Frequently asked questions

Resources

What is theCountry Brand?

The origin ofessentialCosta Rica

The origin of essentialCosta Rica

I want to beEssentialCosta Rica

I want to be EssentialCosta Rica

Types ofLicensing

Frequently askedquestions

BusinessDirectory

SpecializedIndustries

Costa RicanTalent

AgronegociosCosta Rica

ChampiñonesVarablanca SA

Costa Rica FruitCompany

Costa RicaTropiFoods

Hermanos VargasDulce

Platanera RíoSixaola

ProductosAgrícolasdel Campo

San Roque-BlueZone

Sura GreenProducts

The Fruit FarmGroup

AlimentosBermúdez

AlimentosProsalud

Alma de CaféRestaurante

Amino GrowInternacional

Aromas y SaboresTécnicos S.A.

Café de Altura deSan RamónEspecial S.A.

Café de Altura de San RamónEspecial S.A.

Cathedra FinestProducts

Compañía AgrícolaIndustrialPROPICA S.A.

Compañía Agrícola IndustrialPROPICA S.A.

Costa Rica ChesseFactory

Costa Rica RainForest

ExportadoraFrumar S.A.

GrupoNaturalba S.A.

Mataderodel Valle S.A.

MicrobeneficioEcológico LosEucaliptos, CaféSol Naciente

Microbeneficio Ecológico LosEucaliptos, Café Sol Naciente

Nacional deChocolates

Or light -Oro Light

Panaderíala Zarcereña

ParadiseIngredients

Productora yExportadora deFrutas y VerdurasFRUVER S.A.

Productora y Exportadora deFrutas y Verduras FRUVER S.A.

ProductosUjarrás S.A.

TreintaycincoFábrica deCerveza S.A.

Treintaycinco Fábrica deCerveza S.A.

Arenas Skate& Surf

Aromas parael Alma

CosméticosNaturalesMonteverde

Cosméticos NaturalesMonteverde

doTERRACosta Rica

EstablishmentLabs

Interquin deGrecia S.A.

Ketsin deCosta Rica Ltda

LabatorioEl Maná

P&G InternationalOperations

Panduit deCosta Rica Ltda

PlásticosModernos

PrecisiónInternacionalPREINSA S.A.

Precisión InternacionalPREINSA S.A.

Prysmian GroupCentroaméricay Caribe

Prysmian Group Centroaméricay Caribe

TarimasEconómicas S.A.

Tejas y MaderaPlásticaReplacori S.A.

Tejas y Madera PlásticaReplacori S.A.

Vargas Impresión& Empaque

Academia Nacionalde Ciencias -Unidad NICCosta Rica

Academia Nacional de Ciencias- Unidad NIC Costa Rica

Agencia NavieraCentroamérica S.A.

AGLOCAMLogística

Alavisa deCañas Sal

ATI CapitalSolutions

AtmosInternational

AutomatizaciónAvanzada

BoomerangWireless

CentroCostarricensede CienciaEducativa

Centro Costarricensede Ciencia Educativa

CentroCostarricensede EducaciónParauniversitaria

Centro Costarricensede Educación Parauniversitaria

Centro de EventosPedregal

Centro OncológicoCostarricense

CF Free ZonePark S.R.L.

ComponentesEl Orbe

CulinaryTrainer School

DCCMission Critical

DistribuidoraCumminsCentroaméricaCosta Rica SRL

Distribuidora CumminsCentroamérica Costa Rica SRL

Doris Peters& Asociados

FederaciónCostarricensede Fútbol

Federación Costarricensede Fútbol

Flexográficade Exportación

Fondo Nacionalde FinanciamientoForestal

Fondo Nacional deFinanciamiento Forestal

FundaciónAcción joven

FundaciónOmar Dengo

Global MarketingSolutions

GrupoElectrotécnica

Grupo MédicoSanta Teresa

Grupo STTCosta Rica

Halsband WorldWide Partners

HospitalClínica Bíblica

ICICORCosta Rica S.A.

IdiomaInternacional

Imágenes MédicasDr. ChavarríaEstrada

Imágenes MédicasDr. Chavarría Estrada

Isthmusde Costa Rica

LogísticaTransaccionaldel Istmo, S.A. /Habílitas

Logística Transaccionaldel Istmo, S.A. / Habílitas

Meridia Ingeniería& Gerencia deProyectos

Meridia Ingeniería &Gerencia de Proyectos

Microbiología yCalidad Industrial,MCI S.A.

Microbiología yCalidad Industrial, MCI S.A.

Pertec GlobalServices

PortafolioInmobiliario

ProdigiousLatin America

Rack LodgeData Center

Raw OutdoorFitness

RockConstrucciones

Saint FrancisCollege

SistemasConvergentes

SOIN SolucionesIntegrales S.A.

Suplidora HoteleraSantamaria Ltda

TecnoLabSolucionesIntegrales

TecnologíaApropiada

TecnologíaExpress S.A.

