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) |
Please be advice that the LAW OF IMMIGRATION AND ALIEN STATUS
OF THE REPUBLIC OF COSTA RICA, LAW 8764 has entered into effect as of
March 1st, 2010. The following is the criteria that should be met for
application to a Legal Permanence in Costa Rica. The information might
change in the future, therefore we advice the interested parties to
call the Embassy of Costa Rica, Consular Section, for confirmation on
the said.
PERMANENT RESIDENCE:
Permanent residency may be granted according to one of the following
sub-categories:
a) Foreigners related, in first
degree, (such as spouses, parents, children and siblings) to a Costa
Rican citizen. Foreigners marrying Costa Rican citizens will have
to prove veracity of marriage for three years before acquiring a Costa
Rican Permanent Legal Status. During these three years a temporary
legal permanence will be given, once the application has been approved.
b) Permanent Residency as an Annuitant Pensioner
(“Pensionado”). The applicant must prove an Income of
US$1.000 per month generated by a pension plan abroad.
c) Permanent Residency as an Annuitant Resident (“Rentista”).
The applicant must prove an Income of US$2.500 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.
f) All foreigners wishing to acquire a Costa Rican
legal permanence have to register at the Costa Rica Social Security
(CCSS) and pay the corresponding fees.
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.
Application for a Legal Permanent or Temporary Residence
may apply directly at the General Direction of Immigration and Alien
Status in Costa Rica, or at your closest General Consulate of Costa
Rica. For more information, please visit the Immigration
Costa Rica web site.
REQUIREMENTS
a) Letter 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.
b) 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.
c) Certificate of birth that includes the name of both
parents.
d) Criminal Record Certificate issued by the R.C.M.P
(dated no more than three months from the application).
e) Certificate of marriage or divorce, if applicable.
If the applicant is applying for Permanent Residency under sub-category
a) above, then presentation of identity card (Cédula) of spouse
(or appropriate relative) and a copy.
f) Photocopies of complete (all of the pages) passport
of applicant.
g) 4 recent passport size pictures.
h) Demonstration of means of support by appropriate
documents such as a letter stating pension amounts.
i) 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.
j) 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
k) If the applicant has changed his/ her nationality,
the appropriate certificate must also be submitted.
l) Original or certified copies of academic diplomas
and grades if applicable.
m) Certified copy of the Registration at the Consulate
of Canada in Costa Rica and a copy of it.
n) Copy of the Registration at the Costa Rican Social
Security (CCSS).
o) All Permanent and Temporary applications once submitted
must include a US$50 deposit.
p) Fill out the PERSONAL
INFORMATION FORM.
Note: Documents described above must be certified by the Consulate
of Costa Rica, they must be issued no more than six months. Certification
fees per document are: 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,
or the appropriate Provincial Authority, for information, please call
the Authentication Officer in DFAIT: (613) 994-4000 or call this Consulate
for further instructions, before you send the documents..
The current Immigration Law No. 8764, allows all applicants
to start the process directly in Costa Rica.
PROCESS: STEP BY STEP OF RESIDENCE APPLICATION
If presented at the Consulate General:
1. Appoint a legal representative
in Costa Rica who will be able to receive notifications from Immigration.
It is necessary to provide the representative name, address(within
the judicial district of San Jose), identification number, civil status,
profession as well as his/her phone and fax numbers, to receive notifications.
2. When the request is received, the file is reviewed
(it should take us about a week). If the documents required are completed,
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 an appointment to sign the application
and the Power of Attorney described above in front of the Consul.
3. After the file is reviewed, it will be ready to
be sent to Immigration Costa Rica in San Jose; the cost of the courier
is paid by the applicant.
4. 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 “ Pensioner”
1. Complete same requirements needed for regular
residence application, points 1 to 16.
2. Proof of an Income of US$1.000 per month generated
abroad.
3. The Pensioner must remain in the country, for
at least four alternate or consecutive months per year.
