Understanding the Residency laws of Costa Rica

At the time of making the decision on wanting to live in a foreign country, there might be a lot of questions that might cross your mind: Is the country secure? Would I be able to find a job? And the most important, What do I need to do to apply for a residency visa?

As we all know, each country has its own laws and regulations, some countries are very strict in terms of tourists entering the country and even more strict if a foreigner decides to live or work in their country, it is very important you know your rights and limitations as a foreigners.

Because of the beauty of Costa Rica and the fact that  it has a stable and democratic government, this small country of Central America has become one of the most popular destination for couples that wish to retire and for foreigners to invest. However before thinking of moving or investing it is important to think about your options for residency.

Costa Rica offers different types of residencies which I will list and explain:

Retiree

This program applies to any person who is already retired from his/her usual occupation and who is already receiving pension benefits

Legal Resident

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 from investments or other sources

4. who can prove that the non-earned income is guaranteed to be received for at least a period of 24 months (2 years).

Business/Investor

An “Inversionista” is an individual who makes a direct investment in Costa Rica of at least US$200,000.  The investment can be made in any type of business or in real estate.

Married or relationship with a Costa Rican citizen (The “Vinculo” Program)

The non-Costa Rican applicant must prove that he/she has a relationship of 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 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.

Temporary residency

The Temporary Residence is an authorization for a temporary permanence in Costa Rica, generally related to a professional labor situation. Is important to know that to obtain a work permit is almost as difficult as applying for residency. It requires that the applicant have a bona fide job offer and that the company offering the job must provide a large amount of documentation and information regarding the company itself, the job offer and a certification of the reasons the non-Costa Rican employment candidate is uniquely qualified for the position.

Is also important to consider that as a tourist you might be able to stay in the country for up to 90 days depending of your country of origin and in some cases tourist leave the country for two to three days to be able to renew their tourist visa and be able to extend their stay.

Is important to know that all residency applications are processed by the Costa Rican Department of Immigration and you can apply for any type of residence at the time of arriving to the country.

Making a new home in this beautiful country can be very easy if you follow the right procedures, there is a lot of organizations and lawyers in the country that can help you applying for any type of residency making your stay stress free, if your dream is to live in Costa Rica, now you know you can make it happen!