The GreenparkFree Zone

UltraparkDevelopmentGroup

Universidad deIberoamérica -UNIBE

Universidad deIberoamérica - UNIBE

Universidad deSan José

UniversidadFederada deCosta Rica, SanJudas Tadeo

Universidad Federada deCosta Rica, San Judas Tadeo

Universidad Latinade Costa Rica

UniversidadSan Marcos

UniversidadSanta Paula

UniversidadVeritas

UrbanizadoraLa Laguna

Agencia deViajes Colón

Agencia de ViajesCosta RicaTe Enamora

Agencia de ViajesCosta Rica Te Enamora

Agencia de ViajesFaytur

Agencia de ViajesReceptivaExploratura

Agencia de ViajesReceptiva Exploratura

ANCCAR Alamoy National

Apartotel SuitesVillas del Río

ArtesaníasLa Rueda

Asociación Cámarade TurismoGuanacasteca

Asociación Cámarade Turismo Guanacasteca

Asociación deCostarricensesen Francia

Asociación deCostarricenses en Francia

AsociaciónPro ImagenCosta Rica

AsociaciónPro Imagen Costa Rica

AventurasTierra Verde

Best of Costa RicaTour | OperatorDMC

Best of Costa RicaTour | Operator DMC

Best WesterJaco Beach Resort

CaminandoCosta Rica

Casa CondeApartotel & Suites

Casa Conde delMar Beach Front

CasitasTenorio B&B

Centro deConvenciones deCosta Rica

Centro de Convenciones deCosta Rica

Cinco CeibasRainforest Reserve& Adventure Park

Cinco Ceibas RainforestReserve & Adventure Park

CooprenaSimbiosis

Costa Rica BirdObservatories

Costa RicaConvention Bureau

Costa RicaReps DMC

Costa RicaSun Tours

Costa RicaTop Tours

Daily Tours TravelManagment& Events

Daily Tours TravelManagment & Events

DestinationCosta Rica

Diamante EcoAdventure Park

ExpedicionesTropicales

ExploradoresOutdoors

FindingPepper Project

Go Costa RicaVision

GraylineCosta Rica

Hampton Inn &Suites by HiltonSan José - Airport

Hampton Inn & Suites by HiltonSan José - Airport

Holiday InnExpressSan José Airport

Holiday Inn ExpressSan José Airport

Holiday InnSan José Escazú

HorizontesNature Tours

Hotel Beds / Beds Online /Hoteles Extra

Hotel Beds / Beds Online /Hoteles Extra

Hotel HaciendaGuachipelin

Hotel WyndhamHerradura

ID MeetingsCosta Rica

Inversiones MardigiM y D S.A.

JacamarNaturalist Tours

Journey´sCosta Rica

La Casonadel Cafetal

Los Pinos Cabañas& Jardines

MapacheRent a Car

MonteverdeExpressShuttles Services

Monteverde ExpressShuttles Services

MORPHO TRAVELRETAIL

Museo delos Niños

OcoteaMonteverde S.A.

Pacific TradeWinds

RainforestAdventure Lodge

RainforestAdventuresPacífico

RestaurantePlaza del Café

Swiss TravelServices /AV Cielo Azul

Swiss Travel Services /AV Cielo Azul

Tryp San JoséSabana

Vision SportsTravel

Vista Los SueñosAdventure Park

Xandari Resort& Spa

Licensing for corporate use

Licensing for

corporate use

Why should my company be licensed?

If your company's operations fall within the scope of attracting investments, exports, has export potential, or is related to Costa Rica foreign trade, and you seek to raise your company's standards of competitiveness at the national and international level.

esencial COSTA RICA eis the tool that allows you to differentiate yourself on the market as a representative of the nation brand's five values.

What are the general benefits of a corporate license?

The main benefits of a corporate use license include a rise in your company's competitiveness standards and distinguished representation in the local and international market.

PROCOMER also provides the following benefits package:

  • Training.
  • PROCOMER discounts and services.
    • Three business agendas.
    • 50% discount on trade missions.
    • 30% discount at international fairs.
    • 50% discount on BTM.
  • A Microsite on the essential COSTA RICA website.
  • Access to ITC's Sustainability Map.
What is the cost of licensing my company?

At PROCOMER, there are no associated costs such as memberships or annuities.

Companies only need to hire an external evaluation team from PROCOMER. See the list of options at the following link: evaluation team

How long does the country brand license last?
The duration of an essential COSTA RICA corporate use license is 60 months from the day of the official award; however, a follow-up evaluation is required 30 months after initiation.
If my company is licensed and i expand my facilities and/or operations, will my status as a licensee change?
No, these changes must be reported during the follow-up evaluation carried out after the first 30 months.
If my company is licensed and i expand my line of products or services, will my additions be licensed too?

No. Every time your organization wishes to include a product, it must complete the product use license form, available at www.esencialcostarica.com. Once you have fulfilled the necessary requirements requested by PROCOMER, send your form by mail or digitally to licenciasmarcapais@procomer.com (this email also serves for questions or to request additional information).

