Pensionado
For retirees with a lifetime pension
USD 3,500
🇨🇷 Costa Rica: Apply for Residence and Permanent Residence
Costa Rica is the most stable retirement destination in the region: a genuine territorial system, a high level of safety and medical care that is hard to match in Latin America. For retirees the route is the Pensionado programme with its pleasantly low threshold of USD 1,000 in lifelong monthly pension; if you live on passive income instead, the separate Rentista programme is the one for you. Residence is valid for two years and fully renewable, requires just one visit a year and opens the way to permanent residence after three years. The price of the package: mandatory Caja contributions and living costs above the regional average. In return you get a country that keeps its promises.
Naturalisation Costa Rica
Costa Rica naturalisation: after 7 years of legal residence at the earliest, a language and history test, dual citizenship possible. With local attorneys.
- Presence:
- For naturalisation, real presence and ties to the country count, not the annual visit
- Duration:
- Application after 7 years of legal residence at the earliest; approval is at the authorities' discretion
Handled together with our local partners, licensed attorneys in each country.
View the procedure →Investor Visa Costa Rica
Costa Rica inversionista residency: investment in property or a business, the Caja, process and timing. Licensed local attorneys, coordinated in English.
- Presence:
- In-person appointments during the application; after that, one visit a year is enough (authority practice)
- Duration:
- Several months to over a year, depending on the category and the authority's workload
Handled together with our local partners, licensed attorneys in each country.
View the procedure →Pensionado Visa Costa Rica
Costa Rica pensionado residency: USD 1,000 pension evidence, the Caja, process and timing. Licensed local attorneys, coordinated in English.
- Presence:
- In-person appointments during the application; after that, one visit a year is enough (authority practice)
- Duration:
- Typically several months to approval, depending on the authority and your documents
Handled together with our local partners, licensed attorneys in each country.
View the procedure →Rentista Visa Costa Rica
Costa Rica rentista residency: USD 2,500 guaranteed monthly income for two years, the Caja and the process. Local attorneys, coordinated in English.
- Presence:
- In-person appointments during the application; after that, one visit a year keeps the status (authority practice)
- Duration:
- Several months to over a year, depending on the category and the authority's workload
Handled together with our local partners, licensed attorneys in each country.
View the procedure →Permanent Residence Costa Rica
Residencia permanente after 3 years of temporary residency: open job market access, light presence rules. Licensed local attorneys, coordinated in English.
- Presence:
- In-person appointments during the application; one entry a year keeps the status (authority practice)
- Duration:
- Processing and cédula issue: from months to over a year, so patience is part of it
Handled together with our local partners, licensed attorneys in each country.
View the procedure →Residence Renewal Costa Rica
Renew your temporary residency in Costa Rica: updated financial evidence, the Caja and deadlines. Licensed local attorneys, coordinated in English.
- Presence:
- Depends on the case; whether in-person appointments are needed, we clarify before filing
- Duration:
- Depends on the authority's workload; complete documents prevent the usual delays
Handled together with our local partners, licensed attorneys in each country.
View the procedure →Not included in any procedure: government fees, apostilles and legalisations, certified translations, notary costs, travel and tax advice in the destination country. The details are on each service page.
Fixed prices for Costa Rica
All prices in US dollars for the main applicant; family members coming with you are added to the same case.
Rentista
For financially independent people with reliable income
USD 3,500
Inversionista
For investors who want to commit capital in Costa Rica
USD 3,500
Remote worker stay (Ley 10008)
For digital nomads and freelancers with foreign income
USD 2,300
Not included: government fees, translations and apostilles (government fees approx. USD 400). Ongoing: contributions to the state health fund CCSS (Caja). You add family members at checkout.
Prefer a consultation first?
A personal consultation with Harley Bieder, our Latin America expert, before you order.
One point of contact, from start to finish
Your application is filed together with our local partners, licensed attorneys in each country, with whom we have worked for years. We coordinate your case, check your documents and remain your point of contact: in English, throughout.
That applies whether you are still at home or already on the road: one point of contact, no language barrier, no loose ends across four time zones.