A few days ago, a Costa Rican website was enabled, considered at first for companies that need to complete the formalization procedures, and later to apply online for desired technicians and executives, basically for migratory aims.
So far, such mechanism has being useful only to download the necessary forms that need to be taken to the corresponding office, as well as to know the requirements when complaining before the Consumer Office and the Promotion of Competition Direction.
Members of the Ministry of Competitiveness assure that this possibility has saved the expenses and costs of obtaining the different documents required for several issues, avoiding a waste of time in lines, and presenting incomplete paperwork.
This mean is intended to become a “Costa Rican Catalog” that will include around 3.000 online procedures usually fulfilled in state institutions. The purpose is that each user will be able to complete every step involved: submission of forms, payment and inquiries.
It is binding for all state institution to place all the necessary information in the URL: www.competitividad.go.cr, site where the Catalog will be operating, in regard of the laws that protect citizens from excessive requirements and procedures. There was a $5.000 investment in order to make this project work, starting from next year.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Regulation for casinos and sports books currently in discussion
Last week, a bill was submitted to the Congress in order to regulate the activity of casinos and sports books in Costa Rica, consisting on a plan promoted by the Finance Ministry as a mechanism to defeat the fiscal deficit.
Some of the proposals included in the bill are:
* 2% tax applied to the monthly gross incomes of the operating centers. This sum will represent approximately one hundred million dollars for the State.
* 0,5% operating canon applied to gross incomes per year
* The creation of Gaming and Betting National Regulatory Commission, which will be in charge of gaming licenses, as well as the corresponding sanctions.
* Every Casino and Betting Center, whether physical or virtual, should keep accounting records, shown to the Financial Intelligence Unit of the Costa Rican Drug Institute, in order to control suspicious transactions and avoid drug trafficking and money laundering.
In the last two decades, at least six more bills of this kind were proposed, but none of them have been approved. Members of the Government consider the present bill will have success, since it seeks to attend taxation priorities.
However, representatives of the Casino Association consider the fact of imposing more taxes to the activity as excessive. They fear that applying two more taxes to gaming activities such as the aforementioned, Costa Rican casinos and sports books might not be able to bear such economic burden.
Mr. Augusto Arce, attorney at law and expert in Gaming Law believes regulating a complex field as the Costa Rica offshore gaming industry is a wiser decision rather than forbidding gaming activities, which bring economic opportunities to Costa Rica as well as a competitive position within other countries. It is important to visualize regulation as the opening for certain benefits, not as an obstacle.
Some of the proposals included in the bill are:
* 2% tax applied to the monthly gross incomes of the operating centers. This sum will represent approximately one hundred million dollars for the State.
* 0,5% operating canon applied to gross incomes per year
* The creation of Gaming and Betting National Regulatory Commission, which will be in charge of gaming licenses, as well as the corresponding sanctions.
* Every Casino and Betting Center, whether physical or virtual, should keep accounting records, shown to the Financial Intelligence Unit of the Costa Rican Drug Institute, in order to control suspicious transactions and avoid drug trafficking and money laundering.
In the last two decades, at least six more bills of this kind were proposed, but none of them have been approved. Members of the Government consider the present bill will have success, since it seeks to attend taxation priorities.
However, representatives of the Casino Association consider the fact of imposing more taxes to the activity as excessive. They fear that applying two more taxes to gaming activities such as the aforementioned, Costa Rican casinos and sports books might not be able to bear such economic burden.
Mr. Augusto Arce, attorney at law and expert in Gaming Law believes regulating a complex field as the Costa Rica offshore gaming industry is a wiser decision rather than forbidding gaming activities, which bring economic opportunities to Costa Rica as well as a competitive position within other countries. It is important to visualize regulation as the opening for certain benefits, not as an obstacle.
Monday, September 28, 2009
New electronic Immigration Processing system available in Costa Rica
This past September 1st an innovative online registration system started operating mainly for transnational companies that require foreign executives or technicians here in Costa Rica.
This idea was promoted by the Ministry of Competitiveness and Immigration Authorities, and the first companies interested were Intel, Temenos Costa Rica, Ericsson and Surf Factory, however a long list of approximately fifty other companies are awaiting for this chance.
