Retire
Who Qualifies
This program applies to any person who is already retired from his/her usual occupation and who is already receiving pension benefits.
Income Requirement
Must show proof of monthly income from a qualified pension plan of at least $1,000 USD per month.
A pension plan can include:
Local, state/provincial, and Federal government pensions from most countries, Canadian Old Age Pension System, U.S. Social Security Administration, and Railroad Retirement benefits, private company pension plans, defined benefit plans, 401K plans, school district pension, IRA/Keogh distributions, etc. To be a qualified pension plan, the pension must be payable to the resident applicant “for life.” Many lifetime annuities can also qualify as a pension.
Married Couple Pension Income:
A married couple needs to show proof of only one (1) monthly pension of at least $1,000 USD for both husband and wife to qualify to apply for residency. The pension recipient can be either spouse. View information for Same-Gender Partners, Spouses, or Domestic Partners.
In-Country Requirement
Once approved, the resident agrees to live in Costa Rica for at least one (1) day per year.
Type of residency
Temporary. The resident can apply for permanent residency after being a temporary resident for three (3) years.
Work Permit
None are issued until the resident becomes a permanent resident. Please note that there are additional requirements to qualify for this residency program. Residency requirements are subject to change.
Business/Investor
Who Qualifies
This program applies to individuals who make a direct investment in Costa Rica of at least $200,000 USD. The investment can be made in any type of business or in real estate. The applicant must prove that the amount already invested (not the current or future value) has a registered or verifiable value of at least $200,000 USD.
Type of investments
The investment can be made in any type of business, including manufacturing, transportation, hospitality (hotel, B&B, bar, restaurant, etc.), tourism industry (tours, nature walks, amusement and adventure-type parks, etc.), commercial real estate and non-commercial real estate.
Non-Commercial Real Estate
This allows home purchases as an acceptable investment for the purpose of applying for residency, provided the amount invested is at least $200,000 USD. This type of investment can include not only the purchase price of a home in Costa Rica for personal use, but also the purchase of land held for future development, or for preservation, including ecological, environmental or watershed preservation purposes. Other specific requirements apply to this program.
Qualified Forestry Plantation Project (rarely used)
This allows an investor to make an investment of at least $100,000 USD in a qualified forestry plantation project.
Bank Deposit Requirement
None.
Type of residency
Temporary. The resident can apply for permanent residency after being a temporary resident for three (3) years. Please note that there are additional requirements to qualify for this residency program. Residency requirements are subject to change.
Retire
Legal Resident
Who Qualifies
This program applies to individuals who (1) are not yet retired, (2) do not need to work while living in Costa Rica, (3) are receiving guaranteed, unearned income of $2,500 USD per month from investments, savings or other sources, and (4) who can prove that the non-earned income is guaranteed to be received for at least a period of 24 months (2 years).
Income Requirement
Applicants must prove their ability to receive $2,500 USD per month of unearned income for 24 consecutive months (2 years). The most common method used to prove the unearned income is by means of a notarized letter from a bank or financial institution indicating the applicant has at least $60,000 USD ($2,500 x 24 months) in a long term account such as a CD, and that the applicant agrees to withdraw and transfer to Costa Rica $2,500 per month for the next 24 months. Other sources of unearned income include income from savings, rental property income or dividends. It is not mandatory that the bank account be held in Costa Rica. However, it is easier to obtain the required bank letter when the account is held in a Costa Rican bank.
Married Couple Income:
The exact same $2,500 USD per month income requirement applies to a single, or to married applicants, or to applicants with dependent children. View information for Same-Gender Partners, Spouses or Domestic Partners.
Important
Income from salary or wages, or any form of employment does not qualify as unearned income and it cannot be used to apply for Rentista status.
Bank Deposit Requirement
Once approved, the resident agrees to deposit a minimum of $2,500 USD per month (or $30,000 USD per year) into the resident’s Costa Rican bank account. The deposits are required for two years.
In-Country Requirement
Once approved, the resident agrees to live in Costa Rica for at least one (1) day per year.
Type of residency
Temporary. The resident can apply for permanent residency after being a temporary resident for three (3) years.
Work Permit
None are issued until the resident becomes a permanent resident. Please note that there are additional requirements to qualify for this residency program. Residency requirements are subject to change.
Business/Investor
Marriage/Relation
Vínculo by Marriage
Who Qualifies
This program applies to individuals who are married to or related to a Costa Rican citizen. The non-Costa Rican applicant must prove that he/she has a relationship in the first degree, either by marriage or by birth, with a Costa Rican citizen, and the Costa Rican citizen must be willing to sponsor the applicant’s residency. This program includes applications for a spouse, son, daughter, father, mother, and unmarried siblings (brothers or sisters – age and marital status limitations apply), but the program does not include extended family members such as grandparents, uncles, aunts, and cousins.
Registration of Marriage:
Prior to the application being filed (1) the marriage must be officially recorded with the Civil Register in Costa Rica and (2) the Civil Register must be able to issue a certified copy of the marriage certificate.
Immigration Interview:
Applicants need to prove that the marriage is legitimate and not a sham if the couple has been married for less than 2 years. Both spouses are required to attend an in-person interview at Immigration after the application is filed.
In-Country Requirement:
Once approved, the resident agrees to live in Costa Rica for at least one (1) day per year.
Type of residency:
Temporary. The temporary resident can apply for permanent residency after 3 years.
Work permit:
Yes. All residencies approved under this program have a built-in work permit.
Vínculo by being the parent of a child born in Costa Rica
Application:
Applications based upon having a child born in Costa Rica are approved as permanent residents. The application can include the parent(s) and siblings (brothers and sisters) of the Costa Rican citizen.
Parental Immigration Interview:
The parents of the Costa Rican-born child may be required to attend an interview at Immigration to state the parents are committed to the support and care of the child.
Type of residency:
Permanent.
Work permit:
Yes. All residencies approved under this program have a built-in work permit. Please note that there are additional requirements to qualify for this residency program. Residency requirements are subject to change.