Costa Rica

Many foreign citizens including those from the U.S., Canada, the U.K, and Australia can stay in Costa Rica for up to 180 days without a visa.1

Digital Nomad Visa

Foreign citizens who work remotely and make at least $3,000 U.S. dollars per month are eligible for the digital nomad visa. If they are also applying on their dependents behalf they must make at least $4,000 per month.2

  • The applicant's customers/business must be located outside of Costa Rica.
  • Applicants must provide bank statements to prove they meet the financial requirements
  • Dependents must provide evidence of their familial bond such as marriage or birth certificate
The digital nomad visa may be renewed as long as the applicant still meets the financial requirements and can prove they have been in Costa Rice for at least 80 days.

Temporary Residence

Renewable temporary residence can be granted for up to 2 years.3 Categories for temporary residence include:

Retirees

In order to qualify for temporary residency, retirees must receive a pension of at least $1,000 U.S. dollars per month.

Investors

Investors must meet the requirements in Article 89 of the Reglamento de Extranjería4 paraphrased below:

  • Proof of family ties such as a marriage or birth certificate if applying on behalf of a dependent
  • Applicant's birth certificate and criminal record

a) Detailed description of the investment with a certified copy of project's feasibility study

b) An original or certified copy of municipal and Secretaría Técnica Nacional Ambiental (National Environment Technical Secretary) permits if they are necessary for the project

c) Insurance certificate proving the company has an occupational risk policy

d) Certification of the company's legal status issued no later than 1 month prior to the application

e) (Removed 1/17/22)

f) Certification by an Authorized Public Accountant proving the investment has been made on with the applicant's funds

g) Evidence the applicant is registered with the Dirección General de Tributación (General Directorate of Taxation) has paid their tax obligations

Landlords

Documentation proving that the applicant will receive monthly rent payments of at least $2,500 U.S. dollars for a minimum of 2 years.

Supporting documents for all categories of temporary residence include:

The Dirección General must approve all remunerative activities for temporary residents.

Those who would like to change their residence from temporary to permanent must present a written request indicating their reason for changing categories.5

Permanent Residence

There are 7 categories of foreign nationals who can obtain permanent residence including foreigners and their immediate family who have completed 3 consecutive years of temporary residence.6

Renewing Temporary and Permanent Residence

Temporary residents who qualify as retirees, investors, or landlords must schedule an appointment with the Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería to renew their residence. The residence card should be renewed at least 3 months before it expires.

If a temporary resident has been outside Costa Rica for more than 1 year they must provide their criminal record from the country they stayed in.

When renewing temporary residence retirees must prove they continue to receive a pension among other requirements.7

In order to renew their temporary residence, investors must provide evidence of their investment in Costa Rica.8

Landlords must demonstrate with certified bank statements they continue to receive the required monthly payments from their tenants.9

Permanent residents must renew their identity card no later than 30 days after it has expired.10

Costa Rican Citizenship

Foreign nationals who have been legal residents of Costa Rica for at least 7 years are eligible for naturalization. Citizens of Latin American countries or Spain may be eligible for Costa Rican citizenship after 5 years.11

Additional requirements for naturalization by residence include proof of financial solvency and passing Spanish language and Costa Rican social studies tests.

  1. https://www.migracion.go.cr/Documentos%20compartidos/Visas/Directrices%20Generales%20de%20Visas,%20Octubre%202023.pdf
  2. https://www.migracion.go.cr/Paginas/Categor%c3%ada%20Migratorias%20%28Extranjer%c3%ada%29/Digital-Nomads.aspx
  3. https://www.migracion.go.cr/Paginas/Categor%c3%ada%20Migratorias%20%28Extranjer%c3%ada%29/Primera%20Vez/Residencia-Temporal.aspx
  4. https://www.migracion.go.cr/Documentos%20compartidos/Reglamentos/REGLAMENTO%20EXTRANJER%c3%8dA%20%28CONTIENE%20REFORMA%20INCLUIDA%20POR%20DECRETO%2042389%29.pdf
  5. https://www.migracion.go.cr/Paginas/Categor%c3%ada%20Migratorias%20%28Extranjer%c3%ada%29/Cancelaci%c3%b3n-de-Categor%c3%ada-Migratoria.aspx
  6. https://www.migracion.go.cr/Paginas/Categor%c3%ada%20Migratorias%20%28Extranjer%c3%ada%29/Primera%20Vez/Residencia-Permanente.aspx
  7. https://www.migracion.go.cr/Documentos%20compartidos/Categor%c3%ada%20Migratorias%20%28Extranjer%c3%ada%29/Renovaci%c3%b3n/Residencia%20Temporal%20PENSIONADO%20y%20sus%20Dependientes.pdf
  8. https://www.migracion.go.cr/Documentos%20compartidos/Categor%c3%ada%20Migratorias%20%28Extranjer%c3%ada%29/Renovaci%c3%b3n/Residencia%20Temporal%20Inversionista%20y%20sus%20Dependientes.pdf
  9. https://www.migracion.go.cr/Documentos%20compartidos/Categor%c3%ada%20Migratorias%20%28Extranjer%c3%ada%29/Renovaci%c3%b3n/Residencia%20Temporal%20RENTISTA%20y%20sus%20Dependientes.pdf
  10. https://www.migracion.go.cr/Paginas/Categor%c3%ada%20Migratorias%20%28Extranjer%c3%ada%29/Renovaci%c3%b3n-y-Duplicado.aspx#collapse1
  11. https://www.tse.go.cr/pdf/requisitosytramites/Naturalizacion-por-residencia-ley-1155.pdf

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