# 🇨🇷 Costa Rica — visa routes

> Verified visa and immigration data for Costa Rica from VisaPassage.
> Canonical page: https://visapassage.com/destinations/costa-rica

15 routes with deep coverage. Every entry below is checked against official sources and carries its own verification date. Statuses describe typical eligibility — they are never a promise of approval; individual applications require review.

## Short visits by passport

- **United States**: Visa-free · stays up to 90 days
- **United Kingdom**: Visa-free · stays up to 180 days
- **Germany**: Visa-free · stays up to 90 days
- **India**: Visa required · apply before travel
- **Canada**: Visa-free · stays up to 90 days
- **Australia**: Visa-free · stays up to 90 days

Other passports: check https://visapassage.com/visa-checker for your specific passports.

## Visit

| Route | Status | Max stay | Gov fee | Service fee | Processing |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Costa Rica Consular Tourist Visa | Consular visa · typically eligible | 30 days | $52 | $160 | — |
| Costa Rica Visa-Free Tourist Entry | Visa-free · typically eligible | 180 days | $0 | — | — |
| Costa Rica Transit Visa | Consular visa · typically eligible | — | — | $160 | — |

- **Costa Rica Consular Tourist Visa** — Key documents: Visa application form, Valid passport, Passport photos, Proof of onward travel, Proof of economic solvency · Last verified 10 Jun 2026 · Source: migracion.go.cr
- **Costa Rica Visa-Free Tourist Entry** — Key documents: Valid passport, Proof of onward travel · Last verified 10 Jun 2026 · Source: migracion.go.cr
- **Costa Rica Transit Visa** — Key documents: Valid passport, Onward ticket, Visa for destination country, Consular application form · Last verified 10 Jun 2026 · Source: migracion.go.cr

## Study & Training

| Route | Status | Max stay | Gov fee | Service fee | Processing |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Costa Rica Student Category | Consular visa · typically eligible | — | $50 | $220 | — |

- **Costa Rica Student Category** — Key documents: Enrollment certificate, Proof of financial means, Apostilled birth certificate, Apostilled police clearance certificate, Passport and certified copy, Photos, fingerprints and fees · Rights: Study: Enrolled study is the basis of category · Last verified 10 Jun 2026 · Source: migracion.go.cr

## Work & Self-Employment

| Route | Status | Max stay | Gov fee | Service fee | Processing |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Costa Rica Digital Nomad Visa (Remote Worker Estancia) | Consular visa · typically eligible | 365 days | $100 | $220 | 21 days |
| Costa Rica Self-Employed Worker Residency | Consular visa · typically eligible | — | $50 | $270 | — |
| Costa Rica Temporary Residency as a Worker | Consular visa · typically eligible | — | $50 | $220 | 240 days |

- **Costa Rica Digital Nomad Visa (Remote Worker Estancia)** — Key documents: Application via Tramite Ya, Valid passport, Proof of foreign income, Medical insurance, Proof of remote work relationship · Rights: Work: Remote work for foreign clients only · Family: Dependents allowed at $4000/mo income · Last verified 10 Jun 2026 · Source: visitcostarica.com
- **Costa Rica Self-Employed Worker Residency** — Key documents: Business incorporation documents, Municipal business license (patente), CCSS and INS registration, Proof of qualifications or trade, Apostilled birth and police certificates, Passport, photos, fingerprints and fees · Rights: Work: Own business/self-employment allowed · Study: Study permitted · Residency after 3 years · Family: Spouse + dependent children included · Last verified 10 Jun 2026 · Source: migracion.go.cr
- **Costa Rica Temporary Residency as a Worker** — Key documents: Employer sponsorship letter, Employment contract, Employer corporate and tax documents, Proof of qualifications, Apostilled police clearance certificate, Apostilled birth certificate, Passport, photos and fingerprints, Government fee payments · Rights: Work: Employer-tied; Labor Ministry approval req · Study: Study permitted · Last verified 10 Jun 2026 · Source: migracion.go.cr

## Invest & Capital

| Route | Status | Max stay | Gov fee | Service fee | Processing |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Costa Rica Investor Residency via Real Estate | Consular visa · typically eligible | — | $50 | — | 90 days |
| Costa Rica Rentista (Fixed-Income) Temporary Residency | Consular visa · typically eligible | — | $50 | — | 90 days |
| Costa Rica Inversionista (Investor) Temporary Residency | Consular visa · typically eligible | — | $50 | — | 90 days |

