Immigration
Costa Rica : Minimum salary increase for 2024
Summary
As of January 1, 2024, the Costa Rican Ministry of Labor increased minimum salary levels for multiple job levels in the private sector. The increase results in wages 1.83% higher in comparison to the minimum wages established for 2023.
The Detail
The impacted job levels that possess an increased monthly minimum gross wage are the following:
| Level of Job Skill | New Monthly Wage (CRC) |
| Employee under a non-skilled job position | 358,609.50 |
| Employee under a semi-skilled job position | 389,961.60 |
| Employee under a skilled job position | 403,461.60 |
| Diversified Education Technicians | 422,798.93 |
| Employee under a specialized job position | 463,248.99 |
| Higher Education Technicians | 521,053.17 |
| Employee whose Superior Education Diploma is required for the job position | 562,756.90 |
| Employee whose University Bachelor’s Degree is required for the job position | 638,299.51 |
| Employee who has a University Licensed Degree (this is an University Degree between the Bachelor and the Master´s degree) | 765,985.67 |
What This Means
All new work related temporary residency permits submitted in 2024 must exceed in no less than 25% the new minimum gross monthly wage for 2024 according to the job position that will be occupied by the foreigner. All new work permits submitted in 2024 must comply with the minimum gross monthly wage established for this term according to the job position occupied by the foreigner.
For existing work related permit or temporary residency holders with valid permits as of January 1, 2024, current monthly gross wages below the new minimum requirement require the employer to update the wage payments immediately following applicable rules detailed on the above paragraph depending on the employee´s migratory category, without waiting for the work permit or temporary residency to be renewed. Under local laws, foreign workers hold the same wage rights as Costa Rican citizens.
Please note there are other rules that might apply for each job position. This is also applicable to employees whose job duties are not of commercial nature and earn their wage on a daily or weekly basis. For more information, contact Vialto Partners for assistance.
Contact us!
Desiree Schulz
LATAM Immigration Advisory Lead
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Further information on Vialto Partners can be found here: www.vialtopartners.com
Vialto Partners (“Vialto”) refers to wholly owned subsidiaries of CD&R Galaxy UK OpCo Limited as well as the other members of the Vialto Partners global network. The information contained in this document is for general guidance on matters of interest only. Vialto is not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for the results obtained from the use of this information. All information is provided “as is”, with no guarantee of completeness, accuracy, timeliness or of the results obtained from the use of this information, and without warranty of any kind, express or implied, including, but not limited to warranties of performance, merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. In no event will Vialto, its related entities, or the agents or employees thereof be liable to you or anyone else for any decision made or action taken in reliance on the information in this document or for any consequential, special or similar damages, even if advised of the possibility of such damages.
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