Residency Requirements and Classifications in Costa Rica

If you're interested in moving to Costa Rica and also have no idea what the mandatory residency procedures are, you've come to the right place. In terms of trying to get residency in Costa Rica, there are general and specific requirements that require to be filled and documents that must be submitted. You need to submit any request for residency in Costa Rica to the Costa Rican Consulate in your country. We recommend you begin this process at least 3 months ahead of your anticipated departure.

The following are the overall requirements that require to be filled for just about any residency application in Costa Rica:

1. You should fill out an application addressed to the Director General of Migration. If you cannot be there in person, you should grant a particular power of attorney - notarized, authenticated, and in Spanish - to a representative in america who will sign the residence form and submit all of the documents to the Consulate.

2. You should grant special authority to a representative (apoderado) by submitting a document, signed by you and notarized and authenticated in the Consulate, that shows the personal information on the representative and the address to that they receive notifications within the judicial perimeter of San Jose.

3. Birth Certificate that clearly shows the parents' name (required for all applicants, spouse, and dependent children up to 18 years or around 25 if a university student with a proof enrollment)*

4. Police Certificate (not more than six months) issued by the state where you have lived for days gone by two years (required for all applicants, spouse, and all dependent children aged 18 to 25)*

5. Applications received after November 15th, 2002 will require an FBI identification record. (Necessary for all applicants, spouse, and all dependent children aged 18 to 25)

6. Marriage Certificate (if found)*

7. Photocopy of the passport certified by the Consulate or certified and authenticated by a Notary Public (necessary for all applicants, spouse, and any dependent children)

8. Four recent forehead passport-size photographs (necessary for all applicants, spouse, and any dependent children)

9. Eligible individuals can claim their spouses, children under 18, and older children with disabilities as dependents. A son or daughter between 18 and 25 can be viewed as dependents if they're signed up for a university.

10. Regarding a family group, an individual file is required for every member. Parents should sign applications on behalf of their minor children.

11. For practicing an occupation, you need to provide your diplomas. For pursuing other professional activities, relevant documentation - such as for example courses and studies undertaken - should be submitted as well.

* View website  listed in 3, 4, and 6 should be authenticated by the Costa Rican Consulate and translated into Spanish. Before they're submitted to the Consulate, these documents must be notarized and also apostilled by the respective states where they originated.

You should send all the required documents first to the Consulate of one's jurisdiction to be checked. If the documents are complete, you - or your representative - will be asked to visit the Consulate for an interview and sign the application you have already sent.

The documents will undoubtedly be delivered to Migration in Costa Rica, who will contact your representative in Costa Rica. For this function, you will need to pay for the courier service.

As well as the general requirements mentioned previously for residency application, you should fulfill the following specific requirements based on your immigration category. There is no need to send those documents alongside the ones mentioned previously. However, if they're missing, you - or your representative - will undoubtedly be notified once Migration receives and processes the documents sent by the Consulate. You can be given 10 days to complete those documents if they are issued in Costa Rica, or 30 days if they're issued abroad. Please be aware that some documents ought to be authenticated by the Costa Rican Consulate first.

Retirees (Pensionados):

12. If you are a retiree, you need to be receiving at the very least US $600 per month from the qualified retirement plan or a lifetime pension source outside Costa Rica.

13. Original Income Certificate from the company, government, or institution guaranteeing that the monthly income will undoubtedly be sent to Costa Rica in your name

14. You could also demonstrate that you have the minimum level of US $600 from interests or dividends from investments on forex deposited in a Costa Rican government bank.

15. The Police Certificate mentioned above should be issued by hawaii where you have lived for the last six months.

16. The forex you receive as a monthly pension should be changed into the Costa Rican currency (colones). This may be certified by the Costa Rican Central Bank or any government bank.

17. You (as well as your dependents) cannot work and/or earn a salary in Costa Rica. You can, however, administer your personal investments but without a salary. In addition, a physical presence in Costa Rica for at the least 4 months every year is required.

(Rentistas):

12. If you're a rentista, you should demonstrate that you would receive income from an investment like a certificate of deposit or annuity of at the very least US $1,000 per month per person (or couple) and US $500 per children under 18 in exactly the same family group.

13. Original Income Certificate from the banking institution (in a foreign country or in Costa Rica) guaranteeing they hold sufficient funds in a stable and permanent account to supply an income of US $1,000 per month for at the very least five years and that the monthly income will be sent to Costa Rica in your name.

14. Your income should be changed into Costa Rican colones, whose exchange rate is made by the Central Bank.

15. You might have a deposit folks $60,000 within an approved Costa Rican bank to meet up the federal government requirements for the residency status.

16. You (as well as your dependents) cannot work and/or earn a salary in Costa Rica. It is possible to, however, administer your personal investments but with out a salary. Furthermore, a physical presence in Costa Rica for a minimum of 4 months every year is required.

Investor (Inversionista):

12. If you're an investor, you may be required to invest at least US $50,000 with an approved organization in a field such as for example tourism or export businesses.

13. You can be required to invest US $100,000 in a reforestation project.

14. In other types of business, some US $200,000 invested will undoubtedly be required.

15. As an investor, you should spend at least half a year per year in Costa Rica.

Foreign Relatives of a Costa Rican Citizen:

12. Assuming you have first-degree family members such as for example parents, siblings, spouses, or children that are citizens of Costa Rica, it is possible to apply for permanent residency.

13. If you are married to a Costa Rican citizen, the Marriage Certificate should be issued by the Civil Registry (Registro Civil) in Costa Rica. In case of children or siblings born in Costa Rica, Birth Certificates also needs to be issued by the Civil Registry in Costa Rica.

14. You should submit a photocopy of the ID (c�dula de identidad) of the Costa Rican citizen who's related to you.

Students:

12. If you're students looking to obtain a Student Visa, you should provide: (a) proof enrollment within an educational private or public center identified by Costa Rica, (b) relevant academic diplomas authenticated by the Consulate, and (c) proof sufficient economic resources for the duration of the educational program.

Temporary Workers (Work Visa):

12. The next individuals might obtain a temporary work permit in Costa Rica: (a) scientists, professionals, teachers, technicians, and specialized staff hired by companies or institutions based in Costa Rica and (b) businessmen and board members of national and international companies.

13. The employing company or institution should give a document describing the: (a) functions to be undertaken by the employee, (b) length of the contract, (c) salary or wages to be received, and (d) why they have to employ that particular individual (justification of employment).

14. The Police Certificate mentioned above should be issued by the state/place where you have resided for the last five years.

All of the residency status will require, upon approval, US $300 per person as a return trip guarantee deposit together with US $150 per person for the issuance of an ID card.

Moving to Costa Rica may seem such as a paperwork nightmare. These classifications and the associated process for each tend to be more for the "do-it-yourself" kind of person; however, it could be very easy and simple by using a lawyer who focuses on this process. All of the steps involved are very procedural, and all you need to do is take them one step at a time.

Pura Vida!