Residency in Costa Rica

The Pensionado category is the route most used by foreign retirees, particularly from the United States, Canada and Europe, and also the one with the simplest requirements: a lifetime pension of at least $1,000 a month, deposited monthly into a Costa Rican account. There is no age limit and the pension may come from more than one source.

Requirements

Minimum Income

This is the lowest threshold of any economic category, and the pension may be combined from more than one source to reach it.

• $1,000 USD monthly from lifetime pension
• Pension must come from recognized government or private source
• Accepted: Social Security, military pension, corporate pension, annuities

Required Documentation

Every document issued outside Costa Rica must be apostilled and translated by an official translator. Gathering it is the slow part of the process, so start before you travel.

• Pension Letter: From the pension-granting organization, certified by Costa Rica consulate
• Deposit Proof: That pension is deposited monthly in Costa Rican account
• Criminal Background Check: From country of origin, apostilled
• Birth Certificate: Apostilled
• Marriage Certificate: If applicable, apostilled
• Passport: Certified copies of all pages

Proof of Income

The pension letter must include:

• Monthly amount in dollars
• Confirmation that it is lifetime
• Start date
• Beneficiary information

Application Process

Step 1: Document Preparation

This stage happens in your home country and is the one most often underestimated: apostilling and translating can take weeks depending on the issuing authority.

• Obtain all documents in country of origin
• Apostille at competent authority
• Translate to Spanish by official translator

Step 2: Entry to Costa Rica

You enter as a tourist, with no special visa needed. The bank account is the requirement that gates the rest, because the pension must be deposited into it monthly.

• Enter as tourist
• Open bank account
• Set up automatic pension deposit

Step 3: Application Submission

The file is submitted to the Directorate General of Migration. An immigration attorney is not mandatory, but is both usual and advisable.

• Hire immigration attorney
• Submit complete file to DGME
• Pay government fees (~$250-300)

Step 4: Follow-up

Resolution is not immediate and further documents may be requested along the way. While the file is in process, your status remains regularised.

• Average time: 6-12 months
• Possible requests for additional documents
• Interview in some cases

Tip: Many pensioners combine their Social Security pension with other sources to meet the $1,000 requirement.

The Rentista category is designed for people living on passive income — investments, rentals, dividends or substantial savings — rather than a pension. It requires demonstrating $2,500 a month for at least two years, which makes it more demanding than Pensionado but open to people who have not yet retired.

Requirements

Option 1: Monthly Income

The recurring-income route requires demonstrating stability, not just an amount: the figure must hold across the full period and come from verifiable sources.

• $2,500 USD monthly of stable income
• Demonstrate income for minimum 2 years
• Accepted sources:
• Property rental income
• Investment dividends
• Bank interest
• Intellectual property royalties
• Trust payments

Option 2: Bank Deposit

The alternative to recurring income is locking capital in a Costa Rican bank and drawing it down on a set schedule, which suits someone with savings but no monthly rents.

• $60,000 USD deposited in Costa Rican bank
• Account in applicant's name
• Commitment not to withdraw during process
• Withdraw $2,500/month for 2 years

Required Documentation

The evidential burden here is heavier than for Pensionado, because you must show the origin and continuity of the income, not merely its existence.

• Bank Statements: Last 12-24 months
• Rental Contracts: If income is from rentals
• Investment Statements: Certified by financial institution
• Accountant Letter: Certifying sources and amounts of income
• Personal Documents: Same as Pensionado category

Differences from Pensionado

Application Process

Financial Preparation

It pays to settle the financial side before touching the immigration side: without a local account and established transfers, the file does not move.

• Consolidate income proof
• Open bank account in Costa Rica
• Establish monthly transfers

Documentation

Letters must come from the financial institutions directly rather than from you, and pass through the same apostille and official translation circuit.

• Obtain letters from financial institutions
• Apostille all documents
• Officially translate

Submission

The procedure mirrors Pensionado, with somewhat longer timelines because of the additional financial review.

