Costa Rica country guide
Retirement · Last checked 2026-07-27
Pensionados
Stable qualifying pension
A temporary-residence subcategory for a person receiving a stable, permanent pension from abroad.
- Country
- Costa Rica
- Applicant basis
- Stable qualifying pension
- Responsible authority
- Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería
- Official route status
- Current official route
- Information available
- Detailed guide
- Last checked
- 2026-07-27
Supported requirements
What the current source supports
- A monthly, permanent, stable pension from abroad of at least USD 1,000.
Applicant scope
Who this route generally serves
- Generally designed for
- Applicants who can document a qualifying permanent foreign pension.
- Legal basis named by the authority
- Article 81 of Law 8764.
Route lifecycle
What to confirm from application onward
- Financial basis
- USD 1,000 per month in qualifying foreign pension income.
- Initial status
- Temporary residence.
- Renewal
- Temporary residence may be renewed when the route conditions and current renewal requirements continue to be met.
- Dependents
- The statute permits dependents to be included for migration purposes without stating an additional income increment in Article 81.
- Work rights
- This page does not infer employment authorization from pensioner status.
- Presence considerations
- Residence and naturalization use separate continuity rules.
- Permanent residence
- Permanent residence is a separate later application when a statutory basis is met.
- Citizenship relationship
- Naturalization periods depend on nationality and official residence.
Official evidence
Source for this route
General planning information only—not legal, tax, or investment advice. A listed route does not determine eligibility. Verify current rules with the responsible authority before acting.