Basically, this mechanism intends to facilitate the procedure when applying for a work permit, this way companies have to be registered online (www.competitividad.go.cr/migracion/web/index.html). Later they file the information of each employee required in Costa Rica. Applications will be solved in ten days. If they are approved, the identity documents will be delivered through a mail system.
In the same web site other company formalization procedures can be done, they consist on basic previous paperwork such as:
• Operating Health Permit from the Health Ministry
• Work Risk Insurance
• Comercial License
• Registration as taxpayer
• Real Estate registry
• Construction procedures
• Environmental Impact Assessment
• Operation Veterinarian Certificates
GLC can assist you before, during and after the process, including all the requirements necessary for your company to be registered or recognized, as well as preparing the corresponding applications for the desired workers. We suggest you to contact our specialized Immigration Attorneys in order to obtain the proper guidance according to your specific case.
This idea was promoted by the Ministry of Competitiveness and Immigration Authorities, and the first companies interested were Intel, Temenos Costa Rica, Ericsson and Surf Factory, however a long list of approximately fifty other companies are awaiting for this chance.
Basically, this mechanism intends to facilitate the procedure when applying for a work permit, this way companies have to be registered online (www.competitividad.go.cr/migracion/web/index.html). Later they file the information of each employee required in Costa Rica. Applications will be solved in ten days. If they are approved, the identity documents will be delivered through a mail system.
In the same web site other company formalization procedures can be done, they consist on basic previous paperwork such as:
• Operating Health Permit from the Health Ministry
• Work Risk Insurance
• Comercial License
• Registration as taxpayer
• Real Estate registry
• Construction procedures
• Environmental Impact Assessment
• Operation Veterinarian Certificates
GLC can assist you before, during and after the process, including all the requirements necessary for your company to be registered or recognized, as well as preparing the corresponding applications for the desired workers. We suggest you to contact our specialized Immigration Attorneys in order to obtain the proper guidance according to your specific case.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Recently approved plan to eliminate convenience marriages
Yesterday, a Bill to eliminate convenience marriages in Costa Rica was approved unanimously by the Congressmen on the first debate.Leaded by the representatives Evita Arguedas and Francisco Antonio Pacheco, this initiative is supported by Migration Authorities.
If the Bill is ratified on the second discussion in the Congress next week, witnesses, contracting parties and the public notaries involved shall be penalized from two to five years when it’s not for migratory effects. In the case of a migratory aim, convictions will range from three to six years. As well, notaries participating in such circumstances, next to the criminal sanction shall be unfitted to practice his/her profession from months to years.
This potential regulation is intended to control migratory processes, as well as the rights obtained when the union of a Costa Rican citizen and foreigner is declared. To avoid convenience couples from obtaining a migratory status, migration authorities should determine whether there’s a real relationship or not, allowing both Migratory Authorities and the Civil Registry to declare void marriages.
Members of the Congress consider necessary actions such as these have to be taken to control migratory status, since statistics show that in the past year approximately ten thousand unions of this kind were celebrated.
If the Bill is ratified on the second discussion in the Congress next week, witnesses, contracting parties and the public notaries involved shall be penalized from two to five years when it’s not for migratory effects. In the case of a migratory aim, convictions will range from three to six years. As well, notaries participating in such circumstances, next to the criminal sanction shall be unfitted to practice his/her profession from months to years.
This potential regulation is intended to control migratory processes, as well as the rights obtained when the union of a Costa Rican citizen and foreigner is declared. To avoid convenience couples from obtaining a migratory status, migration authorities should determine whether there’s a real relationship or not, allowing both Migratory Authorities and the Civil Registry to declare void marriages.
Members of the Congress consider necessary actions such as these have to be taken to control migratory status, since statistics show that in the past year approximately ten thousand unions of this kind were celebrated.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Moving to Costa Rica: The process…….
Step 1
Find a reliable international moving company, in order to help you plan every detail in advance regarding the relocation, since the moving and logistics requires special attention to detail.
Step 2
Decide on which belongings you will take with you the moment you will move to Costa Rica, in order to coordinate with the Costa Rican movers and to establish if these will be moved via air, sea or land freights, providing safe transportation. Costa Rican movers handles both household goods and office moving.