4. The spouse, minor or dependent children and dependent
parents or dependent siblings of the Pensioner, can work or study
only with the express permit of the General Direction of Immigration
and Alien Status.
5. Allowed to be shareholder and earn profits.
6. The Resident must exchange foreign currency through
the National Banking System.
7. The Migratory Status guaranties Residency to family
dependants.
Getting your Residency by becoming a “Annuitant
Resident”
1. Complete same requirements needed
for regular residency application, points 1 to 16.
2. The Resident must have a local or foreign income
of US$ 2.500 per month, or, a five year bank deposit in the National
Banking System, which generates US$2.500 interest per month.
3. The Resident must remain in the country for at
least four consecutive months per year.
4. The spouse, minor or dependent children and dependent
parents or dependent siblings of the Annuitant Resident, can work
or study only with the express permit of the General Direction of
Immigration and Alien Status.
5. Allowed to be shareholder and earn profits.
6. Household goods and cars could be imported in
the country, paying import taxes.
7. The Resident 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.
All applicants to a Legal Permanence (stay of 2 years or more), will
first be given the Temporary Legal Permanence status (stay of three
months to two years). There are some exceptions.
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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 and registered
at the General Direction of Immigration and Alien Status, 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 certificate.
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 enrolment 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 period.
9. Fingerprints. You should have them taken at the
“Archivo Policial” of the Ministry of Public Security. Bring
passport and two pictures.
10. Four passport sized pictures (recent)
11. After permit is approved, the student will be asked
to post a US$100 guarantee deposit.
12. Consular Registration at the Consulate of Canada
(or your country of origin if other) in San José.
13. Registration at the Costa Rica Social Security
(CCSS), except in those cases where the law makes an exception.
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 before the submission of the application. 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 (613) 994-4000.
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 labour 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 certificate.
3. Police Criminal Record.
4. An application form, provided by the Information
Office; Costa Rican Immigration Department, should also be completed.
5. 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) 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. After 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.
14. Consular Registration at the Consulate of Canada
(or your country of origin if other) in San José.
15. Registration at the Costa Rica Social Security
(CCSS), except in those cases where the law makes an exception.
Note: Documents described in paragraphs 2) and 3)
and 11) must be certified by the Consulate of Costa Rica, must be
issued no more than six months before the submission of the application.
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
(613) 994-4000
IMPORTANT NOTICE CONCERNING MINOR CHILDREN OF HOLDERS OF
PERMANENT OR TEMPORARY RESIDENTS OF COSTA RICA
(Including Annuitant Pensioner, Annuitant Resident, Foreign
Investors, Temporary Residents on Student Visas and Minor Children
of Holders of a Working Visa)
Foreign children under 18 years of age or younger of the above mentioned
categories are required under Decree No. 35070-MG to have temporary
or permanent permit from the General Direction of Immigration and
Alien Status to exit the Country. For a permit to be granted, the
parents or legal tutor must present an original birth certificate,
duly legalized by the Costa Rican Consulate in the Country of origin
of the minor and by the Costa Rican Ministry of Foreign Affairs. If
the Documents are written in a language other than Spanish, a translation
must be attached to the said document.
Parents or the legal tutor must present, as well, original and copy
of their Permanent Resident Card and Passport.
Documents that
need to pay a Consular Fee must come with the voucher of the Bank
enclosing the deposit of the said Consular Fee. The documents received
without enclosing the proof of payment of the consular fee will be
upheld for a period of one month. If no consular fee is received after
a month, the documents will be returned or filed. We do not take cash,
money orders or credit cards but deposits to the General Consulate's
Bank account.
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Visas.
• Directrices Generales
de Visas de Ingreso para no Residentes / General Rules of Visa for non
Residents
• Fundamento Legal (Ley de Migración
y Extranjería, Ley 8764) / Legal Scope (Law of Migration and
Alien Status, Law 8764).
