Costa RicaIncome-based residence permit

Annuitant residence permit in Costa Rica

The programme is intended for foreign nationals with a stable income unconnected with work in Costa Rica. It is a temporary residence category granted on proof of passive income from foreign sources. The programme is governed by the special law on attracting investors, annuitants and pensioners. Temporary residents may engage in the prescribed activity approved by the immigration authorities.

Source: Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería (Costa Rica) — Regularización

Who can apply

The programme is open to foreign nationals receiving passive income from any source outside Costa Rica. The key condition is that the income is stable and documented.

Foreign investors and entrepreneurs

Receive income from foreign sources (property, shares, dividends, royalties)
Have passive income from a rental business or a portfolio of assets
May have a small local business, provided the main income is foreign

Independent professionals and remote workers

Work for foreign clients online or under contracts
Receive fees from abroad for creative, consulting or technical services
Are not employees of local companies

Relocators with guaranteed income

Have income from pensions, insurance or dividends in foreign currency
Can document the source of the income with official letters from banks or companies
Plan to move to Costa Rica with their family

When the programme will not suit

You are looking for work in Costa Rica, or already have a contract with a local employer

Use the work visa category (Technical and Professional Skills) or a duty visa with a local sponsor

Your income is below the required minimum ($2,500 a month or a $60,000 deposit)

Consider the Pensionado category with a lower income threshold, or an investment visa

You cannot document the origin and stability of your income

Resolve the income documentation before filing — repeated refusals make future attempts harder

What it costs

Government fee for filing the applicationPayment into account 242480-0 at Banco de Costa Rica	200 USD
DIMEX (Documento de Identidad Migratorio para Extranjeros)Issue of the migratory identity document	123 USD
Application on filing (as at 2026)A smaller amount applied previously; current standards vary	50 USD
Approval of the category (additional)Charged separately when the status is granted	100 USD
Certification of one documentFor each document requiring official translation and certification	+30 USD
Total government feesThe sum of the mandatory rows in the table. “Certification of one document” adds 30 USD; the “Application on filing (as at 2026)” branch replaces the “Government fee for filing the application” line — 173 USD; the “Approval of the category (additional)” branch replaces the “Government fee for filing the application” line — 223 USD. Charges with no official price list are in the list below.	323–353 USD

Paid separately

CCSS contributions (social insurance) — This payment is compulsory each month once residence is granted (the amount depends on the declared income), but it counts as a living cost, not a government fee
Lawyer's or immigration consultant's services — The cost of a private consultant (usually $2,500–$5,000), but not a government fee

Documents to gather

All documents prepared abroad must be apostilled and translated into Spanish. Translations must be done by an official translator or by a notary who speaks both languages.

Passport (a copy of the first page and of every page bearing entry stamps; the original when filing)
Birth certificate from the country of origin (apostille, Spanish translation)
Criminal record certificate (apostille, Spanish translation)
A bank certificate of income (carta bancaria) or account statements showing a minimum of $2,500 a month over 6–12 months
Alternatively: a bank statement for a deposit of $60,000 with a Costa Rican bank and confirmation that these funds will be used to pay out $2,500 a month
Proof of registration with the CCSS health insurance system (after approval)
Passport-size photographs (usually 2–4)
Marriage/divorce certificate (apostille, Spanish translation, where applicable)
Dependants' documents (children's birth certificates, apostille, Spanish translation)
The application form (completed during the process)

How the process runs

Obtaining temporary residence usually takes 6–12 months. The main stages from preparation to receipt of the document are set out below.

