U.S Citizens can legally stay in Costa Rica for up to three months (90 days). They then must leave for a period of 72 hours. They can then return for another three months. There are no limitations on the number of times you can leave and return as long as you comply with the 3 month rule.
If you would like to become a legal resident of Costa Rica there are a number of options available.
The Benefits of Legal
Residency
Some of the benefits of attaining residency in Costa Rica as a foreigner are:
1. Freedom from worries about immigration checkpoints and possible deportation
2. Qualification to own personally beach front concession land after a minimum term of five years of residency in the country
3. Possibility to qualify for citizenship once requirements are met
4. Right to purchase telephone lines from ICE (Costa Rican state owned telecommunications company).
5. Access to checking accounts and credit service from some banks
6. Exclusion from penalties for extended stays beyond the 90 day tourist visa term
Types of Resident Status
Below is a list of the ways legal residency in Costa Rica can be achieved. Also included is a comprehensive overview of the process and of documents you must file. You must hire a lawyer registered with the Costa Rican bar association. A good lawyer will charge from $1000 to $1500 for the process. We are happy to recommend reasonably priced honest and very reliable attorneys to help you through the process just drop us an email or call our toll free number for a referral
Residency for Retirees-Pensionado
• Requires proof of US$1000 per month income from permanent pension source or retirement fund.
• Must remain in country at least 4 months per year.
• Can claim spouse and dependants under 18 years of age.
• Cannot work as an employee.
• Can own a company and receive dividends.
Rentista Residency in Costa Rica
• Requires proof of US$2500 per month income for at least five years, guaranteed by a banking institution, OR a US$150,000 deposit in an approved Costa Rican bank. One amount covers the family.
• Must remain in country at least 4 months per year.
• Can claim spouse and dependants under 18 years of age.
• Cannot work as an employee.
• Can own a company and receive dividends.
Investor Status
• Investment of US$200,000 in a business.
• Must remain in country at least 6 months per year.
• Cannot claim spouse and dependants under 18 years of age.
• Income allowed from the project.
• Can own a company and receive dividends.
Representante Residency Program - Costa Rica
• Applicant must be director of a company meeting certain requirements, such as employing a minimum number of local workers as established by the labor law, with financial statements certified by a Public Accountant.
• Must remain in country at least 6 months per year.
• Cannot claim spouse and dependants under 18 years of age.
• Can earn an income from the company.
• Can own a company and receive income.
Permanent Residency Costa Rica
• First degree relative status with a Costa Rican Citizen (through marriage to citizen or having a Costa Rican child) OR may apply after three years in another status.
• Must visit Costa Rica at least once per year.
• Cannot claim spouse and dependants under 18 years of age.
• Can work.
• Can own a company and receive income.
NATURALIZATION/CITIZENSHIP
Even though, foreigners are granted the same rights that the Costa Rican citizens are given, naturalization has some strategically potential applications. Due to the universal and compulsory social security system, the impossibility of extradition of Costa Rican citizens, the mutual visa exemption agreements between Costa Rica and all the European Union countries, Scandinavia, Canada, Japan and Russia, and some low profile and tax policy considerations, many foreign residents of Costa Rica may benefit by obtaining the Costa Rican citizenship.
Naturalization (citizenship) applications are processed and granted by the Supreme Electoral and Civil Records Tribunal (Tribunal Supremo de Elecciones y del Registro Civil), the Costa Rican electoral and civil records institution with constitutional rank that many specialists consider a “fourth power” of the Republic.
Similarly to residency application procedures, this is a rather accurate and very formal procedure that the interested resident does not want to expose to risk. Qualified and professional counsel is strongly advised for the same reasons stated in the earlier residency case. Average processing term ranges from 8 to 18 months depending on the case.
Applicants must have lived in Costa Rica, at least four months each year, for a term of seven years under a legal resident status. A Spanish language and a Costa Rican abridged history test have to be taken before the quality control department of the Ministry of Education, this exam is equivalent to a sixth grade primary school exam. An exception exists for spouses of Costa Rican citizens, whose term of legal residency in the country is two years and they don’t have to take the tests. The application has to be submitted together with: a certification from Immigration Council of Costa Rica about the applicant’s legal resident status, a certification from Computer Department (Mecanizada) of Immigration about applicants’ entrances and exits to and from the country, an affidavit, two Costa Rican witnesses who will testify about the applicant moral capacity to obtain citizenship, certified copies of the applicants’ passport, residency card, birth certificate and some legal stamps.
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