Relocating

[reyna]

Hi,
  My husband and I ,with our two boys are seriously thinking of Costa Rica for our home.  How easy is it for newcomers to open a business ?  

[Russ]

Hi,

Thank you for participating in our forum and I think you have touched on a topic a lot of people are interested in.  In general, foreigners must follow the same restrictions and regulations as Costa Ricans.  This is true for buying and improving real estate and for starting a business.

You may find it easier to purchase an established business, since all of the permits will be in place. You may also form a Costa Rican corporation, the advantage being that the company will be a legal citizen while you are obtaining your personal residency.  We have a good article on this site discussing some of the advantages of each and precautions you should take if you decide to purchase an existing business.

Starting a business in Costa Rica

[raychad]

I too am thinking of relocating within the next 6 months.  I will actually be in Costa Rica the week of April 10.  I am considering purchasing property in the Orosi Valley.  I would like to start a small B&B. Would it be necessary to form a corporation for this type business?  If so, while the corporation becomes its own entity and has residency, would I still have to leave the country every 90 days?  Also, in this situation how soon could I apply for residency?  

[Russ]

Establishing Residency with a tourism business
When you open a tourism business in Costa Rica, you have some of the easier ways to obtain residency.  ICT and Immigration have special exceptions for priority businesses, tourism is one of these areas.  Our partners have some good articles on the advantages of incorporating in Costa Rica.
Advantages of Incorporating in Costa Rica

You should be aware that you will need to be in touch with the Costa Rican consulates in your home country in order to obtain certification of documents your attorney must present here.  It is advisable for you to contact an attorney on your visit next week, so you can begin planning your investments and obtaining necessary documentation. Have a look here at some requirements:
Costa Rica Residency Options
Also the Go Dutch Site
Go Dutch Residency Information

If you haven't done so already, make sure to contact Patrick about B & Bs in the Orosi Valley, he has some good properties on his site and others in our database:
Costa Rica B&Bs near Orosi

[raychad]

If a $50,000USD investment is needed to help acquire residency and you invest $40,000 in property and $10,000 in improvements, can this account for the $50,000 investment?