation – Anywhere Costa Rica
http://www.anywherecostarica.com/transportation
There are a variey of public transportation options in Costa Rica
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Telecommunications in Costa Rica
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telecommunications_in_Costa_Rica
Telecommunications in Costa Rica include radio, television, fixed and mobile telephones, and the Internet.
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Costa Rica – Telecoms
http://www.budde.com.au/Research/Costa-Rica-Telecoms-Mobile-Broadband-and-Digital-Media-Statistics-and-Analyses.html
Since Costa Rica’s telecom sector was liberalised it has shown considerable growth in the number of subscribers for all services. – See more at: http://www.budde.com.au/Research/Costa-Rica-Telecoms-Mobile-Broadband-and-Digital-Media-Statistics-and-Analyses.html#sthash.86wzidex.dpuf
Employer Obligations
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Labor Law and policy in Costa Rica
http://www.therealcostarica.com/costa_rica_business/costa_rica_labor_law.html
A summary of key employment regulations
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Hiring Employees and Labor Laws
http://costarica-information.com/about-costa-rica/politics-and-government/labor-laws-1
See “Firing, Quitting and Severance” on this site
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Labor Laws – Costa Rica
https://costarica.com/relocation/labor-laws/
An overview of Costa Rica’s labor laws regarding minimum wages, work hours, overtime, vacation, holidays, maternity leave, severance pay and social security.
Culture/Living
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Cost of Living in Costa Rica
http://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/country_result.jsp?country=Costa+Rica
Cost of living in Costa Rica is 23.01% lower than in United States (aggregate data for all cities, rent is not taken into account). Rent in Costa Rica is 56.07% lower than in United States (average data for all cities).
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Costa Rica: Climate & Weather Information
http://www.travelcostarica.nu/climate
A guide to weather, seasonal temperatures and the best time to travel in Costa Rica
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Safety and Security in Costa Rica
https://www.passporthealthusa.com/destination-advice/costa-rica/safety-security/
Petty crime is the most common threat to visitors in Costa Rica, especially in tourist areas and in downtown San José, which should be avoided at night.
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Safety And Security | San Jose, Costa Rica
http://costarica.usembassy.gov/uscitizen.html
Travel and safety advice from the US Embassy in Costa Rica
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Education – Costa Rica Education
http://www.entercostarica.com/travel-guide/about-costa-rica/education
Costa Rica boasts a literacy rate of 96 percent making it the most literate population in Central America.
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Education – International Schools in Costa Rica
http://www.expat-quotes.com/guides/costa-rica/education/international-schools-in-costa-rica.htm
This lsite lists the most popular international and bilingual schools in Costa Rica
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Holidays and observances in Costa Rica in 2016
http://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/costa-rica/
National and seasonal holidays and observances
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Holidays – Costa Rica Public Holidays 2016
http://www.qppstudio.net/publicholidays2016/costa_rica.htm
Bank, national and public holidays for 2016-20
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Cost of Living – The Real Cost of Living in Costa Rica
http://www.costaricarealestate.com/the-real-cost-of-living-in-costa-rica/
The cost of living in Costa Rica lures a large quantity of expatriates, but it’s important to become educated on effective spending habits
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Business Etiquette – Customs & Etiquette – Costa Rica
http://costarica.com/business/customs-etiquette/
Dos and Don’t of business etiquette in Costa Rica.
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Business Etiquette – Etiquette in Costa Rica | Frommer’s
http://www.frommers.com/destinations/costa-rica/735814
In general, Costa Ricans are easygoing, friendly, and informal.
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Costa Rica Weather, Climate and Geography
http://www.worldtravelguide.net/costa-rica/weather-climate-geography
In the Central Valley, where the main centres of population are located, the average temperature is 22°C (72°F) and the region enjoys a spring-like climate year round.
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Demographics – CIA World Factbook – Costa Rica
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/cs.html
Demographic facts and data from the CIA
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Demographics – Costa Rica – Demographics
http://www.costarica1realestate.com/crliving-demographics.php
Demographic data
Trade
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Costa Rica Customs Regulations
https://costa-rica.visahq.com/customs/
Costa Rica Customs regulations and procedures for importing and exporting goods at border.
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Costa Rica | Export.gov
https://new.export.gov/countries/CR
Information for US exporters to Costa Rica
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WTO | Costa Rica – Member information
https://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/countries_e/costa_rica_e.htm
This site provides key information on Costa Rica’s participation in the WTO. Costa Rica has been a WTO member since 1 January 1995 and a member of GATT since 24 November 1990.
Housing and Rentals
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Lodging Costa Rica
http://lodgingcostarica.com/
Accommodations in various regions of the country
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Costa Rica Hotels and Accommodations
http://www.anywherecostarica.com/hotels
Costa Rica’s diverse accommodations enable visitors to experience the country any way they wish
Travel
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Travel – Costa Rica
http://costarica.com/travel/
Get practical information and travel tips for planning your Costa Rica vacation. From bus schedules and packing suggestions to passport and visa info
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Costa Rica Tourism: Best of Costa Rica
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g291982-Costa_Rica-Vacations.html
TripAdvisor has 693,410 reviews of Costa Rica Hotels, Attractions, and Restaurants making it your best Costa Rica resource.