Expat Health Insurance: everything you need to know
Health is the number one prerequisite for every adventure you plan, and unfortunately, it can be very unpredictable. It is essential to do your resear
Your guide to living in Costa Rica. Costa Rica visas, residency and citizenship
Finding work in Costa Rica is easiest for high skilled professionals. They can get a work permit, which allows them to work in Costa Rica for a year.
Work permit applications are processed by a number of institutions, making it a complicated process. The Directory of Immigration and the Ministry of Labour review applications and the process can take up to a year. Hiring a local lawyer to support you with the application is highly recommended, as they know their way through all the steps of the process.
Through income/pension
- If you can prove a monthly income of USD1000 for life, you can apply for the pensionado or retirement visa in Costa Rica.
- If you can prove a monthly income of USD2500 over a period of two years, you can apply for the rentista visa in Costa Rica.
To find out if you need a tourist visa to visit Costa Rica, please use the VisaHQ tool below.
Family Visas:
- If your spouse is a citizen or permanent resident of Costa Rica, you are eligible for temporary residency and after 3 years of marriage you can apply for permanent residency. If your spouse is a citizen, you can apply for citizenship after 3 years of marriage residency in Costa Rica. Please note that your status of spouse needs to be legally recognised in this country.
- If your child is a citizen or permanent resident of this country, you may apply for a parent residency visa.
Here are some of the ways to get citizenship in Costa Rica:
- If you were born in Costa Rica, you are most likely a Costa Rica.
- If one or both of your parents were citizens when you were born, you are probably also a citizen.
- If your spouse is a citizen or permanent resident of Costa Rica, you are eligible for temporary residency and after 3 years of marriage you can apply for permanent residency. If your spouse is a citizen, you can apply for citizenship after 3 years of marriage residency in Costa Rica. Please note that your status of spouse needs to be legally recognised in this country.
Costa Rica Investment Visa
- If you invest USD$200,000 or more in one or a mix of the following assets: tangible property, shares, negotiable instruments, productive projects or projects which are deemed of national interest, you can apply for residency.