Guides
Costa Rica residency, documented.
31 guides, each citing the article of law or the official source behind every figure, and each showing the date it was last revised. Start with the path that fits you, then work down to the documents.
Residency paths
The four categories, their thresholds and who each one fits.
- Residency path 1 of 4Costa Rica Pensionado Visa: Requirements, Cost and TimelineCosta Rica's pensionado residency needs a $1,000/month lifetime pension. Every document, the pension letter wording, costs and timeline.Read →
- Residency path 2 of 4Costa Rica Rentista Visa: Requirements, the $60,000 Deposit and CostCosta Rica rentista residency requires $2,500/month of stable income for two years, or a bank deposit. Bank-letter wording, documents, costs and timeline.Read →
- Residency path 3 of 4Costa Rica Investor Visa (Inversionista): $150,000 Rules, Requirements and TimelineCosta Rica's inversionista residency: what counts as a $150,000 investment, why it must be in your name, the July 2026 Law 9996 change, documents and cost.Read →
- Residency path 4 of 4Costa Rica Digital Nomad Visa: Requirements, Cost, Taxes and RenewalCosta Rica's digital nomad visa needs $3,000/month earned abroad, $50,000 health insurance and a $100 fee. Documents, taxes, renewal, and its limits.Read →
Requirements, cost and decisions
What you need, what it costs, and how to choose.
- RequirementsCosta Rica Residency Requirements for U.S. and Canadian Citizens (2026)Every document Costa Rica requires for residency in 2026, by category: income thresholds, the FBI/RCMP check, apostilles, translations and validity rules.Read →
- Costs, itemizedHow Much Does Costa Rica Residency Cost in 2026?Every cost of Costa Rica residency in 2026: government fees, the refundable deposit, DIMEX, apostilles, translations, attorney fees and CAJA, by path.Read →
- TimelineHow Long Does Costa Rica Residency Take? Real 2026 TimelinesCosta Rica residency takes 8–14 months for pensionado and rentista, 5–9 for investors and 2–8 weeks for digital nomads in 2026. Stage by stage.Read →
- Decision guidePensionado vs Rentista: Which Costa Rica Residency Is Right for You?Pensionado needs a $1,000/month lifetime pension; rentista needs $2,500/month for two years or a deposit. Proof, CAJA cost, renewal and who picks which.Read →
- Decision guideCan You Apply for Costa Rica Residency Yourself? DIY vs AttorneyYes, you can apply for Costa Rica residency without a lawyer. What it involves, what it costs ($600–1,150), where DIY files fail, and when to hire help.Read →
- Choosing helpCosta Rica Residency Lawyer: What They Do, What They Cost and How to Choose OneWhat a Costa Rica residency lawyer does, what the law does not require, 2026 fee ranges, how to check a license, red flags and questions to ask first.Read →
- Healthcare costHow Much Does CAJA Cost for Residents of Costa Rica in 2026?What CAJA costs Costa Rica residents in 2026: five income bands from 7.05% to 19.11%, worked examples, spouse coverage and timing before the DIMEX.Read →
Process and documents
Background checks, apostilles, the card, renewals and family.
- The destinationCosta Rica Permanent Residency: Requirements After 3 Years, Benefits and RenewalHow to get permanent residency in Costa Rica: three years of temporary residency, the change-of-category filing, what it allows, renewals and citizenship.Read →
- DocumentsFBI Background Check for Costa Rica Residency: Order, Apostille and TimingCosta Rica requires an FBI Identity History Summary with fingerprints, a federal apostille and a translation, all within six months of the issue date.Read →
- DocumentsApostille Requirements for Costa Rica Residency: Which Documents, Which OfficeWhich documents need an apostille for Costa Rica residency, who issues it in the U.S. and Canada, state fees, and why the apostille is translated too.Read →
- Residency cardThe DIMEX Card in Costa Rica: What It Is, What It Costs and How You Get ItCosta Rica's DIMEX residency card: $103–133 in fees after approval, CAJA and the deposit first, same-day printing at BCR, and renewal every two years.Read →
- RenewalCosta Rica Residency Renewal: How It Works, What It Costs and the DeadlinesCosta Rica temporary residency renews every two years: uninterrupted CAJA, $103–133 in fees, a $3 monthly fine after 30 days, cancellation at three months.Read →
- FamilyCosta Rica Residency for Your Spouse and Children: How Family Applications WorkHow a spouse and children join Costa Rica residency: who counts as a dependent under Law 8764 art. 82, each person's documents, fees per person and CAJA.Read →
- Family tiesCosta Rica Residency by Marriage: How It Works for the Spouse of a Costa RicanSpouses of Costa Ricans get one-year temporary residency, renewed yearly after a joint interview, and permanent status after 3 years (Law 8764, art. 73).Read →
Moving and living in Costa Rica
Retirement, cost of living, healthcare, taxes, banking and property.
