File for Residency and invest in Costa Rica.
Investing and retiring in Costa Rica is a wonderful idea. You can obtain Costa Rican residency by making investments. We will be happy to help you with your immigration needs. In this article, we will outline Costa Rica´s residency requirements. Our country is a beautiful and secure country to invest in. After visiting for the first time, you will fall in love with it. So why not live here? You could even end up applying for Costa Rican citizenship.
Our residency and immigration law firm will help you to retire, invest, live, or work in Costa rica. Immigration to Costa Rica will let you enjoy our beautiful beaches, and the perfect climate makes Costa Rica an ideal place to retire and invest. Contact our law firm and be on your way to obtain your permanent residency in Costa Rica.
Many people who choose to live in Costa Rica become “permanent tourists,” leaving the country every 90 days to enter again on a tourist visa. This can be uncomfortable and expensive since they have to do this several times a year. Avoid all of this by obtaining residency in Costa Rica.
Is Costa Rica a beautiful and secure country to invest?
Yes it is. We have the most varied ecosystem on the planet, and both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, are just a few hours from San José. Tourism in Costa Rica is a driving force, so real estate investing for rentals is a very good business in the country. Several provinces are the best to do this, due to their closeness to both oceans: Guanacaste, Puntarenas and Limon. Guanacaste and Puntarenas are on the Pacific side.
Places such as Santa Teresa, Flamingo, Conchal, Pagagayo, Tamarindo, Nosara, Samara, and Mal País in Guanacaste, are beautiful places to do business in, and invest in real estate. On the southern side, in Puntarenas, I recommend investing in places such as Jacó, Bahía Drake, Osa, Ballena, Manuel Antonio, and Quepos. Many condos and highrises are available in San José, so purchasing for renting is surely a sound business investment.
General residency requirements / Costa Rica residency laws.
For foreign nationals to reside in Costa Rica, you have several options or categories that immigration law provides. Obtaining residency requires general and process-specific documents. Below is a brief description of the main categories available and legal residency requirements. Your residency process may take from 12 to 15 months once all documents are filed.
An apostilled birth certificate is necessary for any residency application in Costa Rica. A marriage certificate is only necessary if the couple is applying together.
A background check for the last three years must be requested by your country’s corresponding legal authority. The FBI issues these documents for US nationals.
Important documents that may be required for your immigration application may include school records, birth or marriage certificates, background checks, and divorce certifications, if applicable. These documents must be legalized or apostilled, and issued in the last six months.
Translations must be given to all documents for the residency application. The translation to Spanish must be done by an official translator in Costa Rica.
Residency in Costa Rica as an investor:
This residency category requires you to invest in Costa Rica. Investing will give you a temporary resident status. This category is available for foreign nationals who invest at least USD 150,000. The investment must be made in local currency. The temporary resident status is granted for two (2) years and can be renewed for another two. The investment must remain in your name. After three years of temporary residency, you become eligible for a permanent one.
Sub categories as an investor:
Corporate investment:
You can invest in Costa Rica, by acquiring shares in an existing corporation, or by starting a business from scratch. The shares acquired must be for at least USD $150,000. You can buy the whole company or part of it, and this can be done by acquiring shares.
Investing in Real Estate
You can file for residency as an investor if you purchase real estate for at least USD 150,000. The investment must be in your name and free of mortgages.
What type of investments can you recommend?
Investing in Costa Rica is a good idea. I recommend real estate investments; you can buy real estate and do rentals, especially a good idea near the beaches. Another good investment idea is private money lending. Our law firm can put you in contact with potential debtors and constitute mortgages for you. Interest in Costa Rica for loan investments varies; you can make from 9% to 12% a year.
Can your law firm assist me with a property investment?
Yes of course. I have assisted many Americans and foreigners when they wish to invest in Costa Rica. Our secure environment in this country makes investing in Costa Rica real estate ideal. I have whole sections in this website, with information for you: from the initial due diligence to the actual real estate purchase closing. You can purchase properties in Costa Rica, in all of the country’s provinces which are: San Jose, Guanacaste, Limon, Alajuela, Heredia, and Puntarenas.
Retiree residency Costa Rica requirements (pensionado)
This category is a temporary residence, and is part of our expert immigration services. It applies to anyone who is retired and receives pension benefits. It’s available for foreign nationals who receive a government retirement pension or income of USD 1,000 per month. It is granted for two (2) years and can be renewed for additional two years as long as the pension income remains. This type of residency requires you to visit Costa Rica at least once a year and can be requested for your spouse or children under eighteen. However, you can´t work as an employee in Costa Rica, even though you can own a business or receive dividends from stock in companies.
Residency for Fixed Income (rentista)
This category is a temporary residence available for foreign nationals who have a monthly income of at least USD 2,500. It can also be granted with a USD 60,000 deposit in Costa Rica. It is given for two (2) years and can be renewed for additional two-year installments as long as the fixed income remains. There are several ways to prove the monthly income; we can advise you depending on your circumstances. Under this category, you must visit Costa Rica at least once a year, and residency can be given to your spouse and children if requested. Again, you can´t work as an employee for anyone in Costa Rica, even though you can own a company or a business.
Permanent Residency in Costa Rica
This category is a permanent residence, available for foreign nationals who are married to a Costa Rican citizen or have a child born in Costa Rica. Again, it would be best if you visited Costa Rica at least once a year. Permanent residency in Costa Rica can be requested for your spouse or children. With this residency, you can work for a company, own one, and receive dividends.
Residency by marriage to a Costa Rican national
This category is a temporary residence available for foreign nationals who marry Costa Rican citizens. It is granted for one (1) year and can be renewed for additional one year, as long as the marriage continues. Authorities can request an interview of the couple for the renewal. The marriage must be registered on the Civil Registry in Costa Rica. After three years of marriage, you can request permanent residency in Costa Rica.