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Sep 24
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Costa Rica residency application

How to Apply for Residency in Costa Rica: A Friendly Guide

By | Costa Rica residency application, Costa Rican Residency | No Comments

If you’re dreaming of living in paradise, Costa Rica offers a smooth and welcoming path to make it a reality. Whether you’re looking to retire, invest, work remotely, or join your family, Costa Rica has various residency options tailored to different needs. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about the Costa Rica residency application process, helping you make informed decisions and avoid common pitfalls.

Why Choose Costa Rica?

Costa Rica is more than a tropical destination—it’s a lifestyle choice. With its lush landscapes, stable democracy, friendly locals, affordable healthcare, and a lower cost of living compared to North America and Europe, it’s no wonder thousands of foreigners call Costa Rica their new home.

Types of Residency in Costa Rica

There are several legal ways to obtain residency in Costa Rica. The most popular include:

  1. Pensionado (Retiree Residency)

Perfect for retirees who receive a minimum of $1,000 per month from a permanent pension source (like Social Security or a private pension).

Requirements:

  • Proof of monthly pension income
  • Criminal Background check
  • Marriage and/or birth certificates (if applying with family)
  • Valid passport and photos
  1. Rentista (Fixed Income Residency)

Ideal for individuals who can demonstrate a stable income from sources other than wages or a salary, of at least $2,500 per month for 24 months, or a $60,000 deposit in a Costa Rican bank.

Requirements:

  • Proof of income or deposit
  • Same documentation as Pensionado
  1. Investor Residency (Inversionista)

This program is for those applicants who invest at least $150,000 USD in Costa Rica. Investment options include real estate, business, or shares in local companies. Please note: effective January 1, 2026 the required investment amount will increase to $200,000 USD.

 

 

Requirements:

  • Proof of investment
  • Business plans or property deeds
  • Financial statements
  1. Permanent Residency

Usually available after three years of temporary residency. Immediate family members of Costa Rican citizens may apply directly for permanent residency.

Benefits: No income requirements and full working rights in Costa Rica.

Costa Rica Residency Application Process

Getting residency in Costa Rica involves several key steps:

Step 1: Choose the Right Residency Category

Evaluate your financial situation, lifestyle needs, and long-term goals to select the residency category that best suits you. At Residency in Costa Rica, our mission is to guide and assist you to the most advantageous residency program based upon your individual circumstances and needs.

Step 2: Gather the Required Documents

Each type of residency requires specific documentation:

  • Birth certificate
  • Marriage certificate (if applicable)
  • Police background check from your home country
  • Proof of income, pension, or investment
  • Passport-size photos
  • Valid passport
  • Other requirements may apply

Important: All foreign documents must be apostilled or legalized and officially translated into Spanish.

Step 3: Submit Your Application to DGME

Costa Rica’s Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería (DGME) is the immigration authority that processes residency applications. You can submit the application in person or through a qualified legal representative like Residency in Costa Rica.

Step 4: Wait for Approval

The process can take 9 to 11 months, depending on the complexity of your case and the current backlog at DGME. In the meantime, you can remain in Costa Rica legally.

Step 5: Obtain Your Residency Card

Once approved, you’ll receive your official residency card (a “DIMEX card”) and must enrol in Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social (CCSS), the Costa Rican public healthcare system, monthly dues apply.

Why Work with Residency in Costa Rica?

The application process can be complex, with strict documentation rules and legal requirements. At ResidencyInCostaRica.com, we simplify the process by offering:

  • Personalized guidance for your residency needs
  • Help with document preparation, translations, and apostilles
  • Legal filing and representation before immigration
  • Updates and communication throughout the process

With over 20 years of experience and local expertise, our goal is to make your transition to Costa Rica as smooth and stress-free as possible.

Start Your Residency Journey Today

Whether you’re retiring on the beach, investing in real estate, or starting a new chapter with your family, Costa Rica is waiting for you with open arms. Let our team at Residency In Costa Rica help you every step of the way—from initial consultation to final approval.

Contact us today to schedule your free consultation and start your journey toward legal residency in Costa Rica.

Jun 12
0

How to Become an Expat in Costa Rica: A Simplified Guide

By | Costa Rican Residency, Move to Costa Rica | No Comments

If you’ve ever dreamed of waking up to the sound of howler monkeys, sipping your morning coffee while overlooking the Pacific Ocean, or walking barefoot on a beach surrounded by tropical paradise, you’re not alone. Thousands of people from the U.S., Canada, and Europe have already made the move to Costa Rica, drawn by its stunning natural beauty, stable democracy, friendly locals, and laid-back lifestyle.