• Similar to Pensionado process
• Average time: 8-14 months
• Total cost: $300-500 in fees

Note: The $60,000 deposit can be gradually withdrawn ($2,500/month) once residency is approved, giving you use of those funds while maintaining your status.

The Investor category is designed to attract foreign capital that generates employment and economic development, and it is the route that most interests anyone buying property anyway: the purchase itself can count as the qualifying investment. The minimum amount is the thing to confirm before signing, because it was changed by law and its term has an expiry date.

Investment Requirements

Minimum Amount

Confirm this figure before you buy. The $150,000 threshold comes from Law 9996's temporary reduction, whose term expired on 14 July 2026. Absent a legislative extension, the minimum reverts to $200,000. This is the difference between qualifying and not, so verify it with your attorney before signing.

• Qualified investment at the minimum currently in force
• Must be new investment, not transfer of existing assets

Qualified Sectors

The investment need not be a new business: buying property qualifies, which is what makes this category interesting for anyone who was going to buy anyway.

• Real Estate: Property purchase in Costa Rica
• Tourism: Hotels, lodges, tour operators
• Agriculture: Productive farms, reforestation
• Manufacturing: Production plants
• Technology: Software companies, digital services
• Export: Costa Rican product export businesses

Real Estate Investment

The most common option is purchasing property at the minimum currently in force:

• Can be residential or commercial
• Must be titled property
• Cannot be sold during first 3 years
• Valuation must be certified by appraiser

Specific Documentation

For Property Investment

The documentary key is showing that the funds came in from abroad and that the property is registered in your name or your corporation.

• Registered property deed
• Authorized appraiser valuation
• Proof of funds transfer from abroad
• Tax payment receipts

For Business Investment

Where the investment is an operating business, Immigration looks at employment generated and genuine activity, not merely the declared capital.

• Detailed business plan
• 3-year financial projections
• Employment generation commitment
• Company registration
• Audited financial statements (if existing company)

Special Process

Investment Evaluation

The appraisal is carried out by an authorised valuer and is the document that fixes the recognised amount, so it is worth commissioning early.

• DGME evaluates whether investment qualifies
• Possible property/business inspections
• Verification of source of funds

Processing Time

Timelines in this category depend on the type of investment and the clarity of the file more than on the amount.

• Generally 12-18 months
• Longer than other categories
• Requires annual commitment renewal

Additional Advantages

Beyond residency itself, the category brings advantages that matter to anyone planning to operate here rather than merely live here.

• No monthly income demonstration required
• Investment generates financial return
• Property appreciation is personal gain
• Can rent out the property
• Right to work in own company

Important: If you sell the property before obtaining permanent residency, you lose your resident status.

Family Ties residency is the fastest route and the only one that requires no proof of income or investment. It rests on a family relationship with a Costa Rican — marriage, common-law union, children or parents — and so tends to resolve faster than the economic categories, though the documentation is scrutinised more closely.

Bond Categories

Marriage to Costa Rican

Marriage to a Costa Rican is the most direct route, and also the one Immigration scrutinises most closely because of a history of sham marriages.

• Legally recognized marriage
• Can be celebrated in Costa Rica or abroad
• Same-sex marriages recognized since 2020

Children of Costa Rican

Having a Costa Rican child opens residency to the parents, regardless of their marital status or income.

• Costa Rican parent (by birth or naturalization)
• Applies to minor and adult children
• No age limit

Parents of Costa Rican

• Costa Rican child born in Costa Rica
• Child must be Costa Rican citizen

Common-law Union

Common-law union is legally recognised, but it must be formally declared and evidenced as robustly as a marriage.

• Demonstrable cohabitation for minimum 2 years
• With Costa Rican citizen
• Requires notarial declaration

Required Documentation

For Marriage

Beyond the certificate, evidence of genuine cohabitation is requested, because the relationship is assessed in substance and not only on paper.

• Marriage certificate (Costa Rican or apostilled)
• Costa Rican spouse's ID card
• Sworn declaration of cohabitation

For Children

The child's Costa Rican birth certificate is the central document; the rest establishes the applicant's identity and background.

