Residency Requirements and Classifications in Costa Rica

If you're interested in moving to Costa Rica and have no idea what the mandatory residency procedures are, you've come to the right place. With regards to applying for residency in Costa Rica, you can find general and specific requirements that need to be filled and documents that must be submitted. You should submit any request for residency in Costa Rica to the Costa Rican Consulate in your country. We recommend you begin this process at least a few months ahead of your anticipated departure.

The following are the general requirements that require to be filled for just about any residency application in Costa Rica:

1. You should fill out an application addressed to the Director General of Migration. If you cannot be there personally, you should grant a special power of attorney - notarized, authenticated, and in Spanish - to a representative in the USA who'll sign the residence form and submit all the documents to the Consulate.

2. You need to grant special authority to a representative (apoderado) by submitting a