RESIDENCE IN COSTA RICA

Important Notice: Starting March 1st 2010 new immigration regulations are applicable. The Immigration Office in Costa Rica is in the process of implementation these regulations. For further information please contact your representative in Costa Rica.

Please be aware that establishing residence of any kind is a legal procedure and that the applicant is required to appoint a representative in Costa Rica. We strongly recommend to contact an attorney in Costa Rica in order to have the proper legal advice on immigration regulations.

Important notices:

  • All certifications issued within the U.S. for residency purposes need to be submitted to the Immigration Office within 6 months after issuance. These documents must follow the authentication procedure with the corresponding Secretary of State and with the Consulate.
  • The application is in person at the Consulate or through a third party with an administrative power of attorney granted by a Costa Rican Public Notary.
  • Please bring a set of copies of the total residence package.
  • The applicant must do all the proper arrangements (including the shipment cost) with a courier or shipment company (such as DHL, Fedex, UPS, ext.) in order to send the application package from the Consulate directly to the Migration Office in San José, Costa Rica. The documents must be send to the following address:

                    Attention to:

                    Señora

                    Lic. Mercedes Bevacqua

                    Jefe del Departamento de Gestión de Extranjería

                    Phone number: (506) 2299-8173

                        Address in Costa Rica

                        Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería

                        Contiguo a la Dirección de Aviación Civil, La Uruca

                        San José, Costa Rica                   

  • When sending residence applications within Costa Rica through DHL (to the Costa Rican Immigration Department), you must include the “Formato de Responsabilidad Consulados” issued by DHL-Costa Rica.

There are several options if you are considering applying for residency in Costa Rica.  Migratory categories and their specific requirements are described below, however, general requirements (1-11) are applicable to all of them.

MIGRATORY CATEGORIES

PERMANENT RESIDENTS:

FOREIGN RELATIVES OF A COSTA RICAN CITIZEN

TEMPORARY RESIDENTS:

EXECUTIVES, REPRESENTATIVES, MANAGERS AND TECHNICAL PERSONNEL

INVESTORS (Inversionistas)

RETIREES (Pensionados) 

ANNUITANTS

SCIENTISTS AND SPECIALIZED PERSONNEL

SPORTSMEN / WOMEN

CORRESPONDENTS AND PRESS OFFICERS

STUDENTS

PERMANENT RESIDENCY

 Immigration through a family member

 A lawful permanent resident is a foreign national who has been granted the privilege of living and working in Costa Rica permanently.

 PERMANENT RESIDENTS ARE:

a. An alien with a relative (parents, siblings, spouse, and children) who is a citizen of Costa Rica. In order to apply for residency under this migratory category, the general requirements must be complied with.

 b. An alien with 3 years of temporary residency in the country.The applicant may include dependents: parents, siblings and children (under the age of 18 years old or/with disability).

c. Refugee statues granted by the Immigration Office of Costa Rica.

 

TEMPORARY RESIDENCY

Temporary residents are:

  1. Spouse of a Costa Rican citizen

  2. Members of any religious group accredited before the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Worship

  3. Executives, representatives, managers and technical personnel (and their spouses and children) of companies established in the country and that are considered to be in areas of priority according to immigration and foreign investment policies.

  4. Investors

  5. Scientists and specialized personnel

  6. Sportsmen/women accredited before the National Sports Council of Costa Rica

  7. Correspondents and press officers

  8. Underage children or children with disabilities of the aforementioned categories

  9.  Retirees

  10. Annuitants

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

 1. A letter addressed to the Director of Migration stating the reasons why the applicant wants to permanently/temporarily reside in Costa Rica. The letter should contain the following information about the applicant: 

a.      Full name

b.      Nationality

c.      Date of birth

d.      Occupation

e.      Full name and nationality of the applicant’s parents

f.        Exact address of residence in Costa Rica and a phone number where the applicant can be reached in Costa Rica

g.      Name of legal representative in Costa Rica. An exact address or fax number located within the Judiciary jurisdiction of San Jose of the legal representative needs to be provided

h.     Indication of the Costa Rican Consulate where the residency application process will be finalized

i.        Port of entry to the country

 

This letter has to be signed before the Consul of Costa Rica and has to be authenticated.

         All the following documents must be authenticated by the Costa Rican Consul  and translated into Spanish. 

2. Birth Certificate (every certificate should have the parents' name)

3. Photocopy of the passport certified by the Consul, Costa Rican Notary Public or by an American Notary Public, but in this last case, the copies will also have to be authenticated. (This is required for applicant, spouse and any dependent children). 