- **Costa Rica Investor Residency via Real Estate** — Key documents: Registro Nacional property certification, CPA certification of investment value, Municipal tax/fiscal value evidence, Apostilled birth and police certificates, Passport and certified copy, Government fee payments · Rights: Work: Own investment/business only; not as employee · Study: Study permitted · Residency after 3 years · Family: Spouse + children under 25 as dependents · Last verified 10 Jun 2026 · Source: cr.usembassy.gov
- **Costa Rica Rentista (Fixed-Income) Temporary Residency** — Key documents: Application form and filiación, Proof of stable income or bank deposit, Apostilled birth certificate, Apostilled police clearance certificate, Passport and certified copy, Passport photos, Government fee payments, CCSS enrollment · Rights: Study: Study permitted · Residency after 3 years · Family: Spouse + dependent children included · Last verified 10 Jun 2026 · Source: cr.usembassy.gov
- **Costa Rica Inversionista (Investor) Temporary Residency** — Key documents: Application form and filiación, CPA certification of investment, Registro Nacional / SUGEVAL evidence, Apostilled birth certificate, Apostilled police clearance certificate, Passport and certified copy, Government fee payments, CCSS enrollment · Rights: Work: Own investment/business only; not as employee · Study: Study permitted · Residency after 3 years · Family: Spouse + children under 25 as dependents · Last verified 10 Jun 2026 · Source: cr.usembassy.gov

## Retire & Lifestyle

| Route | Status | Max stay | Gov fee | Service fee | Processing |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Costa Rica Pensionado (Retiree) Temporary Residency | Consular visa · typically eligible | — | $50 | — | 90 days |
| Costa Rica Working Holiday (Canada Youth Mobility) | Consular visa · typically eligible | 365 days | — | $220 | — |

- **Costa Rica Pensionado (Retiree) Temporary Residency** — Key documents: Application form and cover letter, Proof of lifetime pension, Apostilled birth certificate, Apostilled police clearance certificate, Passport and certified copy, Passport photos, Government fee payments, CCSS enrollment · Rights: Study: Study permitted · Residency after 3 years · Family: Spouse + dependent children included · Last verified 10 Jun 2026 · Source: cr.usembassy.gov
- **Costa Rica Working Holiday (Canada Youth Mobility)** — Key documents: Canadian passport, Provisional visa application, Proof of funds, Health insurance · Rights: Work: Work allowed; up to 1 year, job offer req · Study: Short-term study allowed · Last verified 10 Jun 2026 · Source: canada.ca

## Family & Origin

| Route | Status | Max stay | Gov fee | Service fee | Processing |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Costa Rica Residency by First-Degree Family Link | Consular visa · typically eligible | — | $50 | $270 | 90 days |
| Costa Rica Residency by Marriage to a Costa Rican | Consular visa · typically eligible | — | $50 | $270 | 90 days |

- **Costa Rica Residency by First-Degree Family Link** — Key documents: Civil Registry certification of kinship, Apostilled birth certificate of applicant, Apostilled police clearance certificate, Passport and certified copy, Photos and fingerprints, Government fees and CCSS enrollment · Last verified 10 Jun 2026 · Source: cr.usembassy.gov
- **Costa Rica Residency by Marriage to a Costa Rican** — Key documents: Marriage certificate from Registro Civil, Spouse's Costa Rican ID (cédula), Joint DGME interview, Apostilled birth certificate, Apostilled police clearance certificate, Passport, photos, fingerprints, Government fees and CCSS enrollment · Last verified 10 Jun 2026 · Source: cr.usembassy.gov

## Special Categories

| Route | Status | Max stay | Gov fee | Service fee | Processing |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Costa Rica Permanent Residency | Consular visa · typically eligible | — | $50 | — | 90 days |

- **Costa Rica Permanent Residency** — Key documents: Proof of 3 years of temporary residency, Application form, Passport and DIMEX copies, Government fee payments, Proof of CCSS standing · Last verified 10 Jun 2026 · Source: cr.usembassy.gov

---

Source: VisaPassage (https://visapassage.com/). Cite the canonical page above when referencing this data. Markdown index of all destinations: https://visapassage.com/destinations/llm.md.