But how do you actually become an expat in Costa Rica?

At Residency in Costa Rica, we specialize in helping newcomers navigate the transition smoothly. Whether you’re planning to retire, invest, work remotely, or simply enjoy life at a slower pace, this guide breaks downwhat you need to know to start your new life in Costa Rica.

Why Choose Costa Rica?

Before diving into the “how,” let’s briefly look at the “why.” Costa Rica stands out for a number of reasons:

  • Political Stability: One of the most stable democracies in Latin America.
  • Quality Healthcare: Affordable and high-quality public and private healthcare systems.
  • Natural Beauty: Rainforests, volcanoes, waterfalls, and beaches on both the Pacific and Caribbean coasts.
  • Biodiversity: One of the most biodiverse countries in the world.
  • Friendly Locals: Costa Ricans (Ticos) are known for being welcoming and warm.
  • The “Pura Vida” Lifestyle: Pura Vida is Costa Rica’s national motto meaning “pure life” — embracing simplicity, gratitude, and joy.

Step-by-Step Guide to Becoming an Expat in Costa Rica

  1. Visit First (Highly Recommended)

Before making the leap, it’s a good idea to visit Costa Rica. Spend time in various regions — the Central Valley, Pacific and Caribbean coasts, Southern Zone, Northern Highlands — to get a feel for what area suits your lifestyle best.

Tip: Different regions offer very different climates, communities, and amenities. What works for a retiree may not suit a digital nomad or family with young children.

  1. Choose the Right Type of Residency

Costa Rica offers several residency categories for foreigners. Choosing the right one depends on your personal circumstances and long-term goals:

  1. Pensionado (Retiree Residency)
  • For those with a lifetime pension of at least $1,000/month (Social Security, military, or private).
  • Great for retirees seeking long-term stay without working in Costa Rica.
  • Allows for importation of personal goods tax-free.
  • Can include spouse and dependents under the age of 25
  1. Rentista (Fixed Income Residency)
  • Ideal for entrepreneurs, digital nomads, or early retirees.
  • Requires proof of $2,500/month income for two years OR a deposit of $60,000 in a Costa Rican bank. There are restrictions as to the source and type of qualifying income.
  • Can include spouse and dependents under the age of 25.
  1. Inversionista (Investor Residency)
  • Requires a minimum investment of $150,000 in real estate, business, or a government-approved project.
  • Great option if you’re planning to buy property or start a business in Costa Rica.
  • Can include spouse and dependents under the age of 25
  1. Permanent Residency
  • After three years in any of the temporary residency categories (or sooner if you are married to a Costa Rican), you can apply for permanent residency.
  • Allows you to work legally for a Costa Rican employer.
  1. Digital Nomad Visa
  • A newer category allowing remote workers to live in Costa Rica for up to one year (renewable for another year).
  • Requires proof of monthly income of at least $3,000 ($4,000 for families).
  • Other requirements may apply.
  1. Gather Your Documents

The process of applying for residency can be document-intensive. Mandatory requirements include:

  • Birth certificate
  • Marriage certificate (if applicable)
  • Background check (FBI or national police, depending on your country)
  • Proof of income or investment
  • Passport copies
  • Photos
  • Fingerprints (taken in Costa Rica)

Important: All documents issued outside of Costa Rica must be apostilled or Legalized in your home country and translated into Spanish.

  1. Submit Your Residency Application

You can submit your application through Costa Rica’s Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería. However, most people choose to use a professional immigration consulting service like Residency in Costa Rica(“RCR”) to help avoid delays and costly errors.

At RCR we streamline the process for you — from gathering documents to submitting and following up on your application with Immigration.

  1. Move to Costa Rica

While your residency is processing (which will take several months), you can live in Costa Rica as a tourist. Just be mindful of the entry rules and make sure your immigration status is up-to-date.

Housing Tip: Start by renting. Take time to explore neighborhoods before committing to buying property.

  1. Enrol in Healthcare (Caja)

Once your residency is approved, you’ll  have to enrol in Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social (CCSScommonly known as “La Caja”) — the country’s public health system.

  • Monthly fees are based on your income.
  • Covers doctor visits, hospital stays, surgeries, prescriptions, and more.

Many expats also opt for supplemental private health insurance for faster access or international health coverage.

