With the entry into force of Law No. 10597, Costa Rica is making a decisive move toward digitalizing its corporate processes: the role of the resident agent has been eliminated, and all companies are now required to register an official email address to receive judicial and administrative notifications.
This reform directly affects all commercial companies in Costa Rica, especially those with foreign stakeholders, who—until now—were required to appoint a resident agent to handle official communications.
What has changed?
The reform to Article 18, section 10 of the Commercial Code now requires companies to include a valid email address in their Articles of Incorporation. This address will serve as the official channel for receiving legal notices from public authorities.
At the same time, section 13 of the same article has been repealed, removing the obligation to appoint a resident agent. From now on, each company will be directly responsible for receiving official communications via its registered email.
To support this shift, other complementary laws were also amended:
– Article 20 of the Judicial Notifications Law (Law No. 8687)
– Article 243 of the General Law of Public Administration (Law No. 6227)
– Article 21 of the Public Registry Law (Law No. 3883)
These updates confirm email as a valid and legally binding communication channel for administrative and judicial procedures.
Key Deadlines to Keep in Mind
- Platform launch (National Registry)
The National Registry has until June 4, 2025 to update its systems and launch the official process for email registration.
Effective date: June 4, 20252. Existing companies
All companies already incorporated will have one year—from the launch date—to register their email.
Deadline: June 4, 20263. New companies
Any company incorporated on or after June 4, 2025 must include its email address in the Articles of Incorporation at the time of formation.Special case:
If a company is incorporated in the months prior to the platform launch and all its legal representatives are foreigners, a temporary resident agent must be appointed until the system becomes operational.
What Are Your Obligations as a Company?
– Mandatory registration: All companies must register a valid and up-to-date email address with the National Registry of Legal Entities.
– Exclusive use: This email will be used solely for official legal notifications.
– Legal consequences: If a company fails to register an email, any notification sent will still be considered legally valid. In addition, no new filings will be accepted until the registration is completed, and the noncompliance will be formally noted.
– No cost: The registration process is completely free—no stamps, fees, or taxes required.
Need Help Complying with the New Law?
At ERP Lawyers, we offer comprehensive legal support to help you:
✔ Update your Articles of Incorporation
✔ Register your official email address
✔ Ensure full compliance with Law No. 10597
Our corporate law team is ready to guide you through the process with clarity, efficiency, and reliable legal backing.
Contact us through our website today
