Governments around the world are making significant efforts to deliver more effective public services, reduce administrative burdens, improve communication, and enhance citizens’ experiences with government formalities. In these efforts, regulatory improvement tools such as administrative simplification, digital licensing, and one-stop shops play a central role. In recent years, Costa Rica has introduced the digital one-stop shop Single Investment Window (Ventanilla Unica de Inversiones, VUI), which brings together all the formalities necessary for investing in the country. The VUI reduces burdens for entrepreneurs and businesspersons by providing a single digital point of contact for various licenses and permits issued by different government agencies. In this way, it helps boost Costa Rica’s competitiveness and attract more investment. This report provides an overview of the VUI, as well as a comparative analysis of its design and operation using OECD best practice principles in one-stop shops as a benchmark. The report also provides recommendations to improve the performance of the VUI.
Review of Costa Rica’s One-Stop Shop for Investment
Abstract
Executive Summary
Costa Rica's One-Stop Shop for Investment (VUI) is an inter-institutional initiative led by the Costa Rican Foreign Trade Promoter (PROCOMER). It is designed to simplify, digitise and centralise the procedures required to set up a business. Originally, the VUI was developed to manage free trade zone procedures; however, it has evolved to include procedures for opening all types of businesses. Currently, Costa Rica's VUI is in high demand with national and subnational institutions.
The VUI aims to make the country more competitive by eliminating regulatory barriers and/or unnecessary requirements from managing procedures. The VUI's strategy is based on simplifying processes and digitising procedures.
PROCOMER first conducted an exhaustive mapping to identify the agencies and procedures necessary to set up and operate a company in Costa Rica and the estimated processing times.
A robust regulatory framework made up of various legal instruments and decrees serves as the legal basis for establishing and operating the VUI. The VUI's regulatory framework was developed to allow PROCOMER to monitor the technological platform that manages the procedures efficiently and thus promote investment in the country.
This report evaluates VUI’s effectiveness against OECD principles, revealing strengths such as strong political commitment, proactive leadership, and an adequate regulatory foundation. PROCOMER has played a pivotal role in the VUI’s expansion, demonstrating clear leadership and a commitment to process improvement.
Despite these strengths, challenges remain. Co-ordination between PROCOMER and the Ministry of Economy, Industry, and Commerce (MEIC) needs improvement, particularly in aligning regulatory strategies and defining procedures consistently. While formal and informal communication channels exist, municipalities are not directly represented, limiting their influence in decision making. Additionally, while public consultations are conducted, but have not always translated into fully satisfactory outcomes for stakeholders.
The VUI has made significant strides in digitalisation, but not all processes are fully end-to-end digital. The platform includes essential elements such as a procedures registry, georeferenced maps, a payment engine, digital signatures, and a digital file system for storing relevant business documents. However, digital signature adoption remains low, and the inspection platform is still in its early stages of development, preventing a fully seamless digital experience.
To maximise its impact, the VUI must improve co-ordination with MEIC, bringing together regulatory improvement strategies under a unified framework. Training programmes should be designed to equip officials with the skills needed for efficient process simplification. Formal co-ordination mechanisms should be established at both technical and operational levels to ensure seamless collaboration.
Strategic planning is crucial for managing the increasing demand from institutions wishing to integrate into the VUI. PROCOMER should define clear short-, medium-, and long-term objectives to structure its efforts effectively. A more user-centric approach is also necessary, incorporating a “life event” model that simplifies the business setup journey from the user’s perspective. Systematic public consultation mechanisms should be strengthened, ensuring that stakeholder feedback is consistently integrated into platform improvements. Establishing clear performance indicators will further aid in evaluating and enhancing the VUI’s effectiveness.
Additionally, efforts should be made to increase the adoption of the VUI among businesses. A targeted communication campaign can raise awareness and encourage greater use of the platform. Further improvements in digital infrastructure, particularly in areas such as digital signatures and fully integrated end-to-end procedures, will make business setup even more seamless and efficient.
The VUI has made notable progress in simplifying and digitising investment procedures, gaining strong institutional support and expanding its reach. However, to fully realise its potential, it must continue to strengthen co-ordination, refine its strategic planning, and increase its digital transformation efforts. By addressing these areas, the VUI can enhance Costa Rica’s investment climate and position the country as a leader in business facilitation.
