From Dreams to Destinations
From Dreams to Destinations
Costa Rica offers residency by investment programs through the Inversionista (Investor) Visa. You can qualify by investing at least USD 150,000 in real estate, a local business, securities, or any approved project, and get a renewable two-year residence permit.
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In Costa Rica, after 2 years of temporary residency, you can apply for permanent residency. You need to live at least 183 days per year in the country. After 7 years of enduring residency, you can apply for citizenship.
If you want to get Costa Rica's Investor Residency, you need to invest at least USD 150,000 into approved investments.
This is the official rule from the Costa Rican Tourism Board (ICT), and it forms the core of the Investor Residency Program.
Costa Rica offers 2 more temporary residency categories:
How to Get Costa Rica Residency: 5-Step Process
The first thing you need to do is pick the residency path that fits your situation. Costa Rica offers 3 temporary residency categories. For those who want to invest in Costa Rica, the Inversionista category is the right choice.
Once you know your category, start collecting all the required documents from your home country. Most documents must be authenticated with an apostille from your government or legalized by a Costa Rican consulate. You need to prepare official application forms, including your request letter and forms in Spanish. Make sure your passport is valid and include copies of all its pages. You will also need a copy of your birth certificate. Costa Rica requires a police clearance certificate from your home country and any other country you have lived in for more than six months.
Translate all your documents into Spanish through a certified translator. After that, submit your application to the Costa Rican immigration authority, known as the Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería. You must pay the government application fee, which can be several hundred dollars. You should also register with your country's embassy or consulate in Costa Rica. Many applicants hire a qualified immigration attorney to make sure the application is complete and accurate before submission.
Once immigration initially approves your application, you need to finish the process in Costa Rica. You must register your fingerprints with the Ministerio de Seguridad Pública. You also need to enroll in Costa Rica's national healthcare system, called the CCSS or Caja.
After you complete all the steps, you will receive your official residency card, known as the Documento de Identidad Migratoria para Extranjeros (DIMEX). Most temporary permits last for two years, and you can start the renewal process two to three months before your card expires. If you hold a temporary residency permit for 2 or more years, you may qualify to apply for permanent residency. Permanent residency does not require renewal as often and gives you more stability in Costa Rica.
Costa Rica residence permit does not automatically allow you to work for a local company. You can manage your own business or investments, but if you want to work as an employee, you must get a separate work permit.
A Costa Rica residence permit does not give you visa-free travel to most other countries. You can live and travel freely inside Costa Rica, but you still need a passport and, in many cases, a visa to enter other countries.
Even after holding temporary residency for several years, you cannot automatically become a Costa Rican citizen. You usually need to maintain residency for 2 or more years, then you can apply for permanent residency and citizenship.
Our expert-driven process is faster, easier, and completely hassle-free.