Immigration Process.

To acquire residency in Costa Rica, foreigners can be admitted under either a Permanent Residency or Temporary Residency Category.

General Information | Permanent Residence (Annuitant Pensioner, Annuitant Resident, Foreign Investor, Print Residence Application Form) | Temporary Residence ( Student Visa, Working Visa) |

 

 

PERMANENT RESIDENCE:

Permanent residency may be granted according to one of the following sub-categories:

a) Foreigners related, in the first degree (such as spouses, parents, children and siblings), to a Costa Rican citizen.

b) Permanent Residency as an Annuitant Pensioner (“Pensionado”). The applicant must prove an Income of US$600 per month generated by a pension plan abroad.

c) Permanent Residency as an Annuitant Resident (“Rentista”). The applicant must prove an Income of US$1000 per month.

d) Permanent Residency as an Investor (“Inversionista”). The applicant’s investment in Costa Rica must be no less than US$200.000, unless it is in an industry considered highly desirable by the Costa Rican Government, in which case the investment amount may be reduced to US$50.000.

e) Permanent Residency as an Immigrant maybe possible for those foreigners wishing to reside permanently in Costa Rica but who do not qualify under any other specific immigration categories described above.

TEMPORARY RESIDENCE:

Temporary residency may also be granted under some specific categories, such as professionals, technicians or specialist personnel contracted by companies or institutions located in Costa Rica, as well as students, businessmen, and religious workers.

Getting Permanent Residency in Costa Rica.

The Costa Rican Immigration Department shall only accept directly applications for Permanent Residency under sub-category a) above, or where the applicant is already a temporary or permanent resident. In all other categories, the applicant MUST file the residency application abroad, at the Costa Rican Consulate in his or her country of origin, as prescribed by Costa Rican law. For more information, please visit the Immigration Costa Rica web site.

REQUIREMENTS

1) Letter to the Consulate signed by the applicant, indicating the reasons for which the applicant wishes to reside permanently in Costa Rica. In the case of families, each member shall file a separate application. Utilizing the information in that letter, the Consulate will prepare the applicant request to Immigration.

2) Contact and appoint a legal representative in Costa Rica, who is going to be informed by Immigration on the stages of the process and will be the contact person in Costa Rica. Complete information of the representative is required.

3) Certificate of birth that includes the name of both parents.

4) Criminal Record Certificate issued by the R.C.M.P (dated no more than three months from the application).

5) Certificate of marriage or divorce, if applicable. If the applicant is applying for Permanente Residency under sub-category a) above, then presentation of identity card (Cédula) of spouse (or appropriate relative) and a copy

6) Photocopies of complete (all of the pages) passport of applicant.

7) 4 recent passport size pictures.

8) Demonstration of means of support, by appropriate documents such as a letter stating pension amounts.

9) If the application is filed for the purposes of employment, it shall also be accompanied by a contract or a letter by the contracting company, specifying the work to be performed, the amount of the compensation and the term of employment.

10) If the application is filed for the purposes of becoming an annuitant pensioner, annuitant resident or foreign investor, it shall come accompanied by the documents that allow the Immigration Department to confirm the conditions , such as Bank Statements, or Public Accountant Certification. SEE FURTHER DETAILS HERE

11) If the applicant has changed his/ her nationality, the appropriate certificate must also be submitted.

12) Original or certified copies of academic titles and certificates if pplicable.

13) Fill out the PERSONAL INFORMATION FORM.

Note: Documents described above must be certified by the Consulate of Costa Rica, must be issued no more than six months. Certification fees: US$40 payable by deposit to the account No. 0005-4608-520 Bank of Montreal, please enclose the original and a copy of the receipt with the documents. The above documents should be authenticated by Foreign Affairs Canada, Authentication Office, for information call them at: (613) 995-0119.

PROCESS: STEP BY STEP OF RESIDENCE APPLICATION

1) Appoint a legal representative in Costa Rica able to receive notifications from Immigration. It is necessary to provide the representative name, address( with in the judicable district of San Jose), identification number, civil status, profession as well as his/her phone and fax numbers, in order to grant a Power of Attorney witnessed by a Consul of Costa Rica.
2) Once you have contacted and decided who is going to be your representative in Costa Rica, get the documents describe above and send them to the nearest Consulate of Costa Rica.
3) When the Consulate receives the request, the file is reviewed (it should take us about a week). If the documents required are complete, the Consul prepares the Residence Request addressed to the Director of Immigration based on the information provided by the applicant. We will contact you to schedule and appointment to sign the application and the Power of Attorney described above in front of the Consul.
4) After that, the file will be ready to be sent to Immigration Costa Rica in San Jose, the cost of the courier is paid by the applicant.
5) Once in Costa Rica, the Immigration Department will start the process reviewing the file and contacting your representative in order to complete the authentication of the documents at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, pay consular fees, and complete any other detail needed.

Getting your residency by becoming a “ Annuitant Pensioner”

1) Complete same requirements needed for regular residency application, points 1 to 13.
2) Proof of an Income of US$600 per month generated abroad.
3) Must remain in the country for at least four alternate or consecutive months per year.
4) Not allowed to earn a salary.
5) Allowed to be shareholder and earn profits.
6) Must exchange foreign currency through the National Banking System.
7) The Migratory Status guaranties Residency to family dependants.