For more security, prepare an inventory to make sure all your belongings are specified, and to avoid things getting lost without your knowledge. This way, you can guarantee yourself an efficient service, and a successful moving process.
Step 3
Carefully, with the help of a moving company of your choice, pack and prepare the necessary goods you are moving to Costa Rica with you. Usually, Costa Rican movers will provide useful material for this purpose, such as custom-made packages and other protective stuff to wrap and pack every possession desired.
For an organized moving process, packed belongings must be labeled, to identify them when they arrive to the country of destination.
Step 4
Once the load has reached its destination, Costa Rican movers also offers unpacking and unwrapping services, as well as reassembling complex furniture that was moved to Costa Rica.
If there were any belongings that will not be transported immediately, Costa Rican movers facilitate warehouse conveniences, so that people planning to move to Costa Rica can count on these conveniences, until the supplies can be shipped.
If you are considering the possibility of moving to our country, GLC has an associated professional moving company that can coordinate and take care of the entire logistics of the process, regarding planning, implementing, and controlling the correct management and storage of goods, services, and related information from the start to the end of this process. Contact us for a free quote to info@glccr.com
Find a reliable international moving company, in order to help you plan every detail in advance regarding the relocation, since the moving and logistics requires special attention to detail.
Step 2
Decide on which belongings you will take with you the moment you will move to Costa Rica, in order to coordinate with the Costa Rican movers and to establish if these will be moved via air, sea or land freights, providing safe transportation. Costa Rican movers handles both household goods and office moving.
For more security, prepare an inventory to make sure all your belongings are specified, and to avoid things getting lost without your knowledge. This way, you can guarantee yourself an efficient service, and a successful moving process.
Step 3
Carefully, with the help of a moving company of your choice, pack and prepare the necessary goods you are moving to Costa Rica with you. Usually, Costa Rican movers will provide useful material for this purpose, such as custom-made packages and other protective stuff to wrap and pack every possession desired.
For an organized moving process, packed belongings must be labeled, to identify them when they arrive to the country of destination.
Step 4
Once the load has reached its destination, Costa Rican movers also offers unpacking and unwrapping services, as well as reassembling complex furniture that was moved to Costa Rica.
If there were any belongings that will not be transported immediately, Costa Rican movers facilitate warehouse conveniences, so that people planning to move to Costa Rica can count on these conveniences, until the supplies can be shipped.
If you are considering the possibility of moving to our country, GLC has an associated professional moving company that can coordinate and take care of the entire logistics of the process, regarding planning, implementing, and controlling the correct management and storage of goods, services, and related information from the start to the end of this process. Contact us for a free quote to info@glccr.com
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Costa Rican government intends to charge 2% tax to Casinos and Sportsbooks
The government is proposing a bill to the Congress, a proposal that will be analyzed starting on August 3rd, 2009. The plan is oriented towards regulating and controlling the operation of Costa Rica casinos and Costa Rica online betting centers by the creation of a National Commission, that will regulate the Costa Rica gaming companies activity. Such Commission would be formed by the Ministers of the Presidency, Security and Finance, the Executive President of the Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT), the General Attorney, the Director of Judicial Investigations (OIJ) and the General Superintendent of Financial Institutions.
The bill wants to charge a 2% tax on the gross income of Costa Rica casinos, sports books and Costa Rica gambling companies in general, in order to become an important source to reduce the fiscal deficit, since this increase would generate at least eighty million United States dollars per year.
The Vice president of the Costa Rican Casino Association, Jorge Hidalgo, considers this increase is excessive as casinos have been affected by the world financial crisis, and it is not the correct timing.
The Minister of Finances of Costa Rica affirms that all of these ideas respond to a need of finding new resources of income based on a loss in the fiscal revenues due to a decline in the expected production of the country.
In the opinion of attorney at law and expert in Gaming Law Mr. Augusto Arce, this measure is almost identical to a previous gaming license that was granted by the Costa Rican government in a similar fiscal crisis in the year 2003. In that year the entire Costa Rica offshore gaming industry was shocked by the government with an emergency gaming license that raised a significant amount for Costa Rica and attempted to regulate this gray area in Costa Rican Law. It is also his belief that the new law can be positive towards regulating and not prohibiting and industry that is legal in many jurisdictions around the world, he also mentioned that there are many aspects to discuss and that it will be very interesting to see how the complicated legal structures that these companies use can be approached from a payment point of view.
