Residency as an Investor

The foreigner and family (spouse, parents, single siblings and children) can  apply for this type of residency if foreigner has investments in Costa Rica for USD$ 200.000 . The investment should be in specific areas as tourism, reforestation, shares in a CR corporation, properties and/or any other activity supported by the Costa Rican government. The foreigner will be given a temporary residency and can work in CR only if he has its own costarican corporation/business. After 3 years of temporary residency, foreigner can apply for permanent residency with no restrictions.

Residency as a Renter

The foreigner and family ( spouse,parents, single siblings and children ) can apply for this type of residency if foreigner receives  US2.500 -  as a monthly income during the following  2 years or has bank investments in CR for US$60.000  and will not work while living in Costa Rica)  To prove the income, the foreigner must get a letter from a Costa Rican Bank , financial institution , foreign bank, CPA or Law Firm certifying he will be receiving a monthly income of $2.500  for the next 2 years. If letter is issued outside CR must be authenticated either by correspondant CR Consulate or through “Apostille “Process. The foreigner will be given a temporary residency and can work in CR only if he has its own costarican corporation/business. After 3 years of temporary residency, foreigner can apply for permanent residency with no restrictions.

Residency as a Retired Person

The foreign  and family ( spouse,parents, single siblings and children ) can only apply for this type of residency if he is entitled to a lifetime pension of $1000 per month in their country of origin .The foreigner must obtain  a letter to prove lifetime pension and letter must be authenticated either by correspondant CR Consulate or through “Apostille “ Process. The foreigner will be given a temporary residency and can work in CR only if he has its own costarican corporation/business. After 3 years of temporary residency, foreigner can apply for permanent residency with no restrictions.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS:
 

1. A. Application Letter: This letter should include the following information

•    complete name of the person applying for the residency
•    nationality, marital status and occupation
•    passport number, date and place where it was issued and date it expires
•    name of any direct family member (children or wife) dependent on the income of the applicant     who will also apply for residency
•    date in which the applicant enter Costa Rica
•    a formal request of his/her desire of being a Costa Rican resident
•    specify the type of residency
•    temporary address in Costa Rica or the address in the country of origin
•    Must indicate a place or fax number to receive notifications

1. B. Birth Certificate:  Must be authenticated either by the Costa Rican Consulate located in the country   where the document is issued or through “ Apostille”  Process   This document expires after 6 months of being issued.
2. Marriage Certificate:  Must be authenticated either by the Costa Rican Consulate located in the country where the document is issued or through “ Apostille”  Process   This document expires after 6 months of being issued.
3. Police record:  Must be authenticated either by the Costa Rican Consulate located in the country where the document is issued or through “ Apostille”  Process   This document expires after 6 months of being issued.
4. Finger Prints:  They need to be taken at the Ministry of Security in San Jose, Costa Rica and applicants must bring passport and 3 photographs
5. Certified copy of the entire passport (even blank pages).
6. Special Power of Attorney granted by the applicants to the attorney that will handle the residency application.
7. 8 passport size photographs
8. The applicant is required to pay $250 at the following bank account that belongs to Immigration: Banco de Costa Rica, cuenta 242480-0
9. Consular registration at the embassy of its origin country located in Costa Rica.

NOTE: All documents written in a foreign language must be translated into Spanish

II. COSTS
 

• Legal fees on each residence application are: $1.700 per adult and $500 per minors (70% of legal fees are required to start the process.)
• Authentication Cost: With Apostille process there is no fee to be paid and with authentication process at CR consulate, authentication fee is $42 per document and this amount must be paid at the CR Consulate or Ministry of Foreign Affairs in CR. (Documents that will require authentication are:  birth certificate, police record, marriage certificate and any other document issued outside CR).
• Filing Cost: Immigration authorities charge $250 per application
• Translation fees:  USD$20,00 per document ( max. 2 pages )
   

Application Letter to Immigration Authority and follow up.

(In the case of a family group, an individual file is required per member. Parents should sign applications on behalf of minor children.)

Detail : We will prepare the formal letter addressed to the General Director of Immigration, as well as duly fill out the application form. Both duly authenticated by a Costa Rican Notary Public/Attorney. We will also prepare a special power of attorney as your immigration representative to submit the documents.

Fingerprints taken at the CR Ministry of Public Security

Detail : Applies to 12 years and older applicants. It must be done personally by the applicant in San Jose. We will guide you through the process.

