Deep coverage15 verified routes across visit, study, work, investment, family and more.
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Select the passports you hold to see short-stay access and per-route eligibility for Costa Rica.
3 routes
Visit
Short stays: tourism, transit, business trips, medical, pilgrimage.
Tourist Visa
Costa Rica Consular Tourist Visa
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Nationals of Group 3 countries (e.g. India, most of Africa, parts of Central Asia) must obtain a consular visa before travel, typically granting a stay of up to 30 days; the US$52 visa fee is paid on arrival or at the consulate. Group 4 (restricted) nationals (e.g. Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Cuba, Haiti) additionally need prior approval from the Restricted Visas and Refugee Commission in San José. Holders of valid US, Canada, EU/Schengen, UK or Japan visas/residence may qualify for simplified entry.
Government fee
$52
Service fee
$160
Max stay
30 days
Validity
60 days
Document checklist (6)
Visa application formConsular visa application filed at the Costa Rican consulate with jurisdiction.
Valid passportValid at least 6 months beyond intended entry.
Passport photosRecent passport-size photographs.
Proof of onward travelRound-trip or onward ticket reservation.
Proof of economic solvencyBank statements or equivalent showing funds for the stay.
Police clearance / background documentsOptionalMay be requested for restricted (Group 4) nationalities as part of Commission review.
Tourist Visa
Costa Rica Visa-Free Tourist Entry
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Nationals of roughly 90+ countries (US, Canada, UK, EU, most of Latin America) enter visa-free; Group 1 nationals can be granted up to 180 days, with the exact stay set at the border officer's discretion. Proof of onward travel and economic means may be requested. The stay is non-extendable beyond 180 days and confers no work rights.
Government fee
$0
Max stay
180 days
Document checklist (4)
Valid passportValid for at least the intended stay (1 day validity minimum for Group 1, 3-6 months recommended).
Proof of onward travelReturn or onward ticket out of Costa Rica.
Proof of economic meansOptionalRoughly US$100 per month of intended stay; may be requested at the border.
Yellow fever vaccination certificateOptionalRequired only if arriving from a country with yellow fever transmission risk.
Transit Visa
Costa Rica Transit Visa
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Nationals of consular- and restricted-visa countries (e.g. India, Nigeria, Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua) require a transit visa even to pass through Costa Rican airports. Visa-exempt nationals and holders of certain US/Canada/EU visas or residence permits transit without a visa. Applied for at a Costa Rican consulate before travel.
Service fee
$160
Document checklist (4)
Valid passportValid for at least 6 months.
Onward ticketConfirmed ticket for the continuing journey through Costa Rica.
Visa for destination countryProof of admissibility at the final destination.
Consular application formFiled at the Costa Rican consulate with jurisdiction.
Not yet researched
Business Visitor Visa
Medical Treatment Visa
Pilgrimage Visa
1 route
Study & Training
Universities, language courses, internships and exchanges.
Student Visa
Costa Rica Student Category
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Foreign students enrolled at recognized Costa Rican educational institutions apply for the student special category (consular provisional visa first for visa-required nationals, then DGME registration in-country). Requires an enrollment certificate, proof of financial means to cover studies and living costs, and standard apostilled civil documents; status is granted for the study program and renewed annually with proof of continued enrollment. It does not authorize salaried work and time as a student does not count toward permanent residency.
Study: Enrolled study is the basis of category
Government fee
$50
Service fee
$220
Validity
365 days
Document checklist (7)
Enrollment certificateFrom a Costa Rican educational institution recognized by the authorities, stating program and duration.
Proof of financial meansEvidence of funds or sponsorship covering tuition and living expenses.
Apostilled birth certificateWith official Spanish translation if applicable.
Apostilled police clearance certificateFor applicants over the age threshold set by DGME.
Passport and certified copyValid passport with certified copy of all pages.
Photos, fingerprints and feesPassport photos, fingerprint registration and government fee receipts.
Health insuranceOptionalMedical coverage for the duration of studies.
Not yet researched
Language Course Visa
Internship / Trainee Visa
Exchange Program Visa
3 routes
Work & Self-Employment
Digital nomad, freelance, skilled employment and company transfers.
Digital Nomad Visa
Costa Rica Digital Nomad Visa (Remote Worker Estancia)
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Estancia subcategory under Law 10008 for remote employees and service providers paid from abroad: US$3,000/month stable income (US$4,000 if including spouse/dependents), evidenced by 12 months of bank statements, plus medical insurance with at least US$50,000 coverage. Granted for 1 year and renewable for 1 more if the holder spent at least 80 days in Costa Rica; foreign remote income is fully exempt from Costa Rican income tax and local work is prohibited. Application is filed online via the Tramite Ya platform or at DGME with a US$100 fee; decisions issue in about 15 business days for complete files.