  1. Settle In and Enjoy the Pura Vida Life

Becoming an expat in Costa Rica is more than a legal process — it’s a lifestyle shift. Here are a few tips to help you adapt:

  • Learn basic Spanish — It will go a long way in daily life.
  • Get involved — Join local communities, volunteer, or take up a hobby.
  • Understand cultural norms — Things move slower here; patience is key.
  • Explore responsibly — Enjoy nature but respect conservation rules and local customs.

Start Your Journey With Confidence

Becoming an expat in Costa Rica is a life-changing decision — one filled with adventure, discovery, and a healthier pace of living. But it also comes with legal requirements, cultural shifts, and logistical hurdles.

At ResidencynCostaRica, we make the residency application process smoother and stress-free. From your first consultation to receiving your residency card (DIMEX), our teamofr consultants and attorneys is with you every step of the way.

Ready to make the move?

Contact us today for a free consultation, and take the first step toward living your Pura Vidadream in Costa Rica.

Residency In Costa Rica
Your Trusted Partner for Residency & Relocation Services
🌐ResidencyInCostaRica.com
📧 info@residencyincostarica.com
📞 +1-323-255-6116

WhatsApp Telegram and Face-Time 1+818-400-0633

Costa Rica number 506-8869-9669

Jun 27
0

Immigration CD-19 Update

By | Costa Rican Laws, Costa Rican Lifestyle, Costa Rican Residency, Immigration, Move to Costa Rica, Travel | No Comments

 

June 27, 2020 —  Update

NOTE:  CURRENT AS OF 06/26/2020.  INFORMATION SUBECT TO CHANGE ON SHORT NOTICE.

We write to provide an update on the effects Corona Virus (CV-19) is having in the application for residency process.  The information provided is based on (a) 06.26.2020 Health Dept. news press release, and (b)  the latest Migracion bulletin, published in La Gaceta, the official newspaper of the government of Costa Rica, on May 31, 2020, and as listed in Migracion’s webpage ( http://migracion.go.cr ) and Facebook page.

CURRENT STATUS: 

 Migracion offices Closed:  Migracion continues closed to the public (since March 17, 2020). Reopens to the public July 20, 2020

The closure applies to all Migracion offices, including headquarters in La Uruca and regional offices (Migracion’s Facebook page, 05/14/2020).

Expected date of Migracion reopening for residency application business:  Monday, July 20, 2020.

Borders – Reopening date for tourists:   July 31, 2020 at 23:59 hours – airports open ONLY to  specific countries, based upon how successful the country is in controlling CV19.  Assume the US is not going to be in the first opening date.

https://www.facebook.com/migracioncostarica/

See also US Embassy website’s facts, at the end of this message.

In-bound commercial flights

According to the Costa Rican Consulate in Los Angeles, there is currently one in-bound flight from United Airlines, from Houston to San Jose, once-a-week.  Other clients report available flights from other airlines, but I cannot confirm that information.

Pending Applications – delay in processing: We expect at least a 45-60-day delay in the processing of applications already filed.  We have not received any new communications from Migracion via e-mail regarding status of applications since about April 14th.

Most frequently asked questions:

  • MOST ASKED QUESTION: If I have my application for residency in process, BUT I have not yet been approved, can I enter CR now, prior to the borders being opened?
  • Answer:  Most likely NOT. In the original announcement of the closing of the borders back in March, the ability to enter CR by a person whose application is pending was not addressed.
  • But, on Migracion’s website there is a paragraph (even now, also in the US embassy website) that says that someone with a filed application and who has the application number can enter Costa Rica prior to the opening of the borders. https://migracion.go.cr/Paginas/Cierre-de-Fronteras.aspx Item No. 2; https://cr.usembassy.gov/covid-19-information/
  • However, this issue has NOT been mentioned in the last three most recent announcements—see below. Thus, we are not 100% certain of the answer but if I were to guess I would say there is at least a 98% probability that you will NOT be allowed in without being a legal resident. We sent emails to Migracion asking clarification to this question. Its answer, on 06/01/2020 was the highlighted info below, from the 05.31.2020 announcement.

05.31.2020 Announcement: Individuals with pending applications are NOT included in the very specific list of individuals who are able to enter Costa Rica prior to the reopening of the borders on July 1st:

 

“ARTICLE 5.- The restriction measures established in article 2 of this Executive Decree, as well as the sanitary actions that the Ministry of Health will carry out.