Complete copy of Applicant's passport certified by Notary Public

Detail: Passport cannot be expired. Tourist visa needs to be valid and current, not expired. All applicants, including minors, must comply with this requirement.

Registration at applicant’s Consulate in Costa Rica.

Detail: The consular registration is waived if the country of citizenship does not have a consulate or embassy in Costa Rica. We will help you with this process with your country’s consulate in Costa Rica.

Birth Certificate

Detail : Must be Apostilled; or, if your country of citizenship is not signatory of the Apostille Convention, duly legalized and submitted to the corresponding Costa Rican consulate in the country of origin. Certification expires 6 months after been issued.

Marriage Certificate

Detail : If the applicant is married and wishes to include his or her spouse as a dependent. Must be Apostilled; or, if your country of citizenship is not signatory of the Apostille Convention, duly legalized and submitted to the corresponding Costa Rican consulate in the country of origin. Certification expires 6 months after been issued.

Police Records Certification from country of origin or last country of residence for more than 3 years. *(This applies to 12 years and older applicants)

Detail: Must be Apostilled; or, if your country of citizenship is not signatory of the Apostille Convention, duly legalized and submitted to the corresponding Costa Rican consulate in the country of citizenship. Certification expires 6 months after been issued.

8 passport size photos

Detail: Required for applicant, spouse and any dependent children.

Must demonstrate an real estate investment in Costa Rica with a value of at least US$ 200,000.00 dollars

Detail : In order to prove the value of the property could be either by:
A) providing a Property Certification issued by the County-Municipality showing a value of at least US$200,000.00 dollars.
B) providing CPA certification that confirms the investment of at least US$200,000.00 dollars.

* If the certificate is from the United States, it must be a Federal Criminal Record issued by the FBI.

Other relevant information:

All documents not in Spanish must be duly translated to Spanish by an Official Translator approved by the Costa Rica Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

With the required investment/income can include the applicant’s wife or husband and their children younger than 25 years old, who are dependents of the main applicant.

Once the residency has been approved, applicants must register before the Costa Rican Social Security (CCSS).The registration will require a meeting with an officer at CCSS office, to determine the monthly fee to be paid.Is also require, once registration is completed, to obtain the social security id cards before the local clinic called EBAIS.The requirements vary from the CCSS office on which the registration is done. We will help you with the registration process.

Application Letter to Immigration Authority and follow up.
(In the case of a family group, an individual file is required per member. Parents should sign applications on behalf of minor children.)

Detail:We will prepare the formal letter addressed to the General Director of Immigration, as well as duly fill out the application form. Both duly authenticated by a Costa Rican Notary Public/Attorney. We will also prepare a special power of attorney as your immigration representative to submit the documents.

Fingerprints taken at the CR Ministry of Public Security

Detail : Applies to 12 years and older applicants.It must be done personally by the applicant in San Jose. We will guide you through the process.

Complete copy of Applicant's passport certified by Notary Public

Detail : Passport cannot be expired. Tourist visa needs to be valid and current, not expired.
All applicants, including minors, must comply with this requirement.

Registration at applicant’s Consulate in Costa Rica.

Detail: The consular registration is waived if the country of citizenship does not have a consulate or embassy in Costa Rica. We will help you with this process with your country’s consulate in Costa Rica.

Birth Certificate

Detail:Must be Apostilled; or, if your country of citizenship is not signatory of the Apostille Convention, duly legalized and submitted to the corresponding Costa Rican consulate in the country of origin. Certification expires 6 months after been issued.

Marriage Certificate

Detail: If the applicant is married and wishes to include his or her spouse as a dependent. Must be Apostilled; or, if your country of citizenship is not signatory of the Apostille Convention, duly legalized and submitted to the corresponding Costa Rican consulate in the country of origin. Certification expires 6 months after been issued.

Police Records Certification from country of origin or last country of residence for more than 3 years. *(This applies to 12 years and older applicants)

Detail: Must be Apostilled; or, if your country of citizenship is not signatory of the Apostille Convention, duly legalized and submitted to the corresponding Costa Rican consulate in the country of citizenship. Certification expires 6 months after been issued.

8 passport size photos

Detail: Required for applicant, spouse and any dependent children.

Certification that Applicant receives a pension of at least US$1,000 per month

Detail:Must be Apostilled; or, if your home country is not signatory of the Apostille Convention, duly legalized and submitted to the corresponding Costa Rican consulate in the country of origin. Certification expires 6 months after been issued.