Work: Remote work for foreign clients only
Family: Dependents allowed at $4000/mo income
Government fee
$100
Service fee
$220
Processing time
21 days
Max stay
365 days
Validity
365 days
Min. income / month
$3,000
Document checklist (6)
Application via Tramite YaOnline application under the Digital Nomad / Remote Worker category with US$100 fee paid to Banco de Costa Rica.
Valid passportFull copy of passport, valid for the requested stay.
Proof of foreign incomeBank statements for the last 12 months showing stable income of US$3,000/month (US$4,000 with family), with notarized/apostilled affidavit of authenticity.
Medical insurancePolicy covering the entire stay in Costa Rica with at least US$50,000 in medical coverage.
Proof of remote work relationshipDeclaration/evidence that employer or clients are located outside Costa Rica.
Civil documents for dependentsOptionalApostilled marriage/birth certificates if including spouse or children.
Self-Employment Visa
Costa Rica Self-Employed Worker Residency
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Category for foreigners running their own business or working independently in Costa Rica: requires an incorporated, licensed business (tax ID, municipal license, CCSS and INS registration) or, in the skilled variant, proof of a marketable profession/trade. DGME applies labor-market scrutiny similar to employee permits, and the basic cuenta-propia special category requires annual renewal with proof the business remains active. The skilled self-employed temporary-residency variant allows family inclusion and counts toward permanent residency.
Work: Own business/self-employment allowed
Study: Study permitted
Residency after 3 years
Family: Spouse + dependent children included
Government fee
$50
Service fee
$270
Validity
365 days
Document checklist (6)
Business incorporation documentsEIRL/SRL/SA registration, legal entity ID and shareholder details.
Municipal business license (patente)Plus health and zoning permits where required.
CCSS and INS registrationSocial security registration as employer/self-employed and workers' compensation policy.
Proof of qualifications or tradeApostilled diplomas or documented experience for skilled self-employed applicants.
Apostilled birth and police certificatesStandard DGME civil documents.
Passport, photos, fingerprints and feesCertified passport copy, photos, fingerprint registration and government fees.
Skilled Work Visa
Costa Rica Temporary Residency as a Worker
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Employer-sponsored work authorization is highly restrictive: the Costa Rican employer must justify hiring a foreigner and show no Costa Rican or resident can fill the role, register the worker with the CCSS and sponsor the DGME application. Permits are tied to the employer/occupation, typically issued for up to 2 years and renewable; processing routinely takes 6-8+ months. Time under this category can count toward permanent residency after 3 years (special-category permits generally do not).
Work: Employer-tied; Labor Ministry approval req
Study: Study permitted
Government fee
$50
Service fee
$220
Processing time
240 days
Validity
730 days
Document checklist (8)
Employer sponsorship letterJob description, salary, qualifications required and justification for hiring a foreign national.
Employment contractSigned contract with the Costa Rican employer.
Employer corporate and tax documentsCompany registration, tax compliance and workers' insurance (INS) certifications, CCSS registration.
Proof of qualificationsApostilled degrees/certifications or evidence of specialized experience.
Apostilled police clearance certificateFrom country of origin or last residence.
Apostilled birth certificateWith Spanish translation if applicable.
Passport, photos and fingerprintsCertified passport copy, photos and Ministry of Security fingerprint registration.
Government fee paymentsUS$50 application + US$200 change of status if filed in-country.
Not yet researched
Freelancer Visa
Startup / Entrepreneur Visa
Seasonal Work Visa
Intra-Company Transfer Visa
3 routes
Invest & Capital
Golden visas, real estate, citizenship by investment, passive income.
Residence by Real Estate
Costa Rica Investor Residency via Real Estate
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The most-used route of the Inversionista category: purchase Costa Rican real estate with a registered/fiscal value of at least US$150,000, which since the 2023 regulations must generally be titled in the applicant's personal name in the National Registry (corporate holding only under strict conditions). Grants 2-year renewable temporary residency without income requirements; salaried work is not permitted but managing your own property/business is. Permanent residency after 3 years of temporary status.
Work: Own investment/business only; not as employee
Study: Study permitted
Residency after 3 years
Family: Spouse + children under 25 as dependents
Government fee
$50
Processing time
90 days
Validity
730 days
Min. investment
$150,000
Document checklist (6)
Registro Nacional property certificationCertification that the property is registered in the applicant's name with value of at least US$150,000.
CPA certification of investment valuePublic accountant certification of the investment amount where applicable.
Municipal tax/fiscal value evidenceDeclared fiscal value or purchase deed supporting the threshold.
