What can and cannot be done remotely
| Step | Remote? | What it requires |
| Title and lien search at the National Registry | Yes | Nothing from the client. Public records are searched online. It does not have a cost to open an account at the Public Registry. |
| Survey plan and boundary verification | Yes | Nothing from the client. A surveyor can be contracted to perform the work and render a report. |
| Forming a Costa Rican company (S.A. or S.R.L.) | Yes | The process can be done remotely. A notary in Costa Rica is required. |
| Signing the preliminary purchase agreement known as SPA | Yes | Electronic signature of document is common or original documents can be signed as well |
| Funding escrow | Yes | Wire transfer to a SUGEF-registered escrow agent, plus KYC documentation |
| Transfer deed and title registration | Yes | Power of attorney naming the attorney or representative who signs can be granted individually or through a company |
| Opening a corporate bank account | Maybe | Costa Rican banks have historically required in-person appearance. Some banks like BAC, Lafise and BCT offer remote bank account opening processes and others require physical presence. The duration can be a range of 3-6 weeks as it may require personal interview and source of funds. |
| Residency: filing the application | Partially | Physical presence in Costa Rica at least once is required prior to filing for residency. Apostilled birth certificate, police record, and supporting financial documents |
| Residency: biometrics and DIMEX card | No | It requires presence in Costa Rica |
What do I need to sign from abroad?
A power of attorney authorizing a named representative or Costa Rican attorney to act on a defined transaction can be issued individually or through a company. The power of attorney can be specific for the transaction or have a broad scope. It is signed before a notary in Costa Rica, or in your home country, apostilled, and translated into Spanish by an official translator if it is not already in Spanish. Costa Rica is a party to the Hague Apostille Convention, so documents from other member countries do not require consular legalization. If you have a company, the company can issue powers of attorney remotely through the corporate formalities regulated by law.
A power of attorney for a specific transaction is limited to what it describes. It does not give the attorney authority over your other assets or accounts. Other powers of attorney exist and provide broader authority.
How does the money move if I am not in Costa Rica?
Funds are wired to an escrow agent registered with SUGEF, Costa Rica's financial regulator, and released only when the conditions written into the escrow instructions are met. Quatro Legal works with escrow agents such as TLA, Geldstuck, Secure Title Costa Rica, among others as Quatro Legal is not authorized and licensed by SUGEF to hold third party funds for transactions. All the escrow agents with whom Quatro Legal works have operating procedures, Know Your Client forms, secure channels and portals for communication, and provide specific bank accounts for funds to be safely wired into. The conditions for fund release are typically described in the transaction documents and/or the escrow agreement.
What actually requires me to be in Costa Rica?
| Step | Remote? | What it requires |
| DIMEX biometric appointment | No | Physical presence is required to complete the process |
| Bank account opening | No | Certain banks like Banco de Costa Rica require physical presence for representatives and shareholders |
| Certain municipal procedures | No | Certain procedures require physical presence when a power of attorney does not exist |
| Notarial Acts | No | Notarial acts on a notary book require physical presence |
When traveling to Costa Rica is impossible Costa Rican Consulates have notaries that can produce deeds; nevertheless, there may be a waiting time that ranges from days to weeks depending on the Consulate’s availability.
How long does each step take?
| Step | Typical range | What widens it |
| Due diligence | 21-30 calendar days is an accepted term | Maritime Zone property, outdated survey, boundary discrepancies, tax contingencies, title contingencies, liens, mortgages, etc |
| Power of attorney preparation, apostille and translation | 2-3 business days | Home-country notary and apostille turnaround |
| Closing and Registry transfer | 10 business days | Registry queue and tax clearance |
| Residency from filing to resolution | 18-24 months | Documentation completeness and Immigration queue |
How often will I hear from my attorney?
For real estate transactions, corporate work and immigration filings communication with an attorney and its paralegals takes place. Quatro Legal response time is 24-48 hours via e-mail or Quatro Legal’s whatsapp channels. Formal updates are provided when required or any other day. Communication with the Client every 24-48 hours on pending matters is a firm policy and clients who require specific attention, have questions or concerns have access to a Client Care officer to support them. Meetings, calls and updates can be requested by the Client on demand and the firm has a policy to provide them in a range of 24-48 hours after the request.
Languages and time zones
Quatro Legal conducts calls, meetings and services in both English and Spanish in an office schedule 8:00 am to 5:30 pm Monday to Friday and commits its legal team to respond after hours when the case requires it as part of its “We Care” policy.
Last updated: September 11th 2026. Written by Gonzalo Rojas Benavides, Founding Partner, Colegio de Abogados de Costa Rica No. 17310. E-mail: grb@quatro.legal
This page describes general procedure in Costa Rica and is not legal advice. Requirements change and vary by case. Confirm current requirements before relying on any timeline or document list here.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this resource is for general informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute legal advice. While we strive to ensure the accuracy and timeliness of the content, laws and regulations are subject to change. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, please contact our office directly. Some images may be AI generated.