In this sense, they will be applied to foreign persons who have an

authorized legal stay under the immigration categories of Residence

Permanent, Temporary Residence, Special Categories or Non-Residents under the “Estancia” subcategory, that leave the country between 23:59 hours on March 25 and 11:59 p.m. on June 30, 2020, both dates inclusive…” (Google translation)

TIME LINE, AS OF 06.26.2020 – Subject to changes on short notice

Event Old Date NEW DATE
Migracion reopens for specific emergencies only: issue passports to Costa Ricans, permit for a minor to exit CR, etc.

 

 04/18/2020 May 18, 2020
Appointments to obtain residency card –DIMEX—for the first time are made ONLY thru Correos Nacionales or Banco de costa Rica.   ONLY Pensionado to get first DIMEX card, and renewals:  Appointments at BCR or Correos Nacionales can be made now.

 

 
Airports schedule to re-open, allowing travelers from countries who are controlling the number of CV cases.

 

 06/15/2020 August 1, 2020 at 00:01 hrs.

 
Migracion reopens to the general public, starts to accept new residency applications, get copies of files, etc.

 

 04/18/2020 July 20, 2020
All scheduled appointments at Migracion are postponed to a date after:

 

   July 18, 2020
Tourist visas extended.  The tourist visa of a tourist who entered Costa Rica after 17 December 2019 is extended until:

 

 Varies August 18, 2020

 
Driving with a non-Costa Rican driver’s license extended for the same amount of time of the tourist visa extension:

 

 Expires when the tourist visa expires August 18, 2020

 

 
Expiration date of any document (birth certificates, FBI reports, income letters, etc.) is extended to. 6 months after issue September 18, 2020

For example, the document was issued October 1, 2019, but could not be filed prior to its expiration date of April 1, 2020 because Migracion was closed, will now be valid and accepted until September 18, 2020.

 
Time to respond to a “prevencion” – a request from Migracion to the applicant to present additional information or documentation, most commonly an FBI report – is extended.

 

 Varies September 18, 2020

 
Attorney appointments at Migracion are re-scheduled for dates after:

 

 Varies September 18, 2020

 
Validity of Permanent Resident  DIMEX cards that expired after December 18, 2019 is automatically extended until

 

 Varies September 30, 2020

 
Validity of Pensionado, Rentista, Inversionista and all special category DIMEX cards that expired after December 18, 2019 is automatically extended until

 

 Varies September 30, 2020

 
The time to renew all expired DIMEX card is extended without penalty for:

 

 Varies Up to 90 days after September 30, 2020

 

NOTE: “estancia” DIMEX cards have different rules/deadlines

 
     

 

 

 

Mar 14
0

$1700 Birth Certificate

By | Costa Rican Laws, Costa Rican Residency, Immigration, Move to Costa Rica | No Comments

$1700 Birth CertificateThe client, born during the tumultuous period of time when Indonesia gained its
independence from the Netherlands, needed to get a certified copy of her birth
certificate to apply for residency. A simple request to the Netherlands should have
solved the problem, right?

Wrong. The Netherlands denied the request because the client had become an American
citizen. Essentially, our client was told to go get it from Indonesia.

Because she had no family or friends in Indonesia, we hired an Indonesian private
investigation firm. The investigators had to go in person to three locations and
manually search for the right volume where the six-decade-old birth registration could
be found. It took two months to find it. All we had left was to get, it and it was
free!

Wrong again. Indonesia does not issue apostilles. It uses the old and tedious
authentication method called legalization. Our Canadian clients are painfully aware of
this process, as Canada still uses it. Worse yet, at that time Costa Rica did not have
a consular office in Jakarta as it does now, so we would have to do Third Country
Legalization.

Once the Indonesian government authenticated the birth certificate, the investigator
took it to, you guessed it, the Canadian consulate in Jakarta. Then it was FedEx’d to
our document processing agent in Ottawa, Canada. Once in Ottawa, the document went to
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Costa Rican Consulate. Our agent next FedEx’d
the document to our office in San Jose to get its final signature at Casa Amarilla.
Now fully legalized, we filed it with Migration.

The moral of the story is to be patient and creative in finding a solution to the
problem. It took us close to five months, 53 emails, and almost $1,700 paid by our
client to get this one document. Fortunately, this was a very unusual case. Getting a
copy of a birth certificate usually costs about $10.

I am happy to report the client is not only a resident but she is now a permanent
resident!

written by Javier Zavaleta of Residency in Costa Rica

article first appeared in AM Costa Rica 3/14/18