Costa Rica: Expedited Immigration Process for Accredited Companies Launched

The situation 

Costa Rica’s Trade Promotion Agency and the General Immigration Directorate have launched a new expedited immigration process through the Ventanilla Única de Inversión (VUI), or One-Stop Investment Window. The VUI allows accredited companies to submit immigration applications through a streamlined platform designed to accelerate processing and enhance efficiency. 

A closer look 

• Phased rollout. Currently, the VUI is available only to Category A accredited companies (those operating under Free Trade Zones or other special regimes) submitting Short-Stay Visa and Temporary Residence applications on behalf of their foreign employees. Authorities plan to expand the VUI in phases to include additional application types and company categories, with further details to be announced. 

• Reduced processing times. Under this first phase, Short-Stay Visa and Temporary Residence applications submitted through the VUI are expected to be processed in a significantly shorter timeframe compared to the standard processing timeframe of 15 to 45 days for Short-Stay Visas and up to three months for Temporary Residence applications.  

Impact 

By centralizing submissions through the VUI, the process is designed to enhance consistency, transparency and coordination, allowing employers to plan workforce mobility more efficiently and enabling applicants to benefit from faster adjudication of their cases. 

Background 

• Existing benefits for accredited companies. Accredited companies in Costa Rica already benefit from a range of immigration benefits compared to non-accredited companies or certain self-sponsored applications, including faster adjudication, simplified documentation requirements and the ability for foreign employees to begin work while applications are pending. However, despite these benefits, processing times have remained relatively lengthy, creating opportunities for further improvement.  

• Enhancing efficiency through the VUI. The VUI will build on the existing accredited company framework by centralizing application management and establishing a more direct and efficient interface between the business community and immigration authorities. 

• Talent and investment attraction. The initiative builds on recent enhancements to the accredited-company framework, including a streamlined immigration accreditation process and expanded accreditation benefits for educational institutions, to support Costa Rica’s broader goals of attracting foreign direct investment and skilled labor.  

Looking ahead 

Fragomen will continue to monitor the rollout of the VUI and provide updates as authorities announce new phases, expand eligibility and confirm processing outcomes. 

Companies are encouraged to consult with their immigration professionals to assess eligibility for filing through the VUI (or for company accreditation more broadly) and to take advantage of the new streamlined process. 
 
Additional immigration reforms aligned with Costa Rica’s national policy framework are expected to continue into 2026. 

This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen or send an email to Fragomen.