Permanent Residency Eligibility

There are several paths to obtain Permanent Resident Status (PRS) in Costa Rica. Please click the path that applies to you:

• You are an immediate relative (parents, spouse, single brother, single sister, sons, and/or daughters) of a Costa Rican citizen or a permanent resident of Costa Rica. (See Immigration through a Family Member )
  
  

• You have a Costa Rican company that would like to sponsor you and provide you with permanent employment, or you become the representative of a foreign company in Costa Rica (See Immigration through Employment )
  
  

•  You invest in a Costa Rican industry or business (See Immigration through Investment)
  
  

•  You have a secure income from a retirement plan or pension of at least $7,200.00 US dollars per year (See Immigration through Retirement )
  
  

•  You have annuities equal to or higher than $12,000.00 per year (See Immigration through Annuities )

Immigration Through Family Members:

You must have an immediate relative (parent, spouse, a single sister, or a single brother) who is a Costa Rican citizen or a permanent resident of Costa Rica and is willing to petition and sponsor you in Costa Rica. Your brother or sister must be and remain single until your conditions on your permanent resident status are removed.  Please see Permanent Residence Application Required Documents

Immigration Through Employment:

You may obtain permanent resident status, if you have a permanent employment opportunity (i. e. scientist, technicians, upper level managers, business people, or ESL teachers) in Costa Rica. The company must prove that your work experience or knowledge is indispensable for its business.
Please see Permanent Residence Application Required Documents

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Immigration Through Investment:

You may obtain permanent resident status when you invest a certain amount of money in a specific Costa Rican business or industry.

You will be required to:

• Invest at least:
  
  

1.  $50,000.00 U.S. dollars in a business of tourism or exportation approved by the Costa Rican government, or
   
   
2.  $100,000.00 U.S. dollars in a reforestation project, or
   
   
3.  $200,000 U.S. dollars in any type of business in Costa Rica

•  Live in Costa Rica for six months out of the year

No proof of monthly income is required. The Spanish term for this permanent resident status is: "Estatus de Inversionista."
Please see Permanent Residence Application Required Documents

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Immigration Through Retirement:

You may obtain permanent resident status, if you choose to retire in Costa Rica.

As a retiree, you will be required to:

• Show proof of retirement (Social Security Benefits)

• Show proof of monthly income of at least $600 per month from a retirement plan, pension, or a qualified foreign source such as your government.

• Exchange your monthly income while living in Costa Rica to Costa Rican currency within the state banking system.

• Live in Costa Rica for at least four (4) months out of the year

• Maintain a record of money exchange transactions within the state banking system on a yearly basis.

Note: The Spanish term of this permanent resident status is called: "Estatus de Pensionado." If you or your dependants are granted conditional permanent resident status when you file through retirement, you will not be allowed to earn a salary in Costa Rica. You are, however, free to manage your own investments. Please see Permanent Residence Application Required Documents

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Immigration Through Annuities:

If you have annuities (i.e. income from real estate, equipment, bonds, shares, stock, mutual funds, etc. paid in a series of regular payments) you can file for permanent resident status and will be required to:

• Show proof of income from annuities of at least $1,000 U.S. dollars per month from a foreign or national bank.

• Provide a certified letter from the foreign or national bank certifying that you will receive such monies. The letter must be renewed every five years.

• Exchange a minimum of $1,000.00 U.S. dollars per month or $12,000.00 U.S. dollars per year into Costa Rican currency at a state owned bank.

• Submit proof of currency exchange

• Live in Costa Rica for at least four months per year

• Maintain a record of money exchange transactions within the state banking system on a yearly basis.

Note: The Spanish term for this permanent resident status is: "Estatus de Rentista." If you or your dependants are granted conditional permanent resident status when you file through retirement, you will not be allowed to earn a salary in Costa Rica. You are, however, free to manage your own investments.

Permanent Residence Application Required Documents

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