Costa Rica offers compelling opportunities for international employers, with economic growth reaching 4.3% in 2024 and unemployment at 7.5% in Q1 2025. The country's services sector contributes 75.9% of GDP, anchoring a diverse economy that includes electronic components, food processing, and business services. The World Bank identifies Costa Rica as the highest per-capita recipient of FDI in Central America, reflecting its appeal for international business expansion.
An Employer of Record (EOR) service acts as the legal employer for your Costa Rican workforce, managing the intricate compliance requirements of the country's labor code. Costa Rican employment law mandates a 13th month salary payment in December, written contracts filed with the Ministry of Labor, and employer social security contributions of approximately 26.5-26.67% of salary. The labor code further requires all workplace instructions in Spanish and establishes specific severance calculations based on tenure. An EOR handles payroll processing, benefits administration, tax withholding, and regulatory filings, eliminating the need to establish a local entity. This guide compares eight providers serving Costa Rica.
Why Use an Employer of Record in Costa Rica?
Costa Rica's economic trajectory makes it an attractive expansion target. The country achieved 5.1% growth in 2023 and 4.3% in 2024, outpacing regional averages, while maintaining its position as the highest per-capita FDI recipient in Central America. This investment flows into high-tech manufacturing and business services, creating demand for skilled professionals. However, 71% of employers report difficulties finding talent with required skills, particularly in technical occupations and STEM fields. An EOR enables rapid access to Costa Rica's available workforce without navigating the complexities of entity establishment, allowing you to compete effectively for talent while maintaining full regulatory compliance.
Our Picks for the 8 Best EOR Companies in Costa Rica
Borderless AI
Borderless AI is an AI-native Employer of Record platform designed to simplify global hiring across 170+ countries. The platform combines advanced technology with comprehensive compliance management, enabling businesses to onboard international employees in Costa Rica without establishing a local entity. With an industry-leading 4.9/5 G2 rating, Borderless AI delivers fast onboarding, responsive support, and a user-friendly mobile experience.
Why Use Borderless AI for EOR in Costa Rica
Borderless AI offers businesses expanding to Costa Rica rapid onboarding capabilities with employees ready to work in 1-2 days, ensuring full adherence to Costa Rican labor laws. The platform's AI-powered compliance monitoring and dedicated customer success managers provide real-time regulatory updates specific to Costa Rica's employment landscape, while the mobile app enables seamless employee self-service.
Key Benefits and Features
- Industry-fastest 5-day global payroll processing ensuring timely employee payments
- Proprietary payment infrastructure for instant talent compensation without third-party dependencies
- Alberni AI agent for automated employment contract generation and global HR queries
- Flexible and competitive supplemental benefits packages tailored to Costa Rican standards
- Dedicated in-house customer success managers available around the clock
Price: $579/employee/month
Country Coverage: 170+ countries
G2 Rating: 4.9/5
Free Trial: Demo
Legal & Compliance: Borderless AI adheres to Costa Rican labor laws with real-time compliance monitoring, ensuring all employment contracts, payroll, and benefits administration align with local regulatory requirements. The platform partners with Big 4 accounting firm experts to maintain comprehensive legal coverage.
Onboarding Speed: 1-2 days
Platform Experience: The platform features a mobile app for tracking time-off, expenses, and paystubs. The user-friendly interface includes an AI-powered HRGPT assistant and automated contract generation, streamlining HR workflows for both administrators and employees.
Customer Support: Responsive 24/7 support provided by a North America-based team of payroll experts who function as an extension of your HR department, with no outsourcing or ticket delays.
Pros & Cons
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Industry-fastest global payroll processing (5-days) | Newer Company in the industry |
Fastest international onboarding (1-2 days) | Fewer integrations than some legacy providers |
Real-time compliance monitoring | |
Direct Entity ownership |
Biz Latin Hub
Biz Latin Hub specializes in PEO and EOR services throughout Latin America and the Caribbean, offering company incorporation, legal advisory, and tax compliance solutions. The company provides tailored services designed specifically for businesses expanding into Latin American markets, with particular expertise in navigating regional regulatory requirements.
