Residency applications are governed by the Costa Rican Department of Immigration. Applications should in general be filed at the Costa Rican Consulate or Embassy in your country of residence.
Applications for Rentista, Pensionado and Relative visas can also be handed in directly at the Costa Rican Department of Immigration in San José.
Permanent residency can be applied for by when coming to Costa Rica with the following motives:
Family ties with a Costa Rican national (including marriage)
Pension based residency ( pensionado)
Investment income based residency ( rentista)
Investor
In order to qualify for this group, you need to have a Costa Rican spouse, children, parents or siblings. Once residence is permitted, you will have to visit Costa Rica at least once a year. You are allowed to work. If you marry a Costa Rican national, you qualify directly for a residence permit. After two years you can also apply for citizenship. If you decide to apply for citizenship you must be able to proof that you stayed two years in the country.
The requirements when applying for residency are:
Proof of Relationship to a Costa Rican national
Photocopy of ID Card of a Costa Rican national.
Application Form. This application form will have to be addressed to Director General of Migration.
Special Authority to Representative. Authority should be granted to a person in Costa Rica to represent the applicant. Personal data and an address of the representative within the judicial perimeter of San José should be indicated in this statement.
Birth Certificate. A certified copy of you and your dependent is required. Every birth certificate should have the parent’s names on it. Birth certificates have to be authenticated.
Photocopies of passport. The pages of the passport will have to be certified by the Consul, a Costa Rican notary public or a notary public of your country of residence. If the passport is certified by a notary public of your country of residence the copies will have to be authenticated as well.
Marriage Certificate. This certificate has to be certified and authenticated.
Proof of Income. This can be a letter from your bank or from the government of your country of origin.
Police Statement of Good Conduct. This statement is issued by the authorities in your country of residence and valid for six months. If the six month period expires while you are still in you application procedures you have to obtain a new statement.
Background Check. Depending on the visa you apply for you might have to visit the Costa Rican Ministry of Security. They will take your fingerprints and run a background check.
Photographs. Four passport size photos are required but it is recommended to have several more.
Diplomas. If you want to practice a profession in Costa Rica you should provide your diplomas.
If you want to move to Costa Rica to enjoy your retirement, you can apply for a permanent residency. However, you must have a minimum pension equal to US$ 600/month. This income must be generated from outside Costa Rica as pension or pension investment fund payment. The retiree must be committed to live in Costa Rica for at least 4 consecutive or alternate months a year. A retiree is not allowed to work on the visa granted, apart from work for the government. However, the retiree is allowed to invest in Costa Rica.
The application for a Pensionado visa can be filed at the Costa Rican Consulate or directly at the Department of Immigration in Costa Rica. The following documents are required when applying:
Application Form. This application form will have to be addressed to Director General of Migration.
Special Authority to Representative. Authority should be granted to a person in Costa Rica to represent the applicant. Personal data and an address of the representative within the judicial perimeter of San José should be indicated in this statement.
Birth Certificate. A certified copy of you and your dependent is required. Every birth certificate should have the parent’s names on it. Birth certificates have to be authenticated.
Photocopies of passport. The pages of the passport will have to be certified by the Consul, a Costa Rican notary public or a notary public of your country of residence. If the passport is certified by a notary public of your country of residence the copies will have to be authenticated as well.
Marriage Certificate. This certificate has to be certified and authenticated.
Proof of Income. This can be a letter from your bank or from the government of your country of origin.
Police Statement of Good Conduct. This statement is issued by the authorities in your country of residence and valid for six months. If the six month period expires while you are still in you application procedures you have to obtain a new statement.
Background Check. Depending on the visa you apply for you might have to visit the Costa Rican Ministry of Security. They will take your fingerprints and run a background check.
Photographs. Four passport size photos are required but it is recommended to have several more.
Diplomas. If you want to practice a profession in Costa Rica you should provide your diplomas.