- The 2026 relocation guideMoving to Costa Rica: The 2026 Relocation GuideWhat to do six months before you move to Costa Rica, which residency fits, how CAJA works, shipping and pets, and where North Americans tend to live.Read →
- From CanadaCosta Rica Residency for Canadians: Moving to Costa Rica from CanadaCosta Rica residency for Canadians in 2026: the RCMP check, provincial and federal apostilles, CPP/OAS pension letters, CAJA and a step-by-step timeline.Read →
- RetirementRetire in Costa Rica: Residency, Budget, Healthcare and the Trade-offsHow to retire in Costa Rica in 2026: pensionado residency on a $1,000 lifetime pension, CAJA and private care, budgeting, pros and cons, and the timeline.Read →
- ComparisonCosta Rica vs Panama for Retirement: Residency, Healthcare and Costs ComparedCosta Rica's pensionado vs Panama's jubilado permit: the $1,000 lifetime pension, permanent status, healthcare, currency and cost of living, with sources.Read →
- From the United StatesMoving to Costa Rica as an American: The U.S. ChecklistA U.S. checklist for moving to Costa Rica: FBI check and apostilles, Social Security abroad, Medicare, IRS filing, FBAR, pets, shipping and a timeline.Read →
- Monthly budgetsCost of Living in Costa Rica in 2026: Monthly Budgets for RetireesCost of living in Costa Rica in 2026 for a single retiree and a couple: rent, groceries, utilities, transport, CAJA and insurance, each with a source.Read →
- Where to liveBest Places to Live in Costa Rica: Nine Areas ComparedBest places to live in Costa Rica for North American retirees, compared: province, elevation, climate, airport distance and nearest public hospital.Read →
- HealthcareCosta Rica Healthcare for Expats: CAJA, Private Hospitals and InsuranceHow Costa Rica healthcare works for expats: mandatory CAJA for residents, private hospitals, INS and private insurance, and why Medicare won't pay abroad.Read →
- Taxes, U.S. sideU.S. Taxes for Americans Living in Costa RicaAmericans in Costa Rica still file with the IRS. The earned income exclusion, foreign tax credit, FBAR and Form 8938 thresholds, from official sources.Read →
- Banking, for foreignersOpening a Bank Account in Costa Rica as a ForeignerHow foreigners open a bank account in Costa Rica: which banks exist, what documents banks ask for, SINPE Móvil, IBAN wires from the U.S., and the FBAR.Read →
- Property, for foreignersBuying Property in Costa Rica as a ForeignerForeigners can own titled property in Costa Rica. The maritime zone limits, the Registro Nacional title check, the notary's role and the 1.5% transfer tax.Read →
- Moving logisticsShipping Household Goods to Costa Rica After Law 9996Law 9996's duty-free household goods benefit closed on 14 July 2026. How customs now treats a move, what a customs broker does, and what to ship.Read →
- Moving logisticsBringing Pets to Costa Rica: SENASA Requirements for Dogs and CatsSENASA rules for bringing a dog or cat to Costa Rica from the U.S. or Canada: vet exam and parasite timing, rabies, endorsement and arrival inspection.Read →