José Maria Costa was born, Mozambique in 1961.
He graduated in Chemical Engineering from the Porto Higher Institute of Engineering in 1985.
He was a senior worker at the Viana do Castelo Shipyard (1986 - 1994).
Deputy Mayor of Viana do Castelo (1994 to 1997) and Councillor (1998-2009).
Mayor of Viana Castelo (2009-2021).
Chairman of the Alto Minho Intermunicipal Community – CIM- (2013-2021).
Member of the Committee of the Regions (2014-2021).
Member of the Territorial Coordination Council (2014-2021).
Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Group for Local Coastal Action - North (2013- 2017).
Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Gil Eannes Foundation (2010-2021).
Chairman of the Executive Council of the Atlantic Cities Conference (2017-2021).
Chairman of the Board of the Atlantic Axis Association (2012-2014).
Chairman of the Board of the General Meeting of Águas do Norte (2018-2020).
Representing the Viana do Castelo municipality, he was member of the governing boards of Resulima; Vianapolis; Polis Litoral Norte; Águas do Noroeste; and a member of the corporate bodies of the Association for the Collaboration between Ports and Cities – RETE (2013-2017).