* If the certificate is from the United States, it must be a Federal Criminal Record issued by the FBI.

Other relevant information:

All documents not in Spanish must be duly translated to Spanish by an Official Translator approved by the Costa Rica Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

This income must originate in a qualified source: a retirement plan company, social security or the government.The pension must be for life, coming from abroad and only such belonging to the applicant personally will be taken into account, and other funds received by his family will not be considered.

The beneficiary must prove that the required income (US$1,000.00) was converted into Colones in one of the National Banking System banks before the end of each anniversary of the approval of the residency, could be done monthly or yearly.

With the required investment/income can include the applicant’s wife or husband and their children younger than 25 years old, who are dependents of the main applicant.

Once the residency has been approved, applicants must register before the Costa Rican Social Security (CCSS). The registration will require a meeting with an officer at CCSS office, to determine the monthly fee to be paid. Is also require, once registration is completed, to obtain the social security id cards before the local clinic called EBAIS.The requirements vary from the CCSS office on which the registration is done. We will help you with the registration process.

Application Letter to Immigration Authority and follow up (In the case of a family group, an individual file is required per member. Parents should sign applications on behalf of minor children.)

Detail: We will prepare the formal letter addressed to the General Director of Immigration, as well as duly fill out the application form. Both duly authenticated by a Costa Rican Notary Public/Attorney. We will also prepare a special power of attorney as your immigration representative to submit the documents.

Fingerprints taken at the CR Ministry of Public Security

Detail: Applies to 12 years and older applicants. It will be done by the applicant personally in San Jose. We will guide you through the process.

Complete copy of Applicant's passport certified byNotary Public
Detail: Passport cannot be expired. The tourist visa needs to be valid and current, not expired. All applicants, including minors, must comply with this requirement.

Registration at applicant’s Consulate in Costa Rica
Detail: The consular registration is waived if the country of citizenship does not have a consulate or embassy in Costa Rica. We will help you with this process with your country’s consulate in Costa Rica.

Birth Certificate
Detail: Must be Apostilled; or, if your country of citizenship is not signatory of the Apostille Convention, duly legalized and submitted to the corresponding Costa Rican consulate in the country of origin. Certification expires 6 months after been issued.

Marriage Certificate
Detail: If the applicant is married and wishes to include his or her spouse as a dependent. Must be Apostilled; or, if your country of citizenship is not signatory of the Apostille Convention, duly legalized and submitted to the
corresponding Costa Rican consulate in the country of origin. Certification expires 6 months after been issued.

Police Records Certification from country of origin or last country of residence for more than 3 years. *(This applies to 12 years and older applicants)

Detail: Must be Apostilled; or, if your country of citizenship is not signatory of the Apostille Convention, duly legalized and submitted to the corresponding Costa Rican consulate in the country of citizenship. Certification expires 6 months after been issued.

8 passport size photos

Detail: Required for applicant, spouse and any dependent children.

Certification that applicant receives a guarantee annuity of $2500 per month for at least 2 years.

Detail:The income must be documented by either:
1. A letter from the bank certifying its obligation of giving the applicant the monthly amount of US$2,500.00 for a term of no less than two years, in a permanent, stable and irrevocable manner.
This letter must include the applicant’s name and personal data -full name, marital status, passport number, indication of domicile and occupation- and it is imperative for it to have exactly the above-mentioned language.
2. Or open and bank account in one of the National Banking System banks and placed funds into a Certified Deposit that each month will release US$2,500 dollars.
** The letter from the bank must be Apostilled; or, if your country of citizenship is not signatory of the Apostille Convention, duly legalized and submitted to the corresponding Costa Rican consulate in the country of origin.

* If the certificate is from the United States, it must be a Federal Criminal Record issued by the FBI.

Other relevant information:

All documents not in Spanish must be duly translated to Spanish by an Official Translator approved by the Costa Rica Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The beneficiary must prove that the required income (US$2,500.00) was converted into Colones in one of the National Banking System banks before the end of each anniversary of the approval of the residency.

With the required investment/income can include the applicant’s wife or husband and their children younger than 25 years old, who are dependents of the main applicant.

Once the residency has been approved, applicants must register before the Costa Rican Social Security (CCSS).The registration will require a meeting with an officer at CCSS office, to determine the monthly fee to be paid. Is also require, once registration is completed, to obtain the social security id cards before the local clinic called EBAIS. The requirements vary from the CCSS office on which the registration is done. We will help you with the registration process.