4. Recent Police Certificate issued by the State or place where the applicant has resided for the past three years (required for applicant, spouse and any dependent children of 18 to 25 years old). The certificate should state that the applicant has not been convicted for any of the following crimes:

a.      Murder

b.      Genocide

c.      Terrorism

d.      Drug trafficking

e.      Human trafficking

f.        Fraud

g.      Illicit association

h.       Illegal carrying and trafficking of firearms

i.        Sexual child abuse or any other crime against minors, the elderly or the disabled

j.        Illegal trafficking of cultural and archeological objects and/or ecological resources

k.      Tax evasion

l.        Domestic violence

m.   Ties with gangs or criminal organization

5. Marriage certificate: If the applicant is married to a Costa Rican citizen, the Marriage Certificate should be issued by the Civil Registry (Registro Civil) in Costa Rica. The same applies for Birth Certificates in the case of children or siblings born in Costa Rica. Photocopy of the ID (cédula de identidad) of the Costa Rican citizen relative of the foreign applicant should be submitted as well. 

6. Two recent passport size photographs

 

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

A)            EXECUTIVES, REPRESENTATIVES, MANAGERS AND TECHNICAL PERSONNEL (and their spouses and children) of companies established in the country and that are considered to be in areas of priority according to immigration and foreign investment policies.

  1. Work contract duly notarized

  2. Certificate from the Costa Rican Social Security Institution (CCSS) stating that the company does not have outstanding balances or pending obligations with the institution

  3. Notarized photocopy of the company’s payroll

  4. Certificate of workers accident compensation insurance policy issued by  the National Insurance Institute (INS)

  5. Company’s balance sheet certified by a public accountant

  6. Notarized photocopy of the company’s identification number

  7. Recent (issued within the last month) notary certificate of the company’s board of directors

  8. Notarized certificate of the company’s articles of incorporation

  9. Company’s tax certificate 

  10. Fingerprints certificate for background check (this document is issued in Costa Rica by the Ministry of Public Security)

  11. Payment of fees (in Costa Rica)

 B)              INVESTORS

  1. Investment and feasibility project for over TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS ($200.000.00). The investment should contribute to the economic development of the country. Personal investments such as the purchase of properties (houses, buildings) are excluded. The project should contain a detailed explanation of the investment and a business plan

  2. Certificate issued by a public accountant stating the financial situation of the petitioner

  3. Documents that proof the financing of the project

 

C)                RETIREES

1.     Income certificate:  The applicant should provide an original document from the company, government or institution guaranteeing that he/she will receive at least ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS (US$ 1,000.00) a month from a qualified retirement plan or a lifetime pension source outside Costa Rica.

  

D)                ANNUITANTS

1.     Income certificate:  The applicant should provide an original document that proofs that he/she will receive at least TWO THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS (US$ 2,500.00) per month in a stable, permanent and irrevocable manner through a foreign or national financial institution. The applicant may include a family member in the application; spouse and children under the age of 25 years old or with disability.  

E)                SCIENTISTS AND SPECIALIZED PERSONNEL

1.     A letter signed by the legal representative of the company or organization that requires a scientist or a specialized technician or worker addressed to the Director of Migration stating the reasons why the applicant wants to reside in Costa Rica. The letter should contain the general information listed above under “General Requirements”.

 

F)                SPORTSMEN/WOMEN ACCREDITED BEFORE THE NATIONAL SPORTS COUNCIL OF COSTA RICA

  1. A letter signed by the legal representative of a sport organization addressed to the Director of Migration stating the reasons why the applicant wants to reside in Costa Rica. The letter should contain the general information of point 1 (found above under “General Requirements”) for both the petitioner and the sportsman/woman. This letter should also contain all legal reference related to the incorporation of the organization.

  2. A certificate from the National Sports Council proving that the sportsman/woman is accredited before this Council.

  3. Work contract, including salary to be perceived.

G)                CORRESPONDENTS AND PRESS OFFICERS

  1. A letter signed by the legal representative of a media or press organization or company addressed to the Director of Migration stating the reasons why the applicant wants to reside in Costa Rica. This letter should contain the general information of point 1 (found above under “General Requirements”) for both the petitioner and the correspondent or press officer.

  2. Original or notarized copy of the identification card of the legal representative of the media group.

  3. Recent (issued within the last 3 months) certificate of the company’s board of directors issued by a certified notary

  4. Notarized photocopy of the company’s identification number.

  5. Notarized certificate of the company’s articles of incorporation

  6. Certificate from the Ministry of Labor stating that there is not going to be displacement of national or legal resident workers through the granting of this visa.

 

H)                STUDENTS

  1. A letter signed by the legal representative of an academic institution authorized and registered in the Direction of Migration stating the reasons why the applicant wants to study in Costa Rica. The letter should contain the general information of point 1 (found above under “General Requirements”).

  2. Round trip ticket.

  3. Proof of economic means according to the following rules:

  • For a 90 days period, $500.00.
  • For a 60 days period, $400.00.
  • For a 30 days period, $200.00.

4. Fingerprints taken at the Archivo Policial (Police Archives) of the Ministry of Public Security in San José. 

If the student is from a country that does not require a visa to enter Costa Rica, he/she can travel as a tourist and apply for the temporary residency through the academic institution.