Why Use Biz Latin Hub for EOR in Costa Rica
Biz Latin Hub's regional focus on Latin America positions them as specialists in Costa Rican market entry, offering company incorporation services alongside EOR capabilities. Their multilingual in-country experts understand Costa Rica's specific legal and tax requirements, providing businesses with localized guidance throughout the hiring and compliance process.
Key Benefits and Features
- PEO and EOR services with company incorporation support
- Legal and tax advisory services for Latin American markets
- Multilingual support teams with regional expertise
- Full legal and tax compliance management
Price: Custom
Country Coverage: Latin America & Caribbean
G2 Rating: N/A
Free Trial: No
Legal & Compliance: Biz Latin Hub provides full legal and tax compliance services, with specialized knowledge of Latin American regulatory frameworks and Costa Rican employment law requirements.
Onboarding Speed: Moderate
Platform Experience: Tailored solutions focused on Latin American markets, with services designed to address regional business practices and regulatory environments.
Customer Support: Multilingual support with in-country experts who understand local business culture and regulatory requirements.
Pros & Cons
Serviap Global
Serviap Global provides EOR and PEO services with a strong emphasis on Latin American markets, supporting businesses in Costa Rica and across 180+ countries worldwide. The company offers comprehensive payroll, benefits administration, and compliance management tailored to regional business requirements.
Why Use Serviap Global for EOR in Costa Rica
Serviap Global's in-depth knowledge of Costa Rican laws makes them a competitive option for businesses prioritizing regional expertise. Their Latin America focus ensures understanding of local employment practices, with pricing starting from $349/employee/month, offering cost-effective solutions for companies expanding into Costa Rica.
Key Benefits and Features
- Comprehensive payroll and benefits administration
- Compliance management with Costa Rican employment regulations
- PEO services for Latin American markets
- Localized support teams
Price: From $349/employee/month
Country Coverage: Focus on Latin America, including Costa Rica, 180+ countries supported
G2 Rating: 4.5/5
Free Trial: No
Legal & Compliance: Serviap Global maintains in-depth knowledge of Costa Rican labor laws, ensuring all employment relationships comply with local statutory requirements and regulatory changes.
Onboarding Speed: Up to few weeks
Platform Experience: Tailored solutions designed specifically for Latin American markets, addressing regional business practices and compliance requirements.
Customer Support: Localized support teams familiar with Costa Rican business environment and employment regulations.
Pros & Cons
Mauve Group
Mauve Group delivers global payroll, employee lifecycle support, and statutory compliance services across approximately 150+ countries. The company provides comprehensive platforms for managing international teams with around-the-clock customer service capabilities.
Why Use Mauve Group for EOR in Costa Rica
Mauve Group offers businesses expanding to Costa Rica a comprehensive platform for managing the entire employee lifecycle with statutory compliance across international labor laws. Their around-the-clock customer service ensures support availability, while their 7-14 day onboarding timeline provides a balanced approach for companies planning Costa Rican expansions.
Key Benefits and Features
- Global payroll processing capabilities
- Complete employee lifecycle support
- Statutory compliance management
- Comprehensive international team management platform
Price: Custom
Country Coverage: ~150+ countries
G2 Rating: No reviews yet
Free Trial: No
Legal & Compliance: Mauve Group focuses on compliance with Chinese and international labor laws, providing statutory compliance frameworks for global operations.
Onboarding Speed: 7-14 days
Platform Experience: Comprehensive platform designed for managing international teams across multiple jurisdictions, with integrated compliance and payroll features.
Customer Support: Around-the-clock customer service ensuring support availability across time zones.
Pros & Cons
INS Global
INS Global provides comprehensive EOR services with compliance assurance and HR support across 160+ countries. The company offers competitive pricing starting from approximately $299/month and maintains a strong 4.8/5 G2 rating, reflecting consistent customer satisfaction.
Why Use INS Global for EOR in Costa Rica
INS Global offers businesses entering Costa Rica cost-effective solutions with pricing starting from approximately $299/month, combined with expertise in local labor laws and regulations. Their integrated platform and dedicated global support team provide comprehensive workforce management capabilities for Costa Rican operations within up to a week.