• Applicant's birth certificate
• Costa Rican parent's ID or birth certificate
• Proof of bond (if not obvious from certificate)

General Documents

These apply to any family-ties subcategory and follow the same apostille and official translation circuit as the other routes.

• Valid passport
• Criminal background check from country of origin
• Passport-size photos
• Application forms

Advantages of This Category

By depending on neither income nor investment, this route removes the part of the process that most delays the economic categories.

• No Financial Requirement: No need to demonstrate income or investment
• Fast Process: Generally 3-6 months
• Lower Cost: Reduced fees
• Immediate Access: Work permit from the start
• Full Benefits: Same rights as other categories

Special Considerations

Marriages of Convenience

Immigration actively investigates sham marriages, and the consequences reach beyond rejection of the file.

• DGME investigates marriage authenticity
• Separate interviews with spouses
• Home visits in some cases
• Legal consequences for fraud

Divorces

A divorce during the process changes the legal basis of the application, so it is better disclosed than left to surface during review.

• If divorced before permanent residency, may lose status
• After 3 years, maintains permanent residency
• New marriages don't affect permanent status

Tip: This category is ideal for international couples planning to live in Costa Rica. The process is significantly simpler than financial categories.

The residency process in Costa Rica is the same across all categories and resolves in four stages: gathering and apostilling documents in your home country, entering as a tourist and opening a bank account, filing the application with Immigration, and following up until approval. Timelines vary, so it pays to arrive with your documents already in order.

Before Arriving

Document Preparation

All of this happens before you travel, and it is where most time is lost if underestimated: each document goes through issuance, apostille and translation.

• Criminal Background Check: Request in advance (can take weeks)
• Certificates: Birth, marriage as applicable
• Apostille: At competent authority in country of origin
• Translation: By Costa Rica official translator (not before)

Research

Choosing your category and attorney before arriving avoids redoing documents, because each route asks for different evidence.

• Choose residency category
• Calculate budget (attorney, fees, translations)
• Research areas to live
• Contact immigration attorney

Arrival in Costa Rica

First Weeks

You enter as a tourist, with 90 days to put the basic infrastructure in place: bank account, address and legal advice.

• Enter as tourist (90 days)
• Find temporary housing
• Open bank account (BAC, Scotiabank, BCR)
• Get local phone number

Hiring an Attorney

An attorney is not mandatory but is decisive for timelines, because they know what Immigration asks for and in what format.

• Seek recommendations from expats
• Verify registration with Bar Association
• Typical cost: $1,500 - $3,000
• Includes filing and follow-up

Application Process

File Preparation

A complete file from the outset avoids requests for correction, which are the most common reason a case stretches on for months.

• Official translation of all documents
• Authentication by Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Organization of file per DGME format
• Payment of government fees

Submission

Submission is made to Immigration, and from that point your status is in process, which protects you while it is resolved.

• Appointment at DGME (San Jose or regional offices)
• Fingerprinting
• Biometric photograph
• Complete file delivery

Follow-up

Follow-up is active rather than passive: requests for correction carry deadlines, and letting them lapse can shelve the file.

• Online status check
• Response to preventions (document requests)
• Appearances if required

Approval and Post-Approval

Upon Receiving Approval

Approval opens a window with concrete tasks, including CAJA enrolment and issuance of the DIMEX card.

• Obtain residency card (DIMEX)
• Register with CAJA (social security)
• Update driver's license
• Proceed with exemptions if applicable

Renewals

Temporary residency renews periodically, and letting a renewal lapse can reset the count towards permanent status.

• Temporary residency: every 2 years
• Maintain income requirements
• Demonstrate presence in Costa Rica
• Simpler process than initial application

Toward Permanence

Permanent status is not automatic: it is applied for, and depends on having held temporary residency without interruption for the required period.

• After 3 years: apply for permanent residency
• No renewal required
• Maintains all benefits
• Prepares for citizenship (7 years total)

Typical Costs

Tip: Keep digital copies of all documents. DGME occasionally loses files and you'll need to replace documents.