After you hand in the completed application you will receive a receipt. Hold on to this receipt as it is the proof of your pending application. If your application is approved you or your legal representative must appear before the Department of Immigration to receive to statement of approval. With this statement you can then make an appointment with the Immigration Department to get a residency identification card. A deposit of US$ 100 will have to be made before you can pick up your ID card. You have to show up personally to pick up your residency ID card and sign for it.
In order to renew the visa a yearly document stating currency exchange exceeding US$ 7,200 (12 x US$ 600) in the national banking system has to be presented. You also have to prove that you spend at least 4 months over the last year in Costa Rica. The Department of Immigration will do a background check to see if you engaged in any criminal behavior.
You are considered be a rentista if you receive a minimum stable income of US$ 1,000/month from investments abroad. If this is the case, you can apply for a permanent residency. If you do not receive a minimum of US$ 1,000/mont, another way to obtain a permanent residency visa is to make a five-year deposit of US$ 75,000 with a Costa Rican bank. Your minimum income must be US$ 500/month in this case. When applying for a permanent visa as a rentista, you are committed to live in Costa Rica for at least 4 consecutive or alternate months a year. You are not allowed to work in Costa Rica unless you work for the government. You are however allowed to invest in Costa Rica.
The application for a Rentista visa can be filed at the Costa Rican Consulate or directly at the Department of Immigration in Costa Rica. The following documents are required when applying:
Application Form. This application form will have to be addressed to Director General of Migration.
Special Authority to Representative. Authority should be granted to a person in Costa Rica to represent the applicant. Personal data and an address of the representative within the judicial perimeter of San José should be indicated in this statement.
Birth Certificate. A certified copy of you and your dependent is required. Every birth certificate should have the parent’s names on it. Birth certificates have to be authenticated.
Photocopies of passport. The pages of the passport will have to be certified by the Consul, a Costa Rican notary public or a notary public of your country of residence. If the passport is certified by a notary public of your country of residence the copies will have to be authenticated as well.
Marriage Certificate. This certificate has to be certified and authenticated.
Proof of Income. This can be a letter from your bank or from the government of your country of origin.
Police Statement of Good Conduct. This statement is issued by the authorities in your country of residence and valid for six months. If the six month period expires while you are still in you application procedures you have to obtain a new statement.
Background Check. Depending on the visa you apply for you might have to visit the Costa Rican Ministry of Security. They will take your fingerprints and run a background check.
Photographs. Four passport size photos are required but it is recommended to have several more.
Diplomas. If you want to practice a profession in Costa Rica you should provide your diplomas.
After you hand in the complete application you will receive a receipt. Hold on well to this receipt as it is the proof of your pending application. If your application is approved you or your legal representative must appear before the Department of Immigration to receive to statement of approval. With this statement you can then make an appointment with the Immigration Department to get a residency identification card. A deposit of US$ 100 will have to be made before you can pick up your ID card. You have to show up personally to pick up your residency ID card and sign for it.
In order to renew the visa a yearly document stating currency exchange exceeding US$ 12,000 (12 x US$1,000) in the national banking system has to be presented. You also have to prove that you spend at least 4 months over the last year in Costa Rica. The Department of Immigration will also do a background check to see if you engaged in any criminal behaviour.
Individuals that are willing to invest a minimum of US$ 200,000 in Costa Rica are eligible to apply for a permanent residence permit. The Costa Rican government has lowered the minimum investment requirement to US$ 50,000 for certain sectors. These sectors are specified by PROCOMER. These sectors are Ornamental plants, leather goods, condiments, fruits and vegetables, processed foods, wood products and tourism. If you plan to invest in reforestation the minimum investment is set at US $ 100,000. The nearest Embassy of Costa Rica can supply you with more information about these sectors. As an investor you are committed to live 6 consecutive or alternate months a year in Costa Rica. An investor can work and receive salary. In order to renew the visa, an annual proof of investment has to be presented. The residence card is renewable every year.
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