Began operations in 2016, initially providing payroll support and outsourcing services exclusively to a multinational group, but now, we are expanding our services to all types of companies established in Costa Rica that require the expedited hiring of foreign professionals. Our team of professionals is available to address your inquiries and special requirements, from both a legal and financial perspective.
ABCD Consulting & Asociados Ltda.'s potential clients are typically companies registered in Costa Rica that require the ongoing (temporary or permanent) integration of foreign professionals, both to serve the local market and within the free trade zone. However, we also work with companies that do not yet have a legal presence in the country but are interested in analyzing the market or wishing to have a representative before formally establishing themselves. Furthermore, we are open to offering our services through promotional intermediaries (e.g., chambers of commerce, human resources consultants, law firms, etc.) related to immigration matters and/or talent acquisition.
Costa Rican law offers several types of legal residency, but not all permit formal employment. Foreign citizens (regardless of nationality) who wish to work in the country must first obtain the correct authorization to remain in Costa Rica from the appropriate authorities, this is a bureaucratic, slow, and sometimes complex process, so hiring a lawyer is recommended. After regularizing their legal residency according to the correct immigration status, the foreign citizen can finally apply for a work permit, but the entire process can take up to two years.
In contrast, the payroll management and outsourcing service offered by ABCD Consulting & Asociados Ltda. is fast and simple. Once ABCD receives all the necessary documentation from the foreign professional and the initial fees have been paid by the company receiving the services, ABCD will handle the entire immigration and labor law process so that the individual can quickly obtain their residency permit and be added to ABCD‘s payroll, subsequently enabling them to work for the interested company.
Although the Costa Rican General Directorate of Migration and Foreigners recommend against granting permanent work permits in 240 occupations with high unemployment rates (including lawyers, business administrators, teachers, journalists, tourism professionals, etc.), in most cases ABCD Consulting & Associates Ltda. has no limitations on including professionals of all types on its payroll, as long as the requirements and current labor legislation are met.
Regarding salary, local legislation specifies different minimum monthly wages depending on the immigration status granted to the foreign professional, but ABCD does not impose additional minimums beyond those established by law, provided that applicants meet the eligibility requirements. Each application is reviewed individually, considering factors such as the number of employees the beneficiary company needs to manage through ABCD‘s professional service.
Once all the necessary documentation has been submitted and the corresponding fees paid, the entire onboarding process can take approximately 4 to 6 weeks, subject to delays by Costa Rican authorities. The advantage is that once the documentation for the residency permit application has been submitted and accepted, the employee no longer has to leave the country while awaiting a decision.
Depending on the type of work permit a person holds, their immigration status may not allow them to change jobs. However, if the foreign professional is already on the payroll of ABCD Consulting & Asociados Ltda. and the new company wishes to hire them under the same legal arrangement, there is no legal impediment to doing so, provided that all associated costs are paid and all requirements of current labor law are met.
In the event of late payments or termination of the foreign professional’s service contract with ABCD by the beneficiary company, the employee will receive full severance pay with all rights granted by Costa Rican law, and their legal residency in the country will be automatically canceled through ABCD.
To begin the process, the beneficiary company must deposit an amount roughly equivalent to one month’s income of the foreign professional and pay the corresponding amount for the regularization process before the Costa Rican authorities, which varies depending on the nationality of the interested professional and the desired residence permit. Once the immigration status is approved and the foreign professional is added to ABCD Consulting & Asociados Ltda.‘s payroll, only a percentage commission is charged on the employee’s monthly income, including all legally mandated contributions (vacation pay, social security, workers’ compensation insurance, pension fund, etc.) and severance pay. Additionally, depending on the length of stay in the country, there may also be fees for permit renewals and other associated costs for the foreign professional.