Before Looking Ahead, Take a Moment to Look Back

The final days of December in Costa Rica are quiet by design. Offices slow down, professionals step away, and very little moves forward before January. This pause is not a disruption. It is part of how the country works.

Before focusing on what comes next, it is worth starting with a simpler question.

How was 2025 for you in Costa Rica?

For some, the year was steady and predictable. For others, it included delays, administrative confusion, or lessons learned the hard way. Most people experienced a mix of both.

There is no right answer. But taking a moment to reflect on what worked and what did not often brings more clarity than rushing straight into plans for the year ahead.

If you are inclined to share, one question we often hear at year’s end is this: What was your biggest administrative lesson this year in Costa Rica?

With that perspective in mind, the last week of December is not the time to fix everything. It is the time to understand where you stand, so January can begin calmly and intentionally.

What Is Worth Reviewing Before the Year Ends

These are quiet, low-pressure checks you can do now, without filing documents or chasing offices.

Know Where Your Important Documents Are

You do not need to update documents this week. You do need to know where they are.

Take a moment to confirm:

• Where your property deeds (escrituras) are kept
• Where your corporate books are located, whether held by your notary or by you
• Where your powers of attorney (poderes) are stored
• Whether you have clear, readable digital copies of key documents

Many administrative problems in Costa Rica do not come from missing paperwork. They come from losing track of it.

Review Expiration Dates Without Taking Action Yet

Make a simple list. Nothing more.

Check:

• Passport expiration
• Driver’s license validity, foreign or Costa Rican
• Residency card (DIMEX) expiration
• Older powers of attorney that may no longer be appropriate
• Corporate appointments that could require renewal in the coming year

This is not about urgency. It is about awareness.

Confirm How Annual Obligations Are Handled

The end of the year is a good moment to confirm, not file, how recurring obligations are managed.

Ask yourself:

• Were required annual filings completed this year?
• Who is responsible for handling them next year?
• Do you know how they are submitted and by whom?

Uncertainty is often a bigger risk than the filing itself.

Revisit Property and Municipal Records

You do not need to visit a municipality now. Simply review what you already have.

Confirm:

• Which municipality your property is registered with
• Whether you received notices during the year
• Whether your contact email is current
• Whether you understand how your property tax is calculated

January is much easier when the landscape is already familiar.

What Can Comfortably Wait Until January

Costa Rica does not operate at full speed during the final week of December. Waiting is often the wiser choice.

New Filings and Corrections

Anything that needs to be filed, corrected, updated, or registered will generally move more smoothly once offices are fully staffed again.

Notarial Acts and Registry Submissions

Notaries may still be available in late December, but registries and public institutions are not operating at full capacity. Submitting in January often avoids delays and resubmissions.

Fix-It-Now Decisions

End-of-year pressure can lead to rushed decisions. Costa Rica tends to reward measured timing, not urgency. December is for understanding, not overcorrecting.

One Simple Step That Makes January Easier

Create a single-page January list.

Include:

• What needs attention
• Who is responsible
• Which documents are involved
• What questions remain unanswered

That one page turns reflection into direction.

Closing the Year Calmly

Costa Rica does not reward panic. It rewards preparation.

If you end the year knowing what you have, where it is, and what deserves attention next, you are already ahead.

January is for action.
Late December is for clarity.

Looking Ahead to the New Year

We help expats and property owners protect and understand Costa Rica’s systems with clear, factual, and practical guidance.

If you want the new year to begin organized and calm, we are here to help.