1
Preparing and gathering the documents
4–8 weeks
Gather the originals of all documents in the country of origin. Make sure every document is apostilled in accordance with the Hague Convention. Order official Spanish translations. Check that all the paperwork meets DGME requirements.
2
Booking an appointment with DGME
1–2 weeks
Call the DGME booking centre on 1311 (Costa Rica) or book online through servicios.migracion.go.cr. Choose a convenient time. From abroad the documents may be sent by post.
3
Filing the application and the documents
1 day
Attend the DGME office (in the capital or at a consulate) with the complete pack of documents. Pay the government fee ($200 into account 242480-0 at Banco de Costa Rica) or at the cash desk. Receive a case number and a receipt. The original documents remain with DGME.
4
Consideration and requests for further information
1–4 months
DGME examines the documents. It may request clarification, further certificates or proof of income. Watch for notifications; reply within the time allowed (usually 15–30 days).
5
Approval of the category and issue of the order
2–6 months
If the decision is favourable, DGME issues an administrative decision (resolución) granting resident status. You are notified by an official letter stating the conditions and the period of validity of the residence (usually 2 years).
6
Registering with CCSS and obtaining the DIMEX
1–3 months
Once approved, register with CCSS (Costa Rican social insurance) within 30 days. Begin paying monthly contributions. File the documents for the DIMEX at a Banco de Costa Rica branch. The card is usually issued within 3–4 months.
7
Receiving the DIMEX and starting to live in the country
1 day
Collect the DIMEX (the foreign national's identity document) at a Banco de Costa Rica branch. The card is your main document for living and working in Costa Rica. Keep copies and the original safe.

Timelines and rights

Work

Temporary residents may engage only in the paid activity — employed or self-employed — that the Directorate General has authorised.

Who you can bring with you

A spouse and children may be included in a single application. Each person must meet the documentation requirements, but the financial threshold ($2,500 a month or $60,000) treats the whole family as a single unit.

Spouse (married or unregistered partner)

Included automatically in the single application. Requires their own documents (passport, criminal record certificate, marriage certificate — apostille and translation). Does not affect the minimum income.

Children under 18, or students under 25

May be included as dependants. Require birth certificates (apostille, translation) and documents evidencing student status (if over 18). CCSS contributions cover all family members in one group.

Adult children over 25

File separate applications as applicants in their own right. Must meet the income requirement ($2,500 a month) or have financial sources of their own.

Parents or other relatives

Cannot be included automatically. They file separate applications and must meet the programme's requirements themselves.

Renewal and the grace period

Residence is granted for two years and may be renewed an unlimited number of times provided the conditions are met. When filing for renewal (3 months before expiry) you must evidence that the income continues at the previous level. Proof may be a bank certificate (account statements for recent months) or a report from a certified accountant. A current criminal record certificate and proof of valid CCSS contributions are also required. If you miss the renewal deadline (more than 3 months after expiry), a penalty of roughly $3 for each day of delay is payable.

What comes next: permanent residence and citizenship

Route to permanent residence

After three consecutive years of temporary residence you may apply for permanent residence. On a change of category the annuitant asks for the deposit to be released, if it was placed with a state bank.

Frequently asked questions about Annuitant residence permit

What minimum monthly income is required for the Rentista category?

A minimum of $2,500 USD a month over at least 24 months. The income must come from foreign sources (not from local work) and be evidenced by a bank certificate, statements or other official documents. The alternative is to place $60,000 USD with a Costa Rican bank and use those funds to pay out $2,500 a month.

How long does a Rentista application take to process?

Usually 6–12 months, though it may take longer depending on how complete the documents are and DGME's current workload. The first months go on processing and requests for further information. Obtaining the DIMEX (the identity card) after approval adds a further 3–4 months, as Banco de Costa Rica runs behind the official 30-day period.

Can I work in Costa Rica with Rentista resident status?

You may not work for a local employer as an employee. However, you may: work for foreign companies and clients online (remotely), run your own business, and receive investment income (dividends, interest, rental payments). The key restriction is that the work itself must be approved by the immigration authority and cannot be a local employment contract.

After how many years can I move to permanent residence?

After three continuous years in temporary resident status you are entitled to apply for permanent residence (residencia permanente). Updated proof of CCSS registration and evidence of tax solvency are required. After seven years of permanent residence (or five for nationals of Latin American countries) you may apply for naturalisation and obtain Costa Rican citizenship without renouncing your original nationality.

Are family members (spouse, children) covered by a single residence payment?

Yes, a spouse and children under 18 (or students under 25) may be included in a single application. The financial minimum ($2,500 a month or a $60,000 deposit) covers the whole family rather than each member separately. Each member must, however, provide their own documents (passport, criminal record certificate, birth certificate with apostille and translation). CCSS contributions cover everyone, but the amount depends on the declared income rather than the number of family members.

Other ways to move to Costa Rica

Every route in one list — migration programmes: Costa Rica.

The terms and the amounts are checked against official sources — the link sits under each section.Last checked on: 7 August 2026.