Guide to Residency in Costa Rica

Obtaining a residency visa in Costa Rica is not always easy, but our Guide to Residency in Costa Rica gives newcomers an overview of the steps involved and advice from others who have already navigated the process.

• Understand the types of residency
  • Permanent residency: Pensionado (Retiree), Rentista (Person with Guaranteed Income), Inversionista (Investor)
  • Temporary residency: Student, Worker, etc.
• Gather required documents
  • Valid passport and copies of all pages
  • Birth certificate, apostilled and translated into Spanish
  • Marriage certificate (if applicable), apostilled and translated into Spanish
  • Criminal background check, apostilled and translated into Spanish
  • Proof of income or investment, depending on the type of residency
• Register with the Costa Rican consulate in your home country
  • Find the nearest consulate: https://www.rree.go.cr/?sec=servicios_consulares
  • Schedule an appointment and present required documents
• Apply for a Tax Number (Número de Identificación Tributaria - NITE)
  • Visit the Dirección General de Tributación Directa website: https://www.hacienda.go.cr/ATV/frmLogina.aspx
  • Fill out the online application form
  • Print the confirmation and keep it for your records
• Open a bank account in Costa Rica
  • Choose a bank (e.g., Banco Nacional, Banco de Costa Rica, BAC San José)
  • Present required documents: passport, Tax Number, initial deposit, etc.
• Submit your residency application
  • Schedule an appointment with the Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería: https://servicios.migracion.go.cr/CitasWeb/ingreso.aspx?Idioma=2
  • Attend your appointment and submit all required documents
  • Pay the application fee
• Wait for approval
  • Processing times may vary, check the Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería website for updates
• Register with the Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social (CCSS)
  • Visit the CCSS website: https://www.ccss.sa.cr/
  • Fill out the affiliation form and submit it to the nearest CCSS office
• Obtain your residency card (DIMEX)
  • Once approved, visit the Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería to obtain your DIMEX card

Important Notes

All documents must be apostilled and translated into Spanish by an official translator. Always check the official websites for the most up-to-date information and requirements.

Helpful Resources

Costa Rican Immigration Service (Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería): https://www.migracion.go.cr/Paginas/Inicio.aspx

Costa Rican Embassies and Consulates: https://www.rree.go.cr/?sec=servicios_consulares

What tips do expats have about residency and visas in Costa Rica?

"Visitors from certain countries including the US, Canada, Australia, and most countries in Europe, do not need a visa to enter Costa Rica and can stay for up to 90 days. To stay longer than 90 days, visitors must apply for a Temporary Resident Visa, which can be valid for up to two years and can be renewed. To apply for a Temporary Resident Visa, applicants must provide a valid passport, proof of financial solvency, a medical certificate, and a copy of their criminal record. To obtain residency in Costa Rica, applicants must provide an application form and supporting documents such as property titles, financial information, and a copy of their visa as well as a medical certificate and a valid passport. As part of the residency application process, applicants are also expected to take a brief Spanish language test. Once all documents have been reviewed and approved, applicants receive an identification card and a cedula, the document that grants them residency in the country," commented one member living in Costa Rica.

"Upon entrance, tourists and visitors are generally granted a 90 day VISA. To enter Costa Rica, you must have a valid Passport. Residency is categorized into different areas of qualification. These options are Retiree (Pensionado), Legal Resident (Rentista), Business/Investor (Inversionista), Marriage/Relation (Vinculo). If you wish to become a resident, the requirements are different for each category and immigration attorney's are often used to assist you should you choose to hire one. If you plan to live in Costa Rica full time, residency is highly recommended as residents are not restricted to a 90 day VISA," mentioned one expat living in Costa Rica.

"Tourist visas for the US and I believe most of Europe etc. are 90 days no real questions asked. They can also be renewed by a 3-day stay out of the country. As a result, many expats are "perpetual tourists" who just take short trips to Nicaragua or Panama every three months. This probably isn't good, and "perpetual tourists" can and sometimes are prevented from re-entering, but it works for tens of thousands of foreigners over many years. There are three ways to obtain legal residency (in addition to through marriage). One way is to come in as a pensioner. This only requires showing a minimum of $1000 a month income for life, as well as of course dealing with a lot of paperwork and paying fees. Those who can't or prefer not to show the $1000 a month income for life can obtain residency as either rentistas or investors. Rentista residency now requires showing $2500 a month income for a shorter period of time as well as the same fees and paperwork. . I'm not sure how to obtain residency as an investor, and I believe it depends upon the kind of investment, but some people seem to get it by just buying a house valued at either $200,000 or $250,000. Of course, people need a clean criminal record too, but otherwise it's either $1000 a month guaranteed for life or a fair amount of money in a lump sum for either rentista or investor residency," said an expat in Costa Rica.