Residency overview · Last checked 2026-08-04

Costa Rica

Costa Rica’s temporary-residence framework includes family, employment, professional, investment, rentier, pensioner, and other defined subcategories. Some income and investment thresholds are stated directly in current law.

Research authority: Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería

Residency routes: 12
Information available: Detailed country guide
Official sources: 11
Last checked: 2026-08-04

How the framework connects

Residence, permanence, and citizenship

Costa Rica’s temporary-residence framework includes family, employment, professional, investment, rentier, pensioner, and other defined subcategories. Some income and investment thresholds are stated directly in current law.

Residence frameworkArticle 79 authorizes temporary residence for more than 90 days and up to two years, renewable for an equal period, for the listed subcategories.Permanent residencePermanent residence is a separate status. The applicable route can depend on family relationship or a qualifying period in temporary residence; the applicant should use the current migration checklist for the precise ground.Citizenship relationshipThe current TSE naturalization service distinguishes five years of official residence for Central American, Ibero-American, and Spanish nationals by birth, and seven years for other nationalities. Separate naturalization grounds have their own requirements.

Residency routes

Routes to investigate

12 currently listed

Marriage or partnership

Cónyuge de ciudadano costarricenseMarriage to a Costa Rican citizenRequirements being verified

Other officially established ground

Religiosos acreditadosAccredited religious activityRequirements being verified DeportistasAccredited sporting activityRequirements being verified Corresponsales y personal de agencias de prensaPress or correspondent activityRequirements being verified

Local employment

Ejecutivos, representantes, gerentes y personal técnicoQualifying executive, management, representative, or technical roleRequirements being verified

General investment

InversionistasQualifying investmentDetailed guide

Research or academic

Científicos, profesionales, pasantes y técnicos especializadosScientific, professional, internship, or specialist technical activityRequirements being verified

Dependent

Cónyuge e hijos dependientes de titularesDependency on a qualifying temporary residentRequirements being verified

Passive income

RentistasStable qualifying rent or incomeDetailed guide

Retirement

PensionadosStable qualifying pensionDetailed guide

Special nationality or historical route

Personas indígenas transfronterizasRecognized Nicaraguan or Panamanian member of a qualifying pre-border Indigenous peopleDetailed guide

Digital nomad

Estancia Nómada DigitalA foreign remote-service provider receiving qualifying remuneration from outside Costa Rica without locally remunerated workDetailed guide

Official evidence

Sources for this guide

Review the official source before acting

Ley General de Migración y Extranjería — artículo 79Sistema Costarricense de Información Jurídica · ES · Last checked 2026-08-04 Ley 8764 — texto vigente con régimen indígena transfronterizoAsamblea Legislativa / Sistema Costarricense de Información Jurídica · ES · Last checked 2026-08-08 Ley 9710 — protección e integración de la persona indígena transfronterizaAsamblea Legislativa / Sistema Costarricense de Información Jurídica · ES · Last checked 2026-08-08 Decreto Ejecutivo 42814-MGP — procedimiento indígena transfronterizoPoder Ejecutivo / Imprenta Nacional · ES · Last checked 2026-08-08 Ley 10008 — atracción de trabajadores y prestadores remotos de serviciosAsamblea Legislativa / Sistema Costarricense de Información Jurídica · ES · Last checked 2026-08-10 Decreto Ejecutivo 43619-H-MGP-TUR — reglamento para nómadas digitalesPoder Ejecutivo / Sistema Costarricense de Información Jurídica · ES · Last checked 2026-08-10 Ventanilla Electrónica de Servicios — Nómadas DigitalesRadiográfica Costarricense S.A. · ES · Last checked 2026-08-10 Ley 8764 — artículo 81, pensionadosSistema Costarricense de Información Jurídica · ES · Last checked 2026-08-04 Ley 8764 — artículo 82, rentistasSistema Costarricense de Información Jurídica · ES · Last checked 2026-08-04 Ley 9996 — atracción de inversionistas, rentistas y pensionadosSistema Costarricense de Información Jurídica · ES · Last checked 2026-08-04 Naturalización por residencia — Ley 1155Tribunal Supremo de Elecciones · ES · Last checked 2026-07-27

General planning information only—not legal, tax, or investment advice. A listed route does not determine eligibility. Requirements, fees, timing, work rights, physical-presence rules, permanent residence, and citizenship appear only when a current source supports the specific statement.

Return to all countries