Costa Rica

Rentista, pensionado, and inversionista residency — plus one of Latin America's clearest paths to citizenship.

Estamos traduciendo este contenido. Por ahora se muestra en inglés.

Costa Rica's immigration system at a glance

Costa Rica's Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería (DGME) offers several residency categories designed for retirees, investors, and remote workers. Most applicants start as Temporary Residents and may transition to Permanent Residency after 3 years.

Costa Rica also introduced a dedicated Digital Nomad Visa (Ley 10008) in 2022 — a rare formal remote-worker permit in Latin America.

The main residency routes

Pensionado: proof of a lifetime pension of at least USD 1,000/month. Rentista: proof of stable unearned income of USD 2,500/month for 2 years, or a USD 60,000 deposit in a Costa Rican bank. Inversionista: investment of at least USD 150,000 in property, business, or approved projects. Digital Nomad: USD 3,000/month income (USD 4,000 with dependents).