• Se ruega a los interesados consultar la Circular que contiene
las Directrices Generales sobre Visas de Ingreso para no Residentes
/ Access General Rules of Entry for non Residents:
Por favor visite la web site de Migracion
haciendo click aqui: (Please visit the web site of Immigration Costa
Rica for more information regarding visas requirements:
• Migracion
y Extranjeria Circulares de Visa. Immigration Costa Rica
• Si luego de consultar la circular anterior, o, si su país
no aparece en las listas publicadas en la circular, siéntase
libre de contactarnos.
If after consulting the above mentioned circular, or, if your Country
is not mentioned in the lists published, please feel free to contact
us.
• Si luego de consultar la circular, usted aún necesita
aplicar para visa, por favor entre a esta dirección de internet.
If after consulting the above mentioned document, you still need to
apply for a visa to enter Costa Rica, please enter here:
http://www.competitividad.go.cr/visas/web/index.html
There are different types of Visas:
Visa de Turismo/Tourist Visa (B1) pays a fee of __________US$ 30
Visa Consular/Consular entry Visa pays a fee of__________US$ 30
Visa Multiple/Multiple Entry Visa pays a fee of ___________US$100
*Visa Consultada/Consult Visa: ______________________US$50
*Esta visa es aprobada por Migración Costa Rica/
This visa is approved only by Immigration Costa Rica
Requisitos para obtener visa. Visa Requiremens:
Usted debe consultar la web site de Migracion Costa Rica, donde ahora
todo lo correspondiente a Visas se puede solicitara través de
la Internet, siguiendo los requisitos ahí explicados.
El sistema de “Sistema Digital de Visas” posibilita al
usuario realizar en forma electrónica su solicitud de otorgamiento
de visa de ingreso a Costa Rica, lo que simplificaría los trámites
y reduciría el tiempo y la cantidad de visitas que un ciudadano
debe realizar al Consulado para esta Gestión.
Please follow the link below to access the Immigration Costa Rica and
fill out the form related to the Visa you are looking for.
1. Acceso a la solicitud de Visa - Access to the
Visa Application form:
http://www.competitividad.go.cr/visas/web/consultas.html
2. Una foto tamaño pasaporte / One passport
size picture
3. Copia de las páginas con la información
personal de su pasaporte. El pasaporte, si es Canadiense debe de tener
una validez de por lo menos 30 días / Copy of identification
pages from your Passport. If you hold a Canadian Passport must be valid
for at least 30 days.
4. Copia de su condición para permanecer en
Canadá / Copy of the Canadian Landed Immigrant status, Permanet
Residence, Student Visa, Work Permit.
5. Copia del itinerario tentativo / Copy of the tentative
itineary.
6. Carta del lugar de trabajo actual, indicando condición
del empleo, tiempo laborado y salario / Letter from the employer stating
your current work status, time employed and salary. (Si aplica/if applicable)
7. Carta del la organización o Institución
Educativa, explicando el propósito del viaje / Letter from the
Organización of Educational Institution explaining the purpose
and length of the trip (Si aplica/if applicable)
8. Si la persona que aplica está relacionada
con un costarricense, esposo/esposa, hijo/hija, debe incluir los documentos
que demuestren la relación/If the applicant is related to a Costa
Rican citizen, such as husband/wife, son/daughter, should submit the
appropiate documentation that demonstrates the relationship.
9. Una vez aprobada la visa, un agente consular se
pondrá en contacto con usted para el trámite correspondiente
/ Once approved, a Consular Officer will contact you for the corresponding
issuance of the visa.
10. Luego de que la visa ha sido otorgada y estampada
en su pasaporte, tiene 60 días para usarla y la estadía
será determinada por el Oficial de Migración a su entrada
/ After issuance, the visa can be used within 60 days, and the length
of stay will be determihned by the Immigration Officer at your entrance.
Consulte con este Consulado General si tiene preguntas o necesita
verificar qué tipo de visa requiere.
Contact us if you have any questions, or if you need to verify what
kind of visa you require.
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