If the company is merged or purchased, what happens to the country brand license?

The merger or purchase must be reported and the case analyzed. Remember that companies must abide by what is stipulated in the Regulations for the Use of the Costa Rica Nation Brand, CHAPTER VII: Of the rights and duties of the licensee, Article 34: On the duties of the licensee, and Article 36: On the revocation of the license.

Download the Regulations for the Use of the Costa Rica Nation Brand here: Download

Can my company lose the license?

To learn how your company may lose the essential COSTA RICA license, check the Regulations for the Use of the Costa Rica Nation Brand, CHAPTER VII: On the rights and duties of the licensee, Article 34: On the duties of the licensee, and Article 36: On the revocation of the license.

Download the Regulations for the Use of the Costa Rica Nation Brand here: Download

If I have a corporate use license and I hold an event or activity, will it be automatically licensed?
Yes, as long as the event or activity is specifically related to the company that holds the right to use the nation brand. Otherwise, the person responsible for the event or activity must apply for a license from PROCOMER for its specific use.
When and how do i renew my corporate use license?
Your license to use the Costa Rica Nation Brand will expire at the end of the specified term written on the certificate of use license issued to you by PROCOMER.
What are the implications if my company uses the we are essential logo incorrectly?

The implications may include the revocation or suspension of your license. For information on the revocation or suspension process, see the Regulations for the Use of the Costa Rica Nation Brand, CHAPTER VII: On the rights and duties of the licensee, Article 34: On the duties of the licensee, and Article 36: On the revocation of the license.

What can I expect from procomer once my company is licensed?

ROCOMER is your strategic Business ally, and licensed companies enjoy personalized and preferential treatment.

  • Training.
  • PROCOMER discounts and services.
  • Three business agendas.
    • 50% discount on trade missions.
    • 30% discount at international fairs.
    • 50% discount on BTM.
  • A Microsite on the essential COSTA RICA website.
  • Access to ITC's Sustainability Map.

Licensing

Who has it? / what companies already have the nation brand?

Essential COSTA RICA companies are those that fall within the following scope:

Article 10: Areas of expertise required for the granting of licenses related to investments and exports. The Costa Rican Foreign Trade Promoter (PROCOMER) is the executive agency responsible for the implementation, promotion, and application of the Nation Brand, in addition to issues related to attracting investments, exports, SME exporters (or those with export potential), foreign trade in general, and other areas related to the objectives and functions of PROCOMER.

To see what companies are licensed with the essential COSTA RICA Nation Brand, please go to the following link

Can only export companies be licensed?

Article 10: Areas of expertise required for the granting of licenses related to investments and exports. The Costa Rican Foreign Trade Promoter (PROCOMER) is the executive agency responsible for the implementation, promotion, and application of the Nation Brand, in addition to issues related to attracting investments, exports, SME exporters (or those with export potential), foreign trade in general, and other areas related to the objectives and functions of PROCOMER.

Can only large companies be licensed? / what size does my company have to be?

Approximately 46% of companies that make up the licensing community are Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). Any company that complies with Article 10 is eligible: Article 10: Areas of expertise required to grant licenses related to investments and exports. The Costa Rican Foreign Trade Promoter (PROCOMER) is the executive agency responsible for the implementation, promotion, and application of the Nation Brand, in addition to issues related to attracting investments, exports, SME exporters (or those with export potential), foreign trade in general, and other areas related to the objectives and functions of PROCOMER.

Who issues the license?
Two institutions award the nation brand: PROCOMER, for companies working in foreign trade and foreign direct investment attraction; and the Costa Rican Tourism Board (ICT) for companies in the tourism sector.
What is the license for? / what is the function of a nation brand?

The essential COSTA RICA license allows companies to use the nation brand to distinguish the excellent quality of their products, services, corporate materials, advertising, and events, among others.

The objectives of nation brand licensing are to:

  • Strengthen the brand's positioning through inter-institutional dialogue and communication.
  • Raise and maintain the standards of licensed companies.
  • Generate business through incorporating competitive companies.
  • Fulfill the promise of the nation brand.
What types of licenses are there?

There are three types of license:

  • For corporate use: In institutional communications: websites, stationery, promotional material, and physical premises, among others.
  • For product use: Once the company acquires a corporate use license, it can use the logos on its product labels, containers, and packaging.
  • For use in events: Temporary use for country promotion events that comply with the brand's five values.
What are the steps to get a license?

Your company can have the country brand by following three simple steps:

  1. Register and complete the self-assessment form.
  2. Contrate a un equipo evaluador
  3. Send your request to PROCOMER.
Who will evaluate my application?

The external evaluation team is authorized by PROCOMER. For more information, visit the following link: Evaluation team

Do you need more detailed information?

Do you need

more detailed

information?

Feel free to email us with your questions at licenciasmarcapais@procomer.com; we are happy to help!