Where Can I Live

Your Guide To Living In

  • About COSTA RICA
  • Visas & Permits
  • Citizenship
  • Investment Visas
  • Expat Stories
  • Moving To COSTA RICA
  • Helpful Resources

Your guide to living in Costa Rica.  Costa Rica visas, residency and citizenship

Living the Costa Rican dream is a popular plan amongst immigrants and for good reasons. The country is a tropical paradise that is well known for its beauty and peaceful way of life. Costa Rica doesn’t even have an army and is the world’s 12thhappiest place to live.Those who call Costa Rica their home enjoy a strong economy and low unemployment. Tourism is the main industry and about 2 million visitors make it to the lush paradise each year. There are plenty of career opportunities for specialized professionals and it’s a great place for online freelancers to be based.The large amount of rainfall makes much of the country green and a suitable living environment for many species, not least people who love the tropics! Good infrastructure means that working and exploring Costa Rica is easy and affordable. The political climate is stable, health care of good quality and security is good.‘Pura Vida’ (pure life) in Costa Rica means a relaxing lifestyle in one of the most beautiful and peaceful places in the world.

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.

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