Getting your Residency by becoming a “Annuitant Resident”

1) Complete same requirements needed for regular residency application, points 1 to 13.
2) Local or foreign income of US$ 1000 per month or a five year bank deposit in the National Banking System, which generates US$1000 interest per month.
3) Must remain in the country for at least four consecutive months per year.
4) Not allowed to earn a salary.
5) Allowed to be shareholder and earn profits.
6) Household goods and cars could be imported in the country, paying import taxes.
7) Must exchange foreign currency through the National Banking System.
8) The Migratory Status guaranties Residency to family dependants.

Getting your residency by becoming a “Foreign Investor”

As an investor you may request resident Status by investing:

1) No less than US$200.000 in any activity or,
2) At least US $100,000 in activities declared a high priority by the Government, for instance: environment, or
3) At least US$50.000 in activities declared a high priority by the Government, for instance: tourism, .
4) Allowed to earn a salary.
5) Allowed to be shareholder and earn profits.
6) The project must generate employment, foreign exchange, new technology and must be within one of the priority economic sectors.
7) Must present annual investment audits.
8) Require final approval of the status given by the Costa Rican Foreign Trade Corporation (CINDE)
9) Family dependants are also granted residency.

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Getting Temporary Residency in Costa Rica.

A) Getting your Student Visa for one year or less

Temporary permits are extended to foreign students, registered in public or private education centers recognized by the State, for the duration of specific academic periods. This permit does not allow students to work. The application should be submitted directly to the Costa Rican Immigration Department. The student will require the following documents:

1) Passport valid for at least 6 months and certified copy of all its pages.
2) Original birth cetificate.
3) Police Criminal Record (applicable to students of more than 18 years old).
4) Request letter from the student (in case of students under 18 years old, this request should be signed by the parents) to the Temporary Permits Department, Costa Rican Immigration Department. In this letter the student should state his/her name, civil status, nationality, passport number, place of residence, occupation, etc. Include the name of the education center where he/she plans to study and a place to receive notifications (address, phone, and fax in Costa Rica).
5) Confirmation of enrollment in an accredited School or University.
6) Fill out the Costa Rican Immigration Department form, which can be obtained at the Information Desk in the Immigration Office.
7) A letter from your sponsor (Guarantee letter), stating that he/she will be responsible for your actions during your stay. Your sponsor must be a Costa Rican citizen or a permanent resident of our country. Include a certified photocopy of the ID of the sponsor.
8) Show proof of sufficient funds available for self sufficiency during entire proposed study.
9) Fingerprints (for students from up to 10 years old). You should have them taken at the Archivo Policial of the Ministry of Public Security. Bring passport and two pictures.
10) 4 passport sized pictures (recent)
11) After permit is approved, the student will be asked to post a US$100 guarantee deposit.

Note: Documents described in paragraphs 2) and 3) must be certified by the Consulate of Costa Rica, must be issued no more than six months. Certification fees: US$40 payable by deposit to the account No.0005-4608-520 Bank of Montreal, please enclose the original and a copy of the receipt with the documents. The above documents should be authenticated by Foreign Affairs Canada, Authentication Office, for information call them at: (613) 995-0119.

B) Temporary working visa (one year or more)

In order to apply for a temporary working permit the following documents should be submitted directly to the Costa Rican Immigration Department:

1) Application addressed to the Department of Temporary Permits and Extensions at the Costa Rican Immigration Department containing the applicant’s surname, name, nationality, civil status, passport number, address, profession and specific labor occupation. In addition, the application should contain the name of the company or employer, the functions to be carried out and the salary to be perceived by the applicant. The application should be authenticated by an attorney or signed before the receiving official. This application should also contain the house or office address where to receive notifications, as well as the relevant phone and fax numbers.
2) Original birth cetificate.
3) Police Criminal Record.
4) An application form--provided by the Information Office; Costa Rican Immigration Department --should also be completed.
4) Four (4) recent photographs passport size.
6) Fingerprints. You should have them taken at the Archivo Policial of the Ministry of Public Security. Bring with your passport and two (2) passport size photos.
7) Letter from the employing company indicating: a) the reasons for hiring the applicant, and b) demarches undertaken to hire a Costa Rican national to the same position.
8) Certification from the Costa Rican Social Security Institution establishing that the company or the employer are registered and do not have pending monetary obligations.
9) Company’s legal constitution and registration documents.
10) Certified photocopies of all passport pages. Each page should be signed and sealed by a Costa Rican notary. The certification can also be done by the receiving official at the Costa Rican Immigration Department. There must be a Spanish translation should the passport be issued in a different language.
11) Technicians and professionals should submit copies of their diplomas. Diplomas should be authenticated by a Costa Rican Consul and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, if issued outside Costa Rica. Spanish translations are required if the diplomas are in a different language.
12) Further the permit’s approval, the company should provide the contract, and the beneficiary should make a US$ 100 deposit or its equivalent in Costa Rican currency in a national bank.
13) Whenever pertinent, those beneficiaries holding diplomas should join their corresponding professional associations in Costa Rica in order to work in their professional fields.

Note: Documents described in paragraphs 2) and 3) must be certified by the Consulate of Costa Rica, must be issued no more than six months. Certification fees: US$40 payable by deposit to the account No.0005-4608-520 Bank of Montreal, please enclose the original and a copy of the receipt with the documents. The above documents should be authenticated by Foreign Affairs Canada, Authentication Office, for information call them at: (613) 995-0119.

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