Costa Rica is accelerating its march toward a fully digital state, and the country’s corporate landscape is about to feel the shift. Under Law 10.597, all legal entities, from traditional corporations to limited liability companies, must now register an official email address with the National Registry. This isn’t just another bureaucratic checkbox; it’s a structural change in how the government communicates with the private sector.
Once registered, this email becomes the company’s formal channel for receiving legally binding notifications from public institutions. In other words, the inbox becomes the new mailbox of record.
The Timeline: Two Key Dates
The law introduces a staggered compliance schedule:
- Existing companies: must complete the registration by June 4, 2026.
- Newly formed companies: must comply starting June 4, 2025, by integrating the requirement into the incorporation process.
These deadlines reflect Costa Rica’s broader push to streamline administrative processes and reduce reliance on physical documentation.
How Companies Can Register
The law offers two pathways, both involving a notary public:
1. Corporate Resolution
A company may approve its official email address through a formal corporate meeting. The minutes of that meeting must then be notarized and filed before the National Registry.
2. Direct Appearance Before a Notary
Alternatively, the legal representative can personally appear before a Costa Rican notary, or a Costa Rican consul abroad, to declare the official email address. The notary incorporates this declaration into a public instrument for submission.
Both routes ensure that the information is authenticated and properly recorded, reinforcing the legal validity of future digital communications.
Why This Matters
Registering an official email address is more than a compliance exercise. It ensures that companies receive government notifications securely, promptly, and with full legal effect. In an era where administrative efficiency is increasingly tied to digital infrastructure, this measure reduces the risk of missed deadlines, lost correspondence, and procedural delays.
It also signals Costa Rica’s commitment to modernizing its institutional framework — a move that aligns the country with global trends in digital governance.
Support for Businesses Navigating the Change
For clients of GM Attorneys, the transition is designed to be seamless. The firm provides and manages the corporate email address registered with the National Registry, acting as the first line of reception for official notifications. This ensures that important communications are monitored, processed, and addressed without delay.
Our team remains available to guide companies through the registration process and advise on the best approach depending on each entity’s structure and operational needs.
For personalized assistance, you can reach our team at info@gmattorneyscr.com. Additional insights and legal updates are available on their blog: https://gmattorneyscr.com/blog/.
