Olman Arguedas Rojas got his business license (patente) to open a pharmacy on Paseo Colón in San José in only three days using the website www.crearempresa.go.cr, according to the office of the Gobierno Digital (Digital Government).
This marks a new record for the system. The previous record to obtain a patente had been ten (10) days.
Arguedas made the request on November 26 at 2:45pm, the license was approved on November 28 at 4:55pm and issued on November 29 at 5:28pm.
“The impression I got after using the Crear Empresa website is that I was in a first world country. I only have whoever is in charge for tihis”, Arguedas was quoted as saying on Gobierno Digital.
The objective of the Crear Empresa website is for a “single window” to allow the registration and activation of companies and businesses.
The main feature of the service is that the website is accessible to all persons, nationals and foreigners* looking to establish a business in Costa Rica.
The online process that allows the creation of a corporation, obtain a “personeria juridica” (a certificate required by banks and many institutions), legalization of company’s books and patentes, among other things, is made possibly by the use of a “Firma Digital” (Digital Signature).
The Digital Signature is combination of a card with a micro chip and software on the user’s computer, kind of a “cedula” for use online and avoid the lines at various government and non-govermental institutions.
The latest report is that more than 30.000 Costa Ricans and foreigners are using the digital signature.
*Foreigner must have a “residency cedula” to obtain the digital signature.
Links:
http://www.firmadigital.go.cr/
http://www.crearempresa.go.cr/
http://www.gobiernofacil.go.cr