The bill wants to charge a 2% tax on the gross income of Costa Rica casinos, sports books and Costa Rica gambling companies in general, in order to become an important source to reduce the fiscal deficit, since this increase would generate at least eighty million United States dollars per year.
The Vice president of the Costa Rican Casino Association, Jorge Hidalgo, considers this increase is excessive as casinos have been affected by the world financial crisis, and it is not the correct timing.
The Minister of Finances of Costa Rica affirms that all of these ideas respond to a need of finding new resources of income based on a loss in the fiscal revenues due to a decline in the expected production of the country.
In the opinion of attorney at law and expert in Gaming Law Mr. Augusto Arce, this measure is almost identical to a previous gaming license that was granted by the Costa Rican government in a similar fiscal crisis in the year 2003. In that year the entire Costa Rica offshore gaming industry was shocked by the government with an emergency gaming license that raised a significant amount for Costa Rica and attempted to regulate this gray area in Costa Rican Law. It is also his belief that the new law can be positive towards regulating and not prohibiting and industry that is legal in many jurisdictions around the world, he also mentioned that there are many aspects to discuss and that it will be very interesting to see how the complicated legal structures that these companies use can be approached from a payment point of view.
Monday, July 20, 2009
Moving to Costa Rica: Main Reasons to do so…
Costa Rica is a country recently classified as the Happiest Place in the World for living, according to the Happy Planet Index of the 2009. What puts Costa Rica on top of this rank?
Natural beauties and its comfortable climate both contribute to a peaceful environment, which makes it an attractive location to move to.
Stable government, the fact of abolishing the army makes our country a non hostile environment, providing peace among its people.
Low incidence of violent crime. The fear that moves people to carry a gun or any other weapon to defend themselves on the streets compared to aggressive countries seems, is not part of the lifestyle in Costa Rica.
Strong national health care system, with highly trained doctors from national institutions and abroad. The World Health Organization describes Costa Rica as one of the countries in the world with one of the highest life expectancies.
Well-structured educational system, which increases our literacy rate and strengthens our workforce. A good level of education such as the one in Costa Rica also includes the learning of different languages, that facilitate the communication with foreign cultures and makes it easier for newcomers to move and get used to the place.
Business Opportunities in a developing economy, that have been a focus of attraction in the past years
Affordable real estate
All of these reasons provide a good lifestyle, and some of the expats living in Costa Rica refer to it as “fantastic, at a very reasonable cost”. These reasons have given Costa Rica the place within some of the highest life satisfaction scores. Advantages such as these have motivated people around the world to move to our country, creating a multicultural atmosphere, pleasant for anyone looking for a comfortable and interesting way of living.
Contact GLC to guide through the moving process and aftereffects.
Natural beauties and its comfortable climate both contribute to a peaceful environment, which makes it an attractive location to move to.
Stable government, the fact of abolishing the army makes our country a non hostile environment, providing peace among its people.
Low incidence of violent crime. The fear that moves people to carry a gun or any other weapon to defend themselves on the streets compared to aggressive countries seems, is not part of the lifestyle in Costa Rica.
Strong national health care system, with highly trained doctors from national institutions and abroad. The World Health Organization describes Costa Rica as one of the countries in the world with one of the highest life expectancies.
Well-structured educational system, which increases our literacy rate and strengthens our workforce. A good level of education such as the one in Costa Rica also includes the learning of different languages, that facilitate the communication with foreign cultures and makes it easier for newcomers to move and get used to the place.
Business Opportunities in a developing economy, that have been a focus of attraction in the past years
Affordable real estate
All of these reasons provide a good lifestyle, and some of the expats living in Costa Rica refer to it as “fantastic, at a very reasonable cost”. These reasons have given Costa Rica the place within some of the highest life satisfaction scores. Advantages such as these have motivated people around the world to move to our country, creating a multicultural atmosphere, pleasant for anyone looking for a comfortable and interesting way of living.
Contact GLC to guide through the moving process and aftereffects.
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