Key Benefits and Features
- Global EOR services with compliance assurance
- Comprehensive HR support capabilities
- Integrated platform for workforce management
- Expertise in local labor regulations
Price: From ~$299/mo
Country Coverage: 160+ countries
G2 Rating: 4.8/5
Free Trial: Demo
Legal & Compliance: INS Global demonstrates expertise in local labor laws and regulations, ensuring compliance with country-specific employment requirements across its operating regions.
Onboarding Speed: up to a week
Platform Experience: Integrated platform designed for global workforce management, combining payroll, compliance, and HR functions in a unified system.
Customer Support: Dedicated support team with global reach, providing assistance across multiple time zones and regions.
Pros & Cons
Mercans
Mercans offers payroll outsourcing, PEO services, and HR management solutions across 160+ countries. The platform provides integrated HR and payroll management capabilities with a strong focus on compliance with local labor laws, earning a 4.8/5 G2 rating.
Why Use Mercans for EOR in Costa Rica
Mercans provides businesses expanding to Costa Rica with integrated HR and payroll management capabilities, ensuring strong compliance with local labor laws. Their dedicated global support team and up to one week onboarding timeline offer businesses reliable infrastructure for Costa Rican workforce management with demonstrated customer satisfaction.
Key Benefits and Features
- Comprehensive payroll outsourcing services
- PEO services with HR management
- Integrated platform for payroll and HR functions
- Strong focus on local labor law compliance
Price: Custom
Country Coverage: 160+ countries
G2 Rating: 4.8/5
Free Trial: Demo
Legal & Compliance: Mercans maintains a strong focus on compliance with local labor laws, ensuring employment practices align with regional regulatory requirements across all operating jurisdictions.
Onboarding Speed: up to a week
Platform Experience: Integrated platform combining HR and payroll management functions, designed to streamline global workforce administration and compliance tracking.
Customer Support: Dedicated support team with global presence, providing consistent service across multiple regions and time zones.
Pros & Cons
Deel
Deel provides global payroll, compliance, and benefits management across 150+ countries. The platform features a modern, user-friendly interface with responsive customer support and rapid onboarding capabilities, earning a 4.8/5 G2 rating from users.
Why Use Deel for EOR in Costa Rica
Deel offers businesses expanding to Costa Rica rapid 1-3 day onboarding capabilities with comprehensive global coverage ensuring employment compliance. Their modern, user-friendly platform combined with responsive customer support provides efficient infrastructure for managing Costa Rican employees, though pricing is at the higher end at $599/employee/month.
Key Benefits and Features
- Global payroll processing capabilities
- Comprehensive compliance management
- Benefits administration services
- Modern, user-friendly platform interface
Price: $599/employee/month
Country Coverage: 150+ countries
G2 Rating: 4.8/5
Free Trial: Demo
Legal & Compliance: Deel provides comprehensive global coverage with compliance frameworks designed to address employment regulations across all operating jurisdictions.
Onboarding Speed: 1–3 days
Platform Experience: Modern, user-friendly platform designed for intuitive navigation and efficient workforce management across multiple countries.
Customer Support: Responsive and efficient customer support ensuring timely resolution of inquiries and issues.
Pros & Cons
Teamed
Teamed specializes in personalized EOR services with dedicated support and compliance management across 150+ countries. The platform emphasizes user-friendly experiences with approximately one-day onboarding and 24/7 support availability, earning a 4.7/5 G2 rating.
Why Use Teamed for EOR in Costa Rica
Teamed provides businesses entering Costa Rica with the fastest onboarding timeline at approximately one day, ensuring rapid deployment of Costa Rican employees. Their personalized EOR services combined with 24/7 support and expertise in managing benefits and compliance requirements deliver tailored solutions for businesses at £399/employee/month.
