Find work in Costa Rica
Republic of Costa Rica — 5.2 million people, Costa Rican Colon (CRC), Spanish. Full employment compliance handled for you, paid every Friday.
Capital
San Jose
Population
5.2 million
GDP / capita
$13,100
Currency
CRC
Costa Rican Colon
Time zone
UTC-6 (CST)
Working in Costa Rica: what to expect
Key employment law provisions that affect your engagement. Corpshore handles compliance so you don't have to navigate this alone — but knowing your rights matters.
Standard workweek
48h max
48 hours (daytime) / 36 hours (nighttime)
Annual leave
11 public holidays
12 working days (2 weeks) after 50 weeks
Maternity leave
4 months (1 before + 3 after), paid through CCSS
Paternity leave
No statutory provision; some companies offer 3-5 days
Notice period
1-3 months depending on tenure
Severance
Cesantia: 19.5 days per year for years 1-3, increasing to 22 days for years 7+. Maximum 8 years counted.
Overtime rules
1.5x (50% premium). Maximum 4 overtime hours per day.
Probation period
3 months
Tax landscape in Costa Rica
Indicative tax ranges for general orientation. Always consult a qualified tax advisor for your specific situation. Tax year: Calendar year.
- Income tax
- 0% to 25%
- Corporate tax
- 30%
- Social contributions
- Employer: ~26.5% (CCSS, pension, worker risks). Employee: ~10.5%.
- VAT / GST
- 13% (IVA)
Treaty network
~5 tax treaties; limited network
Your fee is always zero
Corpshore charges the hiring business, never you. You receive 100% of the agreed rate, regardless of tax jurisdiction.
How you get paid in Costa Rica
SINPE (Sistema Nacional de Pagos Electronicos) handles interbank transfers. SINPE Movil enables instant mobile payments.
Bank transfer (SINPE)
Wise
Settlement
Every Friday
No net-30 waits, no chasing invoices
Platform fee
Zero, forever
The business pays Corpshore, never you
Currency
CRC
Local currency where supported
Regulatory landscape in Costa Rica
Corpshore manages compliance so you can focus on the work. Here's what shapes the regulatory environment for workers in Costa Rica.
Worker classification
Codigo de Trabajo presumes employment. Independent contractor arrangements are possible but courts apply subordination test.
Data protection
Ley 8968 (Protection of the Person against Processing of Personal Data, 2011). PRODHAB (Agency for Protection of Citizens' Data) enforces.
Right to work
Work permit required for foreigners. Employer must demonstrate local unavailability.
Non-compete enforceability
Limited enforceability under Costa Rican law. Courts favour worker's right to employment.
Collective bargaining
Protected under the Constitution and Codigo de Trabajo. Public sector has strong unions. Solidarismo (employer-sponsored worker associations) is a unique Costa Rican institution.
Working culture in Costa Rica
Business culture
Pura vida (pure life) ethos. Friendly, egalitarian, and relationship-focused. Business pace can be slower than in larger economies.
Key industries
Talent pool strengths
Historical context
Costa Rica abolished its military in 1948, redirecting defence spending to education and healthcare. This produced one of Latin America's highest literacy rates (98%) and a skilled workforce that attracted Intel's first Latin American fab plant in 1997, kickstarting the country's high-tech sector.
At a glance
- Official name
- Republic of Costa Rica
- Languages
- Spanish
- Time zones
- UTC-6 (CST)
- Data region
- Americas
Open roles: Costa Rica and remote
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