Costa Rica Residency

Getting residency in Costa Rica: What you need to know in 2021

Now that you’re buying property, you may want to consider establishing residency in Costa Rica. 

While the law in Costa Rica allows people to become “perpetual tourists,”  there are a few good reasons for taking steps to become a legal resident of Costa Rica. 

• The requirement for departing and return to Costa Rica every 90 days to renew a Visa can become expensive and inconvenient.
• If you are a tourist, you can only legally drive with your driver’s license from your home country if you were within the period of validity of your visa. You must have a valid driver’s license to drive in Costa Rica. 
• You cannot receive medical care from the public healthcare system (CAJA) if you are a tourist. The CAJA is only available to Costa Rica citizens or residents. The only exception to this is emergency care- and in that case, you would be billed for the service you received at the hospital emergency room.  

We recommend hiring a reputable lawyer that specializes in helping people obtain residency or citizenship in Costa Rica. Ask around for references or visit the  Association of Residents Costa Rica ( ARCR), which provides a helping hand for those who want to relocate the right way. Their specialty is helping people obtain their legal residency.

There are several different types of residency one can obtain in Costa Rica. The majority of them grant temporary resident status. Still, once a person is a legal resident for more than three years, they can apply for permanent residency status. 

Temporary residents must renew their residency every two years. Permanent residents must renew their residence every five years. 

The following are the types of residency one can obtain in Costa Rica.

Pensionado (Retired with a pension or social security benefits).

• Requires proof of U.S. $1,000 per month income from a permanent (for life) pension source such as a pension or social security or a retirement fund. 
  • A married couple needs to show proof of only one (1) monthly pension of at least $1,000 US for both husband and wife to qualify to apply for residency. The pension recipient can be either spouse. If the certification is issued abroad, it must be duly legalized and authenticated or apostilled.
  • For pensions from the U.S. Social Security or Canada Pension, it is easier to obtain the U.S. or Canadian Embassy certification in Costa Rica. (You must provide them with proof of your pension.)
  • Pensions from other government agencies (all countries) must have a letter stating that the government pays the pension.
  • Pensions from other institutions must have a statement verifying the type of institution paying the pension.
• You must visit Costa Rica at least once a year.
• You can claim your spouse and dependents who are under 18 years of age.
• You cannot work as an employee of a Costa Rican company.
• You can own a company and receive dividends.

 Rentista Residency in Costa Rica

• Requires proof of U.S. $2,500 per month income for at least two years, guaranteed by a banking institution, OR a deposit of U.S. $60,000 in an approved Costa Rican bank. One amount covers the family.
• You must visit Costa Rica at least once a year.
• You can claim your spouse and dependents under 18 years of age.
• You cannot work as an employee of a Costa Rican company.
• You can own a company and receive dividends.

Investor

• Requires an investment of U.S. $200,000 in a business or property.
• You must visit Costa Rica at least once a year.
• You can claim your spouse and dependents under 25 years of age or those older than 25 but with disabilities.
• You are allowed to receive income from the project you invested in.
• You can own a company and receive dividends.

Representante Residency Program

• You must be the director of a company meeting specific requirements, such as employing a minimum number of local workers (Costa Rica citizens or legal residents) as established by the labor law, with financial statements certified by a public accountant.
• You must visit Costa Rica at least once a year.
• You can claim your spouse and dependents under 18 years of age.
• You can earn an income from the company.
• You can own a company and receive income.

Permanent Residency Costa Rica

• You must be able to claim first-degree relative status with a Costa Rican Citizen either through marriage or by having a Costa Rican child.  
• You may apply for permanent residence after three years in another status.
• You must visit Costa Rica at least once a year.
• You can claim spouse and dependents under 25 years of age or older but have disabilities. For these purposes, supportive documentation must be provided, such as a marriage certificate, birth certificate, and medical certificate (in children with disabilities). All documentation issued abroad must be duly legalized or apostilled.
• You can work for a Costa Rican company.
• You can own a company and receive income.

Required Costa Rica Residency Documents

There are several documents required to apply for residency in Costa Rica. All documents issued outside from Costa Rica must be adequately notarized, apostilled by the Secretary of State (or other body) of your home country, or legalized by the Costa Rican Consulate and then authenticated by the Costa Rica Consulate or certified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Costa Rica. 

An official translator should translate documents issued in a language different from Spanish through an official translator or a Public Notary who masters the language.

• Application Form duly filled out and signed.

• You must provide a letter stating the reasons for applying for temporary residency in Costa Rica. This letter must include your full name, nationality, age, occupation, current address, and contact information. An immigration officer or Notary Public should sign the letter either with an immigration officer or through a Public Notary.

• Birth certificates for each person in your family; issued in the country of origin, adequately legalized, and authentically annotated (can not be older than six months).

• A notarized certificate of your past criminal record from your country of origin or the place you have been living legally for three years. For that purpose, you should additionally show the legality of your stay in that country through a certified copy of the migratory document obtained during the indicated term. 

If you reside in the U.S., you must provide a Federal Criminal Background Certificate (obtained from the FBI) duly apostilled must be presented. This certification must state that the content is according to information by the NCIC National Crime Information Center, interstate identification index, or triple III. This certification can not be older than six months. This certificate is required for your spouse and dependents over the age of 12. 

• Two recent passport-sized photographs, front view.  

• Photocopy of all passport pages. The photocopies should be certified and compared to the original by the official that receives them or through a Public Notary.

• Proof of fingerprint registration, issued by the Ministry of Public Safety. This requirement is only for people that are over 12 years of age.

• Proof of consular registration, issued by the corresponding consulate in Costa Rica.
• Various fees due by the government, amounting to approximately $250, and evidence of that payment 

Getting your legal residency in Costa Rica will go a long way toward peace of mind and eliminating the inconveniences of trying to remain in the country indefinitely as a tourist. 

A little patience is needed as the entire process can take up to a year and a half. Still, it’s relatively easy to qualify and obtain legal residence in beautiful Costa Rica with the right lawyer helping you.