Key Benefits and Features
- Personalized EOR services with dedicated support
- Comprehensive compliance management
- User-friendly platform interface
- 24/7 support availability
Price: £399/employee/month
Country Coverage: 150+
G2 Rating: 4.7/5
Free Trial: Demo
Legal & Compliance: Teamed demonstrates expertise in managing benefits and compliance requirements, ensuring employment relationships adhere to local regulatory frameworks.
Onboarding Speed: ~1 day
Platform Experience: User-friendly platform designed for ease of use and efficient workforce management across international jurisdictions.
Customer Support: 24/7 support ensuring assistance availability around the clock for urgent inquiries and ongoing support needs.
Pros & Cons
Selection Criteria and Methodology
Our evaluation of the best employer of record companies for Costa Rica employed a comprehensive, data-driven methodology examining eight critical factors that determine EOR service quality and value.
- Price: We analyzed pricing transparency and value across providers. Transparent pricing ranged from INS Global's $299/month to Deel's $599/month, with several providers offering custom pricing. We evaluated whether providers offered clear cost structures versus custom quotes, recognizing that upfront pricing enables better budgeting for Costa Rican expansion.
- Country Coverage: Global reach indicates operational maturity and compliance expertise. Borderless AI leads with 170+ countries, followed by Serviap Global at 180+ countries with Latin America specialization. Broader coverage ensures companies can expand beyond Costa Rica using a single provider.
- Key Features: We assessed technology capabilities, compliance tools, and HR functionality. AI-powered platforms like Borderless AI with automated contract generation and compliance monitoring scored highest, while traditional providers emphasized localized expertise.
- G2 Rating: User reviews provide authentic insights into service quality. Borderless AI's 4.9/5 rating leads the market, followed by multiple providers at 4.8/5. Ratings below 4.5/5 or absent reviews indicated potential service quality concerns.
- Legal & Compliance: Costa Rican labor law expertise is essential. We prioritized providers demonstrating specific Costa Rican legal knowledge, real-time compliance monitoring, and partnerships with legal experts. Serviap Global and Borderless AI specifically highlight Costa Rican compliance capabilities.
- Onboarding Speed: Rapid deployment accelerates business operations. Teamed and Borderless AI lead with 1-2 day timelines, while Serviap Global's several-week timeline may delay Costa Rican workforce activation.
- Platform Experience: User-friendly interfaces reduce administrative burden. Modern platforms with mobile apps, AI assistants, and automated workflows ranked highest. We evaluated ease of use for both HR administrators and employees.
- Customer Support: Responsive assistance ensures smooth operations. We prioritized 24/7 availability, in-country expertise, and dedicated account managers. Borderless AI and Teamed offer continuous support, while others provide business-hours assistance.
Expert Tips for Hiring in Costa Rica
When expanding your workforce into Costa Rica through an EOR provider, strategic planning ensures compliance and operational success. First, verify your EOR partner maintains current expertise in Costa Rica's aguinaldo requirements—employees receive a mandatory 13th-month salary payment, typically split between June and December. Ensure your provider calculates and processes this correctly to avoid legal complications.
Second, understand Costa Rica's severance payment obligations, which vary based on employment duration. Employees with less than three months receive seven days of salary, while those employed 3-6 months receive 14 days, increasing incrementally. Select an EOR that automates these calculations and maintains compliant reserves.
Third, prioritize providers offering localized benefits packages that meet Costa Rican market standards. Competitive health insurance, vacation time exceeding statutory minimums, and professional development opportunities help attract top Costa Rican talent. Fourth, confirm your EOR partner provides bilingual support—while many Costa Rican professionals speak English, local HR and payroll documentation requires Spanish fluency.
Finally, evaluate onboarding speed against your business timeline. Providers offering 1-2 day onboarding like Borderless AI enable rapid market entry, while those requiring several weeks may delay critical hiring initiatives.
How to Choose the Best EOR Company
Selecting the optimal EOR provider for Costa Rica expansion requires systematic evaluation aligned with your specific business requirements. Follow this structured approach:
- Assess your timeline: If you need employees operational within days, prioritize providers like Borderless AI (1-2 days) or Teamed (~1 day) over those requiring weeks. Urgent market entry demands rapid deployment capabilities.
