Author Archives: blp_admin

Gender Self-Determination Name Change and Labor Relations

We must prepare ourselves to implement the changes that are required at the organizational level, related to the Supreme Electoral Tribunal Decree that will be published at any time in the Gazette, which gives the possibility of changing a name in accordance with gender self-determination to which each person is entitled.  Workplace preparation should focus…

Reforms to the Law against Money Laundering in Nicaragua

Lawyers, Public Notaries and their new designation as Mandatory Subjects under Law No. 977, Law against Money Laundering (LA / FT / FP). As of 2019, Nicaraguan lawyers and notaries public become part of the National System: Against the Laundering of Assets, Financing of Terrorism and Financing of the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction….

Suspension of Administrative Contracts due to force majeure or fortuitous event.

For reasons of force majeure, or public interest, the Public Administration can declare the suspension of a contract (article 210 of the Public Contracting Regulations), the suspension of the contract’s term (207 of the Public Contracting Regulations) or even revoke the contract (article 11 of the Public Contracting Law and article 214 of its Regulations,…

Directorate General of Immigration modifies and extends temporary administrative measures in Costa Rica

The Directorate General of Immigration will not receive requests until December 1st, 2020: 1.  NEW LEGAL PERMANENCE REQUESTS: No new requests for legal permanence, under any immigration category, will be received until December 1st, 2020, provided that a prior appointment has been requested as of October 19, 2020. VALIDITY OF CRIMINAL RECORD CERTIFICATES,  MARRIAGE CERTIFICATES AND BIRTH CERTIFICATES: They…

Update: Registry of Transparency and Final Beneficiaries in Costa Rica

As previously indicated, the deadline to file the 2020 sworn statement for the Transparency and Final Beneficiaries Registry was initially moved up to September, 2020. The Tax Authorities and the Costa Rican Drug Institute, however, issued a new resolution, in light of the continuous irregular situation generated by COVID-19. This new resolution, numbered DGT-ICD-R-19-2020, ordered…

Temporary measures to address the COVID-19 crisis

President of Guatemala asks Congress of the Republic to approve temporary measures to address the COVID-19 crisis On Wednesday, March 18, 2020, President Alejandro Giammattei appeared before the Congress of the Republic to announce the implementation of a National Program for Emergency and Economic Recovery, in the context of the health crisis of COVID-19. This…

Changes in vehicular restriction measures in Costa Rica.

New rules were established for the letter of exception to the sanitary vehicle restriction*: As of August 1, all letters of exception to the restriction of sanitary vehicles must be re-issued, indicating the new date on which they were written. These letters will be valid for two months, starting from their date of issue. Such…

Business Opportunities for the Cultivation and Commerce of Cannabis in Costa Rica

The Costa Rican Government recently unveiled a plan to legalize and regulate the cultivation of hemp and medicinal cannabis in our country, as a key element for its economic reactivation. The commercialization of products containing CBD (including food, beverages, and cosmetics) is already permitted here, presenting an important business opportunity. Estimations are that the global…

Request for Extension of Workday Reduction and Suspension of Contracts in Costa Rica

In a follow-up to measures to reduce work shifts and suspend employment contracts, we remind our clients that, if the causes for which they requested the authorization of the measures due to the emergency continue, they may consider extending the period of the reduction of the work shifts or suspensions of the employment contracts. To…

Extension of the mobility restriction from April 3 to 12 in Costa Rica

From Friday, April 3 to Tuesday, April 7,  restrictions on vehicle circulation will be extended from 5:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. throughout the national territory (see chart below). The following exceptions apply: Long-distance public transportation covering more than 75 kilometers will be limited to two departures daily. Establishments operating with sanitary permits for direct service to the public…