ABOUT COSTA RICA

THE FACTS OF INVESTING IN COSTA RICA

Why Costa Rica?	Residency in Costa Rica
Buying in Costa Rica	Maps of Costa Rica

Costa Rica - Did You Know...

Costa Rican law affords the same legal protections to foreign property owners as it does to citizens.
Favorable tax system: there are no capital gains taxes on the sale of property, and property tax rates are substantially lower than in North America.
Costa Rica, a democracy for over 100 years, is a model of political stability and is often referred to as the ‘Switzerland of the Americas. Costa Rica was the first country in the world to constitutionally abolish its army.
Living standards, medical care, and education levels are the highest in the region; Costa Rica has a 96% literacy rate.
Costa Rica is committed to preserving it’s natural resources. it is widely commended for its sustainable eco-tourism practices; over 25% of it’s land is protected by the national park system.
High education levels, political and economic stability, and a strong tourism industry has attracted sizable foreign investment, including over 100,000 Americans who have purchased property.

Government Overview

Costa Rica is a democratic republic and is governed by a constitution that was adopted in 1949. The constitution provides for separate executive, legislative and judicial branches of government.

President and the Executive Branch

Costa Rica has a President who serves as both head of state and chief executive of the government. The President is elected by the voters to a single four-year term in office and is not eligible to run for re-election. The President is elected on the same ticket with two running mates-a first and a second vice president. These three Individuals, along with an appointed cabinet of ministers, comprise the executive branch of the government.

Legislature

Costa Rica has a unicameral (one-house) Legislative Assembly. There are 57 representatives who are directly elected to four-year terms in office through a system of proportional representation in each province.

Political Parties

There are two dominant political parties in Costa Rica. These are the Social Christian Unity Party (PUSC) and the National Liberation Party (PLN). There are also half a dozen smaller parties, which together comprise 10-15 percent of the legislative seats.

Local Government

Costa Rica has seven provinces, each of which has an appointed governor. There are also 421 municipal districts that are governed by an elected council.

No Military

One of the more interesting aspects of the Costa Rican government is that there is no standing military. The country only has a domestic police force, including a Coast Guard.

Legal Services

ABOUT COSTA RICA