- Evaluate pricing models: Compare transparent pricing providers (INS Global at $299/month, Serviap Global at $349/month, Borderless AI at $579/month) against custom pricing options. Consider total cost of ownership including hidden fees for payments, currency conversion, or premium features.
- Verify Costa Rican expertise: Confirm providers demonstrate specific knowledge of Costa Rican labor laws, aguinaldo calculations, severance requirements, and local benefits standards. Regional specialists like Serviap Global and Biz Latin Hub offer Latin America focus, while global providers like Borderless AI maintain local compliance expertise.
- Review technology capabilities: Modern platforms with AI-powered compliance monitoring, automated contract generation, mobile apps, and self-service portals reduce administrative burden. Assess whether the platform matches your technical sophistication requirements.
- Examine customer support structure: Determine whether you require 24/7 support (Borderless AI, Teamed) or business-hours assistance suffices. Consider language requirements—bilingual support is essential for Costa Rican operations.
- Analyze user satisfaction: Review G2 ratings and customer testimonials. Ratings above 4.8/5 indicate consistent service quality, while absent reviews suggest limited market validation.
- Consider scalability: If you plan expansion beyond Costa Rica, evaluate country coverage. Borderless AI's 170+ countries and Serviap Global's 180+ countries support multi-country growth strategies.
Reference the comparison table above to systematically evaluate each provider against these criteria, ensuring your selection aligns with both immediate Costa Rican hiring needs and long-term global expansion objectives.
Why Choose Borderless AI in Costa Rica as an EOR Provider
Borderless AI distinguishes itself as the premier EOR solution for Costa Rica expansion through industry-leading performance metrics and AI-native technology. With the highest G2 rating of 4.9/5 among all providers, Borderless AI demonstrates exceptional customer satisfaction backed by verified user reviews.
Key advantages include:
- Fastest onboarding timeline: Deploy Costa Rican employees in 1-2 days, compared to competitors requiring one week to several weeks, accelerating your market entry and revenue generation.
- Industry-leading payroll processing: 5-day global payroll cycle ensures timely employee payments, significantly faster than traditional providers, improving employee satisfaction and retention.
- AI-powered compliance: Real-time monitoring of Costa Rican labor law changes with automated updates to contracts and payroll calculations, reducing legal risk through proactive compliance management.
- Proprietary payment infrastructure: Direct payment capabilities eliminate third-party dependencies and associated fees, improving cash flow efficiency and reducing transaction costs.
- Comprehensive global coverage: 170+ countries supported through direct entity ownership, providing seamless expansion beyond Costa Rica as your business grows.
- 24/7 dedicated support: North America-based team of payroll experts functioning as an extension of your HR department, with no outsourcing or ticket delays common among competitors.
- Mobile-first experience: User-friendly mobile app enabling Costa Rican employees to manage time-off, expenses, and paystubs independently, reducing administrative burden.
- Alberni AI agent: Automated contract generation and instant answers to global employment questions, streamlining HR workflows through conversational AI technology.
For businesses requiring rapid, compliant, and technology-enabled Costa Rica expansion, Borderless AI delivers measurable advantages in speed, user experience, and compliance assurance.
Final Thoughts
Selecting the right employer of record for Costa Rica expansion represents a strategic decision with lasting implications for compliance, employee satisfaction, and operational efficiency. Our comprehensive analysis reveals significant variations in onboarding speed, pricing transparency, compliance expertise, and technology capabilities across providers. Data-driven evaluation of the eight critical factors—price, country coverage, features, G2 ratings, legal compliance, onboarding speed, platform experience, and customer support—enables informed decisions aligned with your specific requirements. Whether you prioritize rapid deployment, cost optimization, or advanced technology, the Costa Rican EOR market offers solutions spanning diverse business needs. As global hiring continues accelerating, partnering with a provider demonstrating proven expertise in Costa Rican labor law while offering scalable technology positions your organization for sustainable international growth.
Ready to streamline your Costa Rica hiring process? Book a demo to see how the right EOR partner can accelerate your growth.
