Costa Rica Investments
 Premium readings about investments in Costa Rica
Costa Rica, come visit and stay!
   TicoNET Real Estate - Website: Costa Rica Real Estate

Investor's Guide

Main Navigation: General Instructions  Establish a Business  National Registry  Tourism Sector

Tourism Sector: Declaration  Equipment  Guidelines  Contract  Study  Plans


Guidelines on requirements for obtaining the tourism contract

Detail of requirements by specific activities

A.   Lodging establishments

I -   Legal Requirements.

  1. A completed application for the tourism contract signed by the interested party or by the legal representative, in the case of artificial persons, with all signatures duly attested.

  2. A copy of the resolution in which the tourism declaration was granted.
  3. A certificate of legal capacity, if:
  1. the one submitted in the process for obtaining the tourism declaration is more than three months old.

  2. the officers or representatives of the company have changed since the tourism declaration was  granted; all the information related to the officers or representatives must be updated.

All certificates must be no more than three months old, counted from the date said certificate was issued.

  1. Sworn affidavit:  this must be provided by the interested party, if a natural person, of by the legal representative of the company, in the case of artificial persons.  This notarized affidavit must state that:

  1. the exclusive purpose of the company will be Tourism related activities, and that, if other activities are to be carried out, separate accounting and administrative records will be kept of said activities.

  2. operations or construction will begin within a maximum of six months, counted from the date on which the  tourism contract is signed; and that this period may only be extended by the Commission, after careful consideration, in response to a duly justified request from the interested party.

II- Technical requirements.

  1. Lodging establishments that wish to take advantage of the benefits provided under the Law on Incentives, and granted in the tourism contract, must have the following characteristics:

a) Hotels: a minimum of 20 rooms

  1. Hotels
  2. Residence type Hotels
  3. Apartment hotels with at least 10 units.

b) Hotel-like enterprises:

  • Inns and boarding houses with at least 10 rooms
  • Hostels with at least 10 rooms
  • Cabins (at a minimum 10 units), comprised of a living room, dining area, kitchen, bathroom, 1 or 2 bedrooms, and one parking space per unit.
    1. Lodging establishments that plan to develop infrastructure must comply with the requirements established in the guidelines “Requirements related to the basic plans of tourism projects, for companies that wish to apply for the tourism contract", as it may correspond.

    III- Economic requirements.

    Lodging establishments must submit an economic study prepared in accordance with the guidelines “Requirements for preparing an economic study.”

    Once the documents have been reviewed, the Institute shall specify, in writing and only once, all requirements not yet met, or any documents still to be submitted, all of which must be submitted by the applicant all at one time.

    B- Travel agency (receptive tourism), airlines, vehicle rental companies

    I - Legal Requirements.

    1. A written application for the tourism contract signed by the interested party or by the legal representative, in the case of artificial persons, with all signatures duly attested.

    2. A copy of the resolution in which the tourism declaration was granted.
    3. A certificate of legal capacity, if
    1. he one submitted in the process of obtaining the tourism declaration is more than three months old.

    2. the officers or representatives of the company have changed since the tourism declaration was granted; all information related to the officers or representatives must be updated.

    All certificates must be no more than three months old, counted from the date said documents were issued.

    1. Sworn affidavit:  this must be provided by the interested party, if a natural person, of by the legal representative of the company, in the case of artificial persons.  This notarial affidavit must state that:

    1. the exclusive purpose of the company will be Tourism related activities, and that, if other activities are to be carried out, separate accounting and administrative records will be kept.

    2. operations or construction will begin within a maximum of six months, counted from the date on which the tourism contract is signed; and that this period may only be extended by the Commission, after careful consideration, in response to a duly justified request from the interested party.

    Vehicle rental companies must also:

    1. Provide a certification from a Certified Public Accountant on:

    • the composition of the capital stock in the books, indicating:  the total amount of capital stock, the number of shares and the percentage of participation of the partners.

    • the capability of the company to invest in the activity the minimum amount needed to guarantee the operation of a fleet of vehicles of no fewer than twenty new vehicles.

     All certificates must be no more than three months old, counted from the date same were issued.

    1. A sworn affidavit in which the company agrees to replace the exempted vehicles within three years, counted from the date they were recorded in the National Registry.  In this regard, the time the Administration takes to make a decision regarding requests for exemptions presented by the beneficiaries of said exemptions, will not be taken into account.

    II- Technical requirements.

    For vehicle rental companies, the applicant shall indicate the quantity and a detailed description of the vehicles and s it will used in the car rental business; under no circumstances may the fleet consist of fewer than twenty vehicles owned by the company.

    III-Economic requirements.

    Present an economic study prepared in accordance with the guidelines “Requirements for preparing an economic study.”

    Once the documents have been reviewed, the Institute shall specify, in writing and once only, all requirements not yet met, or any documents still to be submitted, all of which must be submitted by the applicant at one time.

    C- Aquatic transportation

    I-  Legal requirements.

    1. A written application for the tourism contract signed by the interested party or by the legal representative, in the case of artificial persons, with all signatures duly attested.

    2. A copy of the resolution in which the tourism declaration was granted.

    3. A certificate of legal capacity, if:

    1. the one submitted in the process of obtaining the tourism declaration is more than three months old.

    2. If the officers or representatives of the company have changed since the tourism declaration was granted; all  information related to the officers or representatives  must be updated.

     All certificates must be no more than three months old, counted from the date same were issued.

    1. A sworn affidavit: provided by the interested party, if a natural person, or by the legal representative of the company, in the case of artificial persons.  This notarial affidavit must state that:

    1. the exclusive purpose of the company will be Tourism related activities, and that, if other activities are to be carried out, separate accounting and administrative records will be kept.

    2. operations or construction will begin within a maximum of six months, counted from the date on which the tourism contract is signed; and that this period may only be extended by the Commission, after careful consideration, in response to a duly justified request from the interested party.

    II-  Technical requirements.

    In the case of new projects that plan to develop infrastructure, they must comply with the provisions of point c) of the "Guidelines on requirements related to the basic plans of tourist projects, for companies that wish to apply for the tourism contract."

    III- Economic requirements.

    An economic study prepared in accordance with the "Guidelines on requirements for preparing an economic study.”

    Once the documents have been reviewed, the Institute shall specify, in writing and only once, the list of all requirements not yet met, or any documents still to be submitted, all of which must be presented by the applicant at one time.


    © Copyright 2005 MEIC

    Learn more about Costa Rica
    Costa Rica Real Estate
    Purchase, legal issues, property prices and real estate listings.

    Info Costa Rica
    General information about Costa Rica.

    Moving to San Jose
    Learn about free zones, tours, people and services.