Although the CR Code of Commerce restricts the carrying out of business by foreign persons to those with at least ten years of legal residency, there is no restriction to a foreign person or company either forming or acquiring a business corporation.

A locally formed business corporation is by definition Costa Rican and enjoys all legal rights on par with Costa Rican nationals operating a business with very few exceptions that are usually accommodated through association with CR citizens.

Despite the fact that Free Trade Agreements,Globalization and the Internet, are rendering the above restrictions for non long term residents irrelevant, using a CR corporation is the universal practice for nationals and foreigners in CR.