License Name
Registro Mercantil (Costa Rica) - Data Processing Company Registration
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Issuing Country/Region
Costa Rica
Regulatory Body
Registro Nacional de Costa Rica (Commercial Registry), supervised by the Ministry of Economy, Industry, and Commerce
Legal Entity Requirements
Company registration required in Costa Rica (Sociedad Anónima or Sociedad de Responsabilidad Limitada)
Minimum Share Capital
At least 25% of declared share capital must be deposited at incorporation
Directors and Shareholders Requirements
No restrictions on residence; both residents and non-residents can act as founders or directors
Data Protection Requirements
Must maintain data and accounting records in Spanish as required by Commercial Code
Reporting Requirements
Basic company reporting required under Costa Rican Commercial Code
Audit Requirements
No external audit required specifically for gambling or data processing companies
Server Location Requirements
Typically required to host servers outside Costa Rica, especially for iGaming businesses targeting foreign players
Legal Compliance Costs
Registration package including legal costs and all fees for company and address published in national gazette is typically around €9,900
Background Checks
May require directors’ identity documents and criminal records at the registrar’s discretion
Jurisdictional Tax Compliance
Income earned outside Costa Rica is generally tax-exempt; businesses must register for local taxes
Player Data Storage Requirements
Required to maintain records in Spanish for five years per Commercial Code
Cross-Border Operations
Permitted if the business does not serve Costa Rican residents; operational focus must be international
License Application Transparency
Company data and beneficial ownership publicly recordable in the registry
Regulatory Contact Point
Registro Nacional de Costa Rica
Compliance Officer Requirement
Required for certain regulated activities (e.g., if offering financial or payment services), not otherwise mandatory
Local Partnership Requirements
None
Legal Dispute Resolution
Costa Rican civil courts
License Transferability
Corporate shares transferable under Costa Rican company law
License Cost
Approximately €9,900 for company and registration package
Annual Fees
Annual business renewal and municipal license fee (amount depends on activity)
Income Taxes
Only applies to income generated from activities within Costa Rica; offshore businesses are tax-exempt on foreign income
Financial Reporting Requirements
Maintain accounting in Spanish, records kept for five years
Application Processing Time
2–5 weeks for company registration and issuing company documents
Required Documents
Notarized articles of incorporation, director/shareholder IDs, proof of registered address, power of attorney if applicable, specimen signatures
Internal Policy Requirements
AML and KYC policies required for banking and compliance with anti-money laundering directives
Physical Office Requirements
A local business address required; office may be rented for registration purposes
Local Representative Requirements
Must appoint a legal representative/local agent for company registration
Responsible Gaming Measures
Not required by registration framework
KYC Procedures
Required per Law 9449 and AML directives
Player Funds Protection
No specific rules under company registration
Permitted Games List
No regulatory restriction—Costa Rica does not specify allowed or prohibited games
Security Standards
No sector-specific mandatory standards for gambling/iGaming systems under company registration
Encryption Requirements
No registry mandates, but operators expected to protect client data in compliance with general law
License Duration
Company continues indefinitely as long as registration is maintained
Renewal Procedure
Annual municipal license renewal; corporate registry entries must be kept up to date
Official Address
Registro Nacional de Costa Rica, San José, Avenida 2, Calle 27, Costa Rica
FAQ Answer 1
Information not found in publicly available sources.
FAQ Answer 2
Costa Rica; company registration is managed by the Registro Nacional under the Ministry of Economy, Industry, and Commerce.
FAQ Answer 3
The registration and company formation package typically costs around €9,900; annual fees depend on municipal requirements.
FAQ Answer 4
Main requirements include company incorporation, registered address, disclosure of beneficial owners, compliance with AML and KYC regulations, deposit of share capital, and appropriate registration with tax authorities.