Apostilled birth and police certificatesStandard DGME civil documents, apostilled and translated to Spanish.
Passport and certified copyFull certified copy of all pages.
Government fee paymentsUS$50 application + US$200 change of status if filed in-country.
Non-Lucrative / Passive Income Visa
Costa Rica Rentista (Fixed-Income) Temporary Residency
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Passive-income residency for applicants who prove stable unearned income of US$2,500/month guaranteed for at least 2 years, most commonly satisfied by depositing US$60,000 in a Costa Rican bank with a letter committing monthly disbursements. Valid 2 years, renewable on proof of US$30,000/year exchanged in Costa Rica and continued income; covers spouse and minor dependents. Salaried work is prohibited (owning a business is allowed); permanent residency after 3 years.
Study: Study permitted
Residency after 3 years
Family: Spouse + dependent children included
Government fee
$50
Processing time
90 days
Validity
730 days
Min. income / month
$2,500
Document checklist (8)
Application form and filiaciónDGME application with fingerprints and consular registration.
Proof of stable income or bank depositBank/issuer certification of US$2,500/month for 2+ years, or US$60,000 deposit in a Costa Rican bank with disbursement letter.
Apostilled birth certificateWith official Spanish translation if applicable.
Apostilled police clearance certificateFrom country of origin or last 3 years of residence.
Passport and certified copyFull certified copy of all pages.
Passport photosRecent passport-size photographs.
Government fee paymentsUS$50 application + US$200 change of status if filed in-country; DIMEX ~US$98.
CCSS enrollmentMandatory public health insurance enrollment after approval.
Business Investor Visa
Costa Rica Inversionista (Investor) Temporary Residency
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Temporary residency for investing at least US$150,000 (reduced from US$200,000 by Law 9996) in Costa Rican real estate, registrable assets, shares of active companies, SUGEVAL-registered securities or venture funds, projects of national interest, or sustainable tourism infrastructure; certified forestry/reforestation projects qualify at US$100,000. Valid 2 years, renewable while the investment is maintained; family can be included and permanent residency is available after 3 years. Law 9996 also grants 10-year duty-free import benefits (household goods, two vehicles) to approved applicants.
Work: Own investment/business only; not as employee
Study: Study permitted
Residency after 3 years
Family: Spouse + children under 25 as dependents
Government fee
$50
Processing time
90 days
Validity
730 days
Min. investment
$150,000
Document checklist (8)
Application form and filiaciónDGME application with fingerprints and consular registration.
CPA certification of investmentCertified public accountant report evidencing the US$150,000 investment (US$100,000 for certified forestry projects).
Registro Nacional / SUGEVAL evidenceProperty registration in the applicant's personal name, share registry or fund/brokerage certification, as applicable.
Apostilled birth certificateWith Spanish translation if applicable.
Apostilled police clearance certificateFrom country of origin or last 3 years of residence.
Passport and certified copyFull certified copy of all pages.
Government fee paymentsUS$50 application + US$200 change of status if filed in-country; DIMEX ~US$98.
CCSS enrollmentMandatory after approval.
Not yet researched
Golden Visa (Residence by Investment)
Citizenship by Investment
2 routes
Retire & Lifestyle
Retirement visas and working holiday schemes.
Retirement Visa
Costa Rica Pensionado (Retiree) Temporary Residency
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Temporary residency for anyone (no minimum age) receiving a lifetime pension of at least US$1,000/month from a government, Social Security or qualifying private source; spouse and children under 25 (or with disabilities) can be included as dependents. The permit is valid 2 years and renewable if the holder exchanges/deposits US$12,000 per year in Costa Rica, enrolls in the CCSS public health system (roughly 9-11% of declared income) and spends time in-country (at least 1 day per year, 4 months for some renewals). Salaried employment is prohibited (business ownership allowed); permanent residency available after 3 years.
Study: Study permitted
Residency after 3 years
Family: Spouse + dependent children included
Government fee
$50
Processing time
90 days
Validity
730 days
Min. income / month
$1,000
Document checklist (8)
Application form and cover letterFiliación form with personal data, fingerprints appointment and consular registration.
Proof of lifetime pensionCertification from competent authority of a pension of at least US$1,000/month for life, apostilled/legalized.
Apostilled birth certificateIssued within the validity window accepted by DGME, with official Spanish translation if applicable.
Apostilled police clearance certificateFrom country of origin or residence of the last 3 years.
Passport and certified copyFull certified copy of all passport pages.
Passport photosRecent passport-size photographs.
Government fee paymentsUS$50 application fee plus US$200 change-of-status fee if applying in-country; DIMEX card ~US$98 on approval.
CCSS enrollmentRegistration with the Costa Rican Social Security Fund after approval, before DIMEX issuance.
Working Holiday Visa
Costa Rica Working Holiday (Canada Youth Mobility)
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Under the reciprocal Canada–Costa Rica youth mobility agreement, young Canadians (18-35) can live and work in Costa Rica for up to 12 months to fund their travels, applying for a provisional visa under a special category; young-professional and internship streams require a pre-arranged contract or registered internship. Canada is the only working-holiday partner country. Costa Ricans receive reciprocal access to Canada's IEC program.
Work: Work allowed; up to 1 year, job offer req
Study: Short-term study allowed
Service fee
$220
Max stay
365 days
Validity
365 days
Document checklist (5)
Canadian passportValid for the duration of the stay; applicant aged 18-35.
Provisional visa applicationSpecial-category application filed with Costa Rican authorities/consulate.
Job offer or internship agreementOptionalRequired for the young-professionals and internship streams; working-holiday stream is for travel-funding work.
Proof of fundsEvidence of means to support the initial stay.
Health insuranceCoverage for the duration of the stay.
2 routes
Family & Origin
Reunification, spouse routes and ancestry-based repatriation.
Family Reunification Visa
Costa Rica Residency by First-Degree Family Link
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Parents of Costa Rican citizens (including parents of children born in Costa Rica), minor or disabled children, and unmarried minor siblings of citizens qualify for residency by first-degree family link — granted directly as permanent residency with no financial thresholds and full work rights. Dependents of foreign residents (spouse, minor children) may instead be included under the principal's temporary-residency category. Requires Civil Registry proof of the relationship plus standard apostilled documents.
Government fee
$50
Service fee
$270
Processing time
90 days
Document checklist (6)
Civil Registry certification of kinshipCosta Rican birth certificate of the citizen child/relative establishing the first-degree link.
Apostilled birth certificate of applicantWith Spanish translation if applicable.
Apostilled police clearance certificateFrom country of origin or last 3 years of residence.
Passport and certified copyFull certified copy of all pages.
Photos and fingerprintsPassport photos and Ministry of Security fingerprint registration.
Government fees and CCSS enrollmentStandard DGME fees; CCSS enrollment before DIMEX issuance.
Spouse / Partner Visa
Costa Rica Residency by Marriage to a Costa Rican
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Foreign spouses of Costa Rican citizens qualify for temporary residency with no income or investment requirement, provided the marriage is registered with Costa Rica's Civil Registry; both spouses attend a DGME interview to verify the relationship is genuine. Status is granted for 1 year, renewed annually with proof the marriage subsists, and includes full work authorization. After 3 years the spouse can apply for permanent residency, and naturalization is possible after 2 years of marriage plus residence.
Government fee
$50
Service fee
$270
Processing time
90 days
Validity
365 days
Document checklist (7)
Marriage certificate from Registro CivilCosta Rican Civil Registry certification of the marriage (foreign marriages must first be registered).
Spouse's Costa Rican ID (cédula)Certified copy of the citizen spouse's cédula de identidad.
Joint DGME interviewBoth spouses appear personally to verify the bona fides of the marriage.
Apostilled birth certificateOf the foreign spouse, with Spanish translation if applicable.
Apostilled police clearance certificateFrom country of origin or last 3 years of residence.
Passport, photos, fingerprintsCertified passport copy, photos and fingerprint registration.
Government fees and CCSS enrollmentUS$50 application (+US$200 change of status in-country); CCSS enrollment before DIMEX issuance.
Not yet researched
Dependent Relative Visa
Ancestry / Repatriation
1 route
Special Categories
Talent, religious, humanitarian, media, official and permanent residence.
Permanent Residence
Costa Rica Permanent Residency
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Holders of temporary residency (pensionado, rentista, inversionista, marriage, employer-sponsored worker, etc.) may apply for permanent residency after 3 consecutive years of legal temporary residence; first-degree relatives of Costa Ricans qualify directly. Permanent residency is open-ended ('libre condición'), removes all income/investment conditions, and grants unrestricted work rights; the DIMEX card is renewed roughly every 5 years and CCSS contributions continue. Visiting Costa Rica at least once a year is required to keep the status active.
Government fee
$50
Processing time
90 days
Document checklist (6)
Proof of 3 years of temporary residencyDGME records/DIMEX history showing 3 consecutive years in a qualifying temporary category.
Application formChange-of-category application to residencia permanente.
Updated police clearanceOptionalCosta Rican and/or foreign criminal record as required.
Passport and DIMEX copiesCertified copies of current passport and residency card.
Government fee paymentsApplication fee and DIMEX issuance fee (~US$98).
Proof of CCSS standingUp-to-date Costa Rican social security contributions.
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