Costa Rica Immigration Services

RESIDENCY CATEGORIES IN COSTA RICA:

All foreigners residing in Costa Rica must have a regular immigration status.  For this purpose foreigners may opt for one of the following residency categories. Our lawyers in Costa Rica and qualified personnel will expand this information upon your request with no extra charge:

Residency as Pensioner or Retiree:

• It requires proof of income of US$1,000 per month from a permanent pension or retirement fund.
• The applicant must remain in the country four months a year.
• The applicant may cover his or her spouse and children under 18 as dependents.
• Unable to work as an employee but can own a company and receive income.

Residency as Annuitant:

• It requires proof of income of US$2,500 monthly for a minimum of two years, guaranteed by a banking institution. You can consult the text required for the letter asked by the immigration department in our offices. It is also accepted a deposit of US$60,000 in an approved bank in Costa Rica.
• The applicant must remain in the country four months a year.
• The applicant may cover his or her spouse and children under 18 as dependents.
• Unable to work as an employee but s/he can own a company and receive income.

Residency as Investor:

• It requires investment of US$200,000 approved in sectors such as tourism and exports, US$200,000 in reforestation, or US$200,000 in any other business.
• The applicant must remain in the country six months a year.
• The applicant cannot include spouse and children under 18 as dependents.
• The applicant can get paid as an employee.
• The applicant can own a company and receive income.

Residency as Company Representative:

• The applicant must be a director of a company meeting certain specific requirements; such as employing a minimum number of local employees, as established by the Labor Law, with financial statements certified by an accountant
• The applicant must remain in the country six months a year.
• The applicant cannot claim wives and children under 18 as dependents.
• The applicant may receive a salary in the company.
• The applicant can own a company and receive income.

Permanent Residencies:

• Based upon family relationship with a Costa Rican citizen or a legal resident. It includes spouse, children, parents, brother and sister according to different rules.
• The applicant must visit Costa Rica once a year.
• The applicant cannot include spouse and children under 18 as dependents.
• The applicant can own a company and receive income.

Residency as a Religious Representative:

• Letter of the legal representative of the religious congregation, indicating the time and the reasons why the foreign person will be in the country.
• It is a special category and it is not granted residency card.
• The applicant cannot work in a different activity from the one approved by the immigration department.
• Proof of the legal registration of the religious congregation to which the foreigner belongs to.

Sports temporary residency:

• The sportsman or sportswoman must be duly accredited by the National Sports Council
• Letter to the Director of Immigration, signed by the legal representative of the company requesting the entry of the foreigner or the National Sports Council.
• Proof of the legal registration of the sport organization or the National Sports Council,
• Employment contract signed with a sports organization to provide the services, which will indicate the real wage to be earned and the activities to be developed.

Temporary Residency for correspondents and staff of news agencies:

• Letter addressed to the Director of Immigration, signed by the legal representative of the news agency requesting the entry of the foreigner.
• Report of the Labour and Social Security Ministry, in which it is indicated that the foreign workforce does not displace national or resident employment.

Temporary residency for scientists, professionals, technicians, and their dependents:

• Letter addressed the Director of Immigration, signed by the legal representative of the company requesting the entry of the foreigner.

Do you qualify to apply for one of the regimens?