Costa Rica boasts a high literacy rate of 95.9%, hence the high number of Costa Rican graduates in the job market. By law, a foreigner cannot be employed if the position desired can be filled in by a Costa Rican candidate, hence expatriates might experience difficulties in joining Costa Rica's work force.
Job Market
Finding a job in Costa Rica can be tough road for expatriates, but it doesn't mean that getting a job is like finding a needle in the haystack. There are agencies that recruit foreign nationals and these are mostly jobs that can't be filled in by a locals such as English teachers, English speaking tour guides, computer science and management positions. Language schools commonly teach English, although French and German are becoming more popular in Costa Rica. Online recruitment agencies provide a database for job posting such as Latinjobs.com and ticojobs.com.
Another industry that is thriving is the call center, with a fast-paced and competitive environment. Speaking in Spanish can be an advantage in getting a job.
Costa Rica is home to multinational companies like Microsoft, Intel, Motorola, among others.
Permit
One must have a valid work permit in order to work in Costa Rica. Work permits are given to highly-trained professionals hired by Costa Rican companies upon approval of the Immigration Department and Work Department. Once a temporary permit is approved, expats are required to deposit US$100 as a guarantee deposit in a Costa Rican bank. The proof or receipt needs to be presented at the consulate where the permit was issued. Permits can be renewed annually, and the process of renewal of the temporary permit is through a new individual and company application letter and Social Security Certification to be submitted to General Direction of Immigration.
Minimum Wage/Salary
As of 2008, Costa Rican salary ranges from ₡107,883 monthly for domestic employees to ₡397,665 for university graduates. The minimum wage is set or reviewed every year by the National Wage Council.
Working conditions
In Costa Rica, the maximum hours of work depend on the type of working days, which is classified in two types - normal working days (or Jornadas Ordinarias Normale) and special working days (or Jornadas Especiales o de Excepcion) that can be broken into day or night shifts.
Employees get an annual Christmas bonus or "aguinaldo" (13th month), which is not subject to social or income tax. It is equivalent to a month's salary for a year's work, or an amount proportionate to the time worked, if it is less than a year.
Income Tax
All residents that are part of the work force are subject to monthly income tax at 15%. The fiscal year of filing taxes in Costa Rica is every 30th of September.
More Expat Resources
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