Do you want to live in Costa Rica? Are you a Digital Nomad?
We can guide and help you through the very important process of relocating and migrating to Costa Rica. We provide top legal advise within a fix budget and a friendly approach to help you fulfil your dreams to legally migrate to Costa Rica. We can also help you coordinate the needed documentation abroad and within Costa Rica, help you find a home, secure a spot in a top school for your children and even recommend you restaurants.
Our job is to make your move as SIMPLE as possible, reducing as much as we can the stress that you might have from endless googling and feeling safe that you are working with honest professionals.
Contact us, we are here to help in a wide range of issues: from deciding where to live (city, beach, mountain), identifying the best schools, establishing your new company , carry out a due diligence processes for investment in a property / real estate, or to help you obtain your residence or a special visa. Whatever you need, just reach out to us.
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Having a selected group of clients, from whom we learn and feel proud, and who give us the financial freedom to continue promoting human rights, the rule of law and innovative issues, creating a positive impact on society.
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Provide high-quality legal and consulting services that allow our clients to have clarity to make decisions, giving them the confidence and peace of mind that their matters are in the best hands, simplifying their business and personal complications.
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Availability: If we do take a case, we do so by always giving our best effort, and we try to be available 24/7.
Empathy: We are empathic with our customers and suppliers. We are fully committed and holistically supportive, personally and professionally, in and out of business.
Respect: We assume that our suppliers, clients and counterparts deserve respectful treatment, without surprises or insults.
Simplicity: At our core is to make everything simple, helping to navigate the complexities of life.
Academic: We are curious about knowledge, we love learning about our clients, their industries and the law. We are constantly learning.
Honesty: We do not lie about the possible results, nor do we violate the law, we do not do illegal acts, nor do anything that can keep us awake at night.
Generosity: We are generous with our time and contacts.
Transparency: We keep our clients updated about their cases and always act honest.
On the 11th of august 2021, the “LEY PARA ATRAER TRABAJADORES Y PRESTADORES REMOTOS DE SERVICIOS DE CARÁCTER INTERNACIONAL” also known as the “DIGITAL NOMADs Law* was signed by the executive power as a law. This law aims to facilitate the process for digital nomads to relocate to Costa Rica for a shorter stay than residencies, eliminating the participation of several public entities and getting an answer in 15 days. The bylaws were signed on July 4, hence applications are possible now and the process takes around 3 weeks.
The extremely agile process that this special VISA to reside in Costa Rica - targeting the talented digital nomads - grants the following rights: (i) a valid and legal permit to stay within the territory of Costa Rica for a period of 12 months, with the right to extend it up to 24 months; (ii) the right to open bank accounts; (iii) the right to have their license driver recognised as valid during the period that the VISA is extended. Digital Nomads will also have special tributary benefits such as: the exception to NOT PAY any INCOME TAX during the time of their VISA and that they will not be obliged to pay social security fees, ranging between 12%-36% of the net income.
In order to receive the benefits, Digital Nomads need to prove a monthly income that comes from outside the country of at least $3000 (or $4000 for couples) and medical insurance with a coverage of US$50K. It is important to highlight that part of the benefits include that they will not have any TAX obligations regarding that income.
Probatory elements: So the first difference relates to the standard of probatory elements that need to be submitted to the Migration authority, as a residency requires to prove that the foreigner will not displace local workforce, but the contrary, that comes to create jobs for costaricans.
Opt to become a national: Permanent residents can opt to Costarican citizens as every year you have a residency permit counts and accumulates to apply for citizenship, which is something a special VISA does not grant.
Legal right to get CR clients: The idea of digital nomads is that their income will come from outside the country, so this is an important aspect to consider, as digital nomads are not allowed to look for clients in Costa Rica. In order to do that, they must register before the tax authority and tribute the income generated.
Time to get an answer: The time to get an answer gives us an additional difference, as a residency permit could take up to 1-2 years; the digital nomad visa is expected to last 15 days. .
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Benefits
(i) a valid and legal permit to stay within the territory of Costa Rica for a period of 12 months, with the right to extend it up to 24 months;
(ii) the right to open bank accounts;
(iii) the right to have their license driver recognised as valid during the period that the VISA is extended.
(iv) Special Tributary Benefits such as:
No INCOME TAX during the time of their VISA
No obligation to pay social security fees, ranging between 12%-36% of the net income.
No import tax for work equipment
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FAQ
How do you prove the income? we will help you do this, don’t worry, we will coordinate with an accountant to make a certification using your bank statements that support the necessary income.
Do documents needs to be legalised or with apostille? No, as a matter of fact documents are not required to be legalised nor apostille. However if the documents are false you can get into deep trouble, so always play with the honesty card.
Do I have to translate the documents to spanish? No worries, once again, we will take care of the and coordinate with an official translator authorised in Costa Rica to translate the documents.
Are applications possible today? Yes, the new government of Costa Rica signed the bylaws in the month of July, therefore the law is finally operative. You can read about it on the news: CRHOY
How long does the process take? Is a fast track process that could take between 15 to 30 days.
Do I have to be in person to apply? Not really, you can give us a power of attorney and we will do it for you. However once you get the thumbs up of your approval you will be required to assist in person to the migration agency to get a special “Digital Nomad” visa ID.
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What can Simple Legal Consulting (SLC) do for you?
We can help you in this whole process, reducing the stress of not knowing where to start and assure you will get a top quality legal advice and walk with you in the immigration process that you are about to start.
We can help you review your tenant contracts, or advise you in the process of acquiring property in Costa Rica. Give you suggestions for places to live or help you find a school suitable for your interests.
Contact us.
If you are interested in starting a new life in Costa Rica, you can contact me to listen to your case and explore the different ways I can support you: from deciding where to live (city, beach, mountain), identifying the best schools, establishing your company , carry out due diligence processes for investment in a property / real estate, or to help you obtain your residence or a special visa.
We are here to help you, not to serve you, let's eradicate the colonial language (help parts of the fact that we speak among equals, while serving implies a hierarchy, a superiority).
I have enjoyed the privilege of remote working, although my work base is in San José, Costa Rica I have travelled and worked at: Puerto Viejo de Talamanca in Limón; Santa Teresa in Puntarenas; San Salvador; Tulum and Ciudad de México.
I would love to help you do the same. Herman Duarte, Simple Legal Consulting (SLC).