Thursday, June 19, 2025
Retirepedia
No Result
View All Result
  • Retirement Locations
  • Retirement Hobbies
  • Retirement Income & Banking
  • Tours
    • Belize Tours
    • Costa Rica Tours
    • Nicaragua Tours
    • Panama Tours
  • Retirement Locations
  • Retirement Hobbies
  • Retirement Income & Banking
  • Tours
    • Belize Tours
    • Costa Rica Tours
    • Nicaragua Tours
    • Panama Tours
No Result
View All Result
Retirepedia
No Result
View All Result

Costa Rica Visa Requirements – Retire in Costa Rica, Part 7

Dan K. by Dan K.
November 16, 2022
in Retirement Locations
0
San Jose airport in Costa Rica

San Jose Airport in Alajuela, Costa Rica

Guest article by InterNations.org

Retiring to  Costa Rica is on your mind? Before making the move, acquaint yourself  with the Costa Rica visa and immigration requirements. For nationals of most countries, the following rules apply (although there are some exceptions)…

If you simply want to visit Costa Rica for vacations, you do not need a visa as long as you don’t stay there for longer than 30-90 days, depending on your country of origin. A valid passport as well as proof of your inbound and outbound ticket must be presented.

When a visa is required, you must provide more information, like the completed Costa Rica visa application form, one color passport-sized photograph, a photocopy of your inbound and outbound itinerary, evidence of sufficient funds for your stay, and proof of purpose describing the reason for your visit.

If you want to retire to Costa Rica and live there permanently, you need to apply for residency from your home country, either with your local consulate or with the Department of Immigration in San Jose, Costa Rica’s capital. Several residency programs exist. These are the most common ones…

The Rentista Program is for people who do not have a fixed or passive retirement income. You need to give proof of $2,500 in monthly unearned income for the next two years, or a $60,000 deposit in a foreign or – preferably – Costa Rican bank. Note that the income has to be “unearned,” i.e. wages or income from any form of employment does not count.

The Pensionado Program requires that you give proof of at least $1,000 a month coming from a pension fund or another retirement plan.

Contrary to other countries, the financial requirements for the Rentista and Pensionado Program are the same, whether you are single, a couple or have dependants.

The Inversionista Program grants residency to those who are investing a minimum of $200,000 directly into Costa Rica. The investment can be made into any types of business, and as of 2012 it is also possible to invest in non-commercial real estate. That means that buying your own home with a value of at least $200,000 qualifies you for the Inversionista Program!

Costa Rica Residency

Residency In Costa Rica seems to be a reliable source for information about the residency requirements. They are a BBB accredited business, offering residency application services.

Acceptance into one of these three programs gives you a temporary residency. After being in the country as a temporary resident for three years, you can apply for permanent residency.

Expat residents are granted the same rights as citizens, except voting of course. Depending with which program you are in Costa Rica, your right to work will differ. With the Pensionado and Rentista Residency program you can own and manage a company/business and receive dividends, but you can’t work as an employee.

Other than not having to worry about leaving the country every 90 days, the Costa Rica residency doesn’t really come with extra benefits, like tax exemptions on imports, for example. Well, it does give you the right to purchase a telephone line from ICE… if they have one available, that is.

Costa Rica immigration is usually more favorable toward those who bring some sort of financial benefit to the country, either through investments, entrepreneurship or through the Pensionado and Rentista visas.

By doing so, Costa Rica ensures that most immigrants will be beneficial for the country’s economic growth and/or its job market. People with higher income or those who are willing to invest in the country will find it much easier to get a Costa Rica visa.

About the Author: Having previously lived in San Jose, Costa Rica for about twenty years, Sebastian is a freelance writer currently based in Los Angeles, California. He writes for InterNations.org, as well as for other smaller companies around the world.

About InterNations.org:  InterNations is an online expat community with a presence in over 300 locations world wide. Their free membership allows you to meet expats and English speaking locals and gives you access to information like the Costa Rica Guide.

To join InterNations.org, simply click https://www.internations.org and fill out the short form.

Previous Post

Costa Rica Education – Retire to Costa Rica, Part 4

Next Post

Playa Grande Costa Rica, Beach Hotels in Costa Rica

Next Post
Playa Grande Costa Rica

Playa Grande Costa Rica, Beach Hotels in Costa Rica

Recent Articles

  • Best Places to Retire in Mexico: Top Coastal and Mountain Towns for 2025
  • Senior Living Apartments: Modern Options for Comfortable Retirement
  • 10 Funniest Retirement Quotes of All Time: Laughter is the Best Pension
  • Top 10 Retirement Communities: Leading Options for Senior Living in 2024
  • Dating Over 40 While Female? Here’s What You Need to Know
  • Best Reviewed Retirement Planning Software: Top Picks for Financial Stability
  • Costa Rica Cost of Living – Retire in Costa Rica, Part 2
  • If I Retire at 62 Will I Receive Full Benefits at 67: Understanding Social Security Eligibility
Facebook Twitter Pinterest

Article Categories

  • Retirement Locations
  • Retirement Income & Banking
  • Retirement Hobbies
  • Relocation Tours

Retirepedia Links

  • RetirePedia Blog
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sitemap
  • Disclaimers
  • Contact Us
retirepedia logo

No Result
View All Result
  • Retirement Locations
  • Retirement Hobbies
  • Retirement Income & Banking
  • Tours
    • Belize Tours
    • Costa Rica Tours
    • Nicaragua Tours
    • Panama Tours