Costa Rica has it all: a year-round tropical climate, modern cities, Caribbean beaches, Pacific coastline, rain forests, lush valleys, mountains, volcanoes, and culture. It’s no wonder so many people are looking to relocate, retire and vacation in Costa Rica. Once you have vacationed in Costa Rica there is a good chance that you won’t want to leave this beautiful country. Here are some general guidelines for the different types of residency in Costa Rica and how to file the appropriate documents. There are two main types of residency in Costa Rica; Pensionado and Rentista.

Pensionado Residency in Costa Rica

Pensionado residency is for retired persons with a pension, like social security or an annuity. Below are the requirements for a Pensionado residency in Costa Rica

• Proof of $1,000 per month income from permanent pension source or retirement fund.
• Reside in Costa Rica for at least 4 months per year.
• Can not work as an employee.
• Can own a company and receive dividends.
• Can claim spouse and dependants under 18 years of age.

Rentista Residency in Costa Rica

Rentista residency is for foreigners with a guaranteed income. Below are the requirements for a Rentista residency in Costa Rica.

• Proof of $2,500 per month income for at least five years, guaranteed by a banking institution.
• OR a $150,000 deposit in an approved Costa Rican bank.
• Reside in Costa Rica for at least 4 months per year.
• Can not work as an employee.
• Can own a company and receive dividends.
• Can claim spouse and dependants under 18 years of age.

Inversionista Residency in Costa Rica

Inversionista residency is for those who want to invest in Costa Rica while living there. Investment may be in any business or can be a specified amount of investment in certain government approved sectors. Below are the requirements for a Inversionista residency in Costa Rica.

• Investment of $200, 000 in a business.
• Reside in Costa Rica for at least 6 months per year.
• Income the project is allowed.
• Can own a company and receive dividends.
• Cannot claim spouse and dependants under 18 years of age.

Representante Residency in Costa Rica

Representante residency is for those who are an executive of a company doing business in Costa Rica. Applicants must be director of a company meeting certain requirements. Attorney representation is recommended for Representante residency as there are a multitude of restrictions. Below are some of the requirements for a Representante residency in Costa Rica.

• Must be a director of a company meeting certain requirements.
  • Employing a minimum number of local workers as established by the labor law.
  • Financial statements certified by a Public Accountant.
  • Additional requirements apply, an attorney should be consulted.
• Must remain in country at least 6 months per year.
• Can earn an income from the company.
• Can own a company and receive income.
• Cannot claim spouse and dependants under 18 years of age.

Rentista and Pensionado Application Process

Rentista and Pensionado are the most common residencies applied for in Costa Rica by expats. The application for Rentista and Pensionado status can be filed through the Costa Rican Consular office in your area or with the Pensionado/Rentista Section of the Department of Immigration in San Jose. Once you have all the documentation below authenticated with the Costa Rica Consulate you can submit your application to the Department of Immigration.  

Birth Certificate

Provide a certified copy of your birth certificate and one for each of your dependents.

Marriage Certificate

Provide a certified copy of a marriage certificate if you are married.

Proof of Income

For those with income from a government pension, you will need a letter from the government certifying the income. US citizens on Social Security can obtain this letter from the United States Embassy - Consular Section in Costa Rica. For those with income from a Bank or Financial Institution, you will need a letter from them certifying your income.

Police Certificate of Good Conduct

This certification is obtained from the police department where you last resided. Note that this certificate is only valid for 6 months from the date they are issued.

Interpol Background Check

This must be done in Costa Rica at the Ministry of Public Security. Fill out an application with the Department of Public Security to be signed by the Department of Immigration. The application is a request for the background check and requires finger printing in Costa Rica. The background check takes approximately one month.

Photographs

The application requires photographs during the various stages of processing. You will require photographs for the background search and the Department of Immigration application. It is recommended that you take at least four front facing photographs in your files so they will be available when needed.

Translation of Documents

All documents in English must be translated into Spanish. This procedure can generally be handled by your attorney.

Sworn Statement

The Applicant and spouse, if applicable, must appear before a Costa Rican Notary Public and issue a sworn statement stating that they agree to abide by the Pensionado/Rentista law. This statement can be prepared by your legal representative in Costa Rica.

Submitting Your Residency Application

Once you application is received you will be given a receipt as proof of pending residency application with the Department of Immigration. Your application will first be reviewed by the Legal Department within Pensionado/Rentista Section of the Department of Immigration for compliance. If there are any errors in the application your legal representative will be notified that a correction is needed. Once all your paperwork is in compliance the application will be forwarded to the approval committee for final evaluation.

Approved Residency Application

If your application is approved then the Department of Immigration will issue a formal resolution. You or your legal representative must appear at the Department of Immigration to formally retrieve the resolution and request an appointment with the Department of Immigration to have them issue a picture identification residency card. You must personally appear to retrieve your residency card.