| If you're thinking about moving to Costa Rica and have | | | | 15. The Police Certificate mentioned above should be |
| no idea what the required residency procedures are, | | | | issued by the state where you have lived for the last |
| you've come to the right place. When it comes to | | | | six months. |
| applying for residency in Costa Rica, there are general | | | | 16. The foreign currency you receive as a monthly |
| and specific requirements that need to be filled and | | | | pension should be converted into the Costa Rican |
| documents that must be submitted. You should submit | | | | currency (colones). This could be certified by the |
| any request for residency in Costa Rica to the Costa | | | | Costa Rican Central Bank or any other government |
| Rican Consulate in your country. We recommend you | | | | bank. |
| begin this process at least 3 months prior to your | | | | 17. You (and your dependents) cannot work and/or |
| anticipated departure. | | | | earn a salary in Costa Rica. You can, however, |
| The following are the general requirements that need | | | | administer your own investments but without a salary. |
| to be filled for any residency application in Costa Rica: | | | | In addition, a physical presence in Costa Rica for a |
| 1. You should submit an application addressed to the | | | | minimum of 4 months each year is required. |
| Director General of Migration. If you can't be there in | | | | (Rentistas): |
| person, you should grant a special power of attorney - | | | | 12. If you're a rentista, you should demonstrate that you |
| notarized, authenticated, and in Spanish - to a | | | | would receive income from an investment such as a |
| representative in the USA who will sign the residence | | | | certificate of deposit or annuity of at least US $1,000 |
| application form and submit all the documents to the | | | | per month per person (or couple) and US $500 per |
| Consulate. | | | | children under 18 in the same family group. |
| 2. You should grant special authority to a | | | | 13. Original Income Certificate from the banking |
| representative (apoderado) by submitting a document, | | | | institution (in a foreign country or in Costa Rica) |
| signed by you and notarized and authenticated in the | | | | guaranteeing that they hold sufficient funds in a stable |
| Consulate, that shows the personal details of the | | | | and permanent account to provide an income of US |
| representative and the address to which they receive | | | | $1,000 per month for at least five years and that the |
| notifications within the judicial perimeter of San Jose. | | | | monthly income will be sent to Costa Rica in your |
| 3. Birth Certificate that clearly shows the parents' | | | | name. |
| name (required for all applicants, spouse, and | | | | 14. Your income should be converted into Costa Rican |
| dependent children up to 18 years or up to 25 if a | | | | colones, whose exchange rate is established by the |
| university student with a proof of enrollment)* | | | | Central Bank. |
| 4. Police Certificate (not older than six months) issued | | | | 15. You could have a deposit of US $60,000 in an |
| by the state where you have lived for the past two | | | | approved Costa Rican bank to meet the government |
| years (required for all applicants, spouse, and all | | | | requirements for the residency status. |
| dependent children aged 18 to 25)* | | | | 16. You (and your dependents) cannot work and/or |
| 5. Applications received after November 15th, 2002 will | | | | earn a salary in Costa Rica. You can, however, |
| require an FBI identification record. (Required for all | | | | administer your own investments but without a salary. |
| applicants, spouse, and all dependent children aged 18 | | | | In addition, a physical presence in Costa Rica for a |
| to 25) | | | | minimum of 4 months each year is required. |
| 6. Marriage Certificate (if found)* | | | | Investor (Inversionista): |
| 7. Photocopy of the passport certified by the | | | | 12. If you're an investor, you will be required to invest at |
| Consulate or certified and authenticated by a Notary | | | | least US $50,000 with an approved organization in a |
| Public (required for all applicants, spouse, and any | | | | field such as tourism or export businesses. |
| dependent children) | | | | 13. You will be required to invest US $100,000 in a |
| 8. Four recent forehead passport-size photographs | | | | reforestation project. |
| (required for all applicants, spouse, and any dependent | | | | 14. In other types of business, an amount of US |
| children) | | | | $200,000 invested will be required. |
| 9. Eligible individuals can claim their spouses, children | | | | 15. As an investor, you should spend at least six |
| under 18, and older children with disabilities as | | | | months per year in Costa Rica. |
| dependents. A son or daughter between 18 and 25 | | | | Foreign Relatives of a Costa Rican Citizen: |
| can be considered dependents if they are enrolled in a | | | | 12. If you have first-degree family members such as |
| university. | | | | parents, siblings, spouses, or children who are citizens |
| 10. In the case of a family group, an individual file is | | | | of Costa Rica, you can apply for permanent residency. |
| required for each member. Parents should sign | | | | 13. If you're married to a Costa Rican citizen, the |
| applications on behalf of their minor children. | | | | Marriage Certificate should be issued by the Civil |
| 11. For practicing a profession, you should provide your | | | | Registry (Registro Civil) in Costa Rica. In case of |
| diplomas. For pursuing other professional activities, | | | | children or siblings born in Costa Rica, Birth Certificates |
| relevant documentation - such as courses and studies | | | | should also be issued by the Civil Registry in Costa |
| undertaken - should be submitted as well. | | | | Rica. |
| *All documents listed in 3, 4, and 6 must be | | | | 14. You should submit a photocopy of the ID |
| authenticated by the Costa Rican Consulate and | | | | (cédula de identidad) of the Costa Rican citizen |
| translated into Spanish. Before they are submitted to | | | | who is related to you. |
| the Consulate, these documents must be notarized | | | | Students: |
| and also apostilled by the respective states in which | | | | 12. If you're a student looking to obtain a Student Visa, |
| they originated. | | | | you should provide: (a) proof of enrollment in an |
| You should send all the required documents first to the | | | | educational private or public center recognized by |
| Consulate of your jurisdiction to be checked. If the | | | | Costa Rica, (b) relevant academic diplomas |
| documents are complete, you - or your representative | | | | authenticated by the Consulate, and (c) proof of |
| - will be asked to go to the Consulate for an interview | | | | sufficient economic resources for the duration of the |
| and sign the application you have already sent. | | | | educational program. |
| The documents will be sent to Migration in Costa Rica, | | | | Temporary Workers (Work Visa): |
| who will contact your representative in Costa Rica. For | | | | 12. The following individuals might obtain a temporary |
| this purpose, you will have to pay for the courier | | | | work permit in Costa Rica: (a) scientists, professionals, |
| service. | | | | teachers, technicians, and specialized staff hired by |
| In addition to the general requirements mentioned | | | | companies or institutions based in Costa Rica and (b) |
| above for residency application, you should fulfill the | | | | businessmen and board members of national and |
| following specific requirements depending on your | | | | international companies. |
| immigration category. You do not have to send those | | | | 13. The employing company or institution should provide |
| documents together with the ones mentioned above. | | | | a document describing the: (a) functions to be |
| However, if they are missing, you - or your | | | | undertaken by the employee, (b) length of the contract, |
| representative - will be notified once Migration receives | | | | (c) salary or wages to be received, and (d) why they |
| and processes the documents sent by the Consulate. | | | | need to employ that particular individual (justification of |
| You will be given 10 days to complete those | | | | employment). |
| documents if they are issued in Costa Rica, or 30 | | | | 14. The Police Certificate mentioned above should be |
| days if they are issued abroad. Please note that some | | | | issued by the state/place where you have resided for |
| documents need to be authenticated by the Costa | | | | the last five years. |
| Rican Consulate first. | | | | All the residency status will require, upon approval, US |
| Retirees (Pensionados): | | | | $300 per person as a return trip guarantee deposit as |
| 12. If you're a retiree, you should be receiving at least | | | | well as US $150 per person for the issuance of an ID |
| US $600 a month from a qualified retirement plan or a | | | | card. |
| lifetime pension source outside Costa Rica. | | | | Moving to Costa Rica may seem like a paperwork |
| 13. Original Income Certificate from the company, | | | | nightmare. These classifications and the associated |
| government, or institution guaranteeing that the monthly | | | | process for each are more for the "do it yourself" kind |
| income will be sent to Costa Rica in your name | | | | of person; however, it can be very easy and simple |
| 14. You could also demonstrate that you receive the | | | | with the help of a lawyer who specializes in this |
| minimum amount of US $600 from interests or | | | | process. All the steps involved are very procedural, |
| dividends from investments on foreign currency | | | | and all you have to do is take them one step at a time. |
| deposited in a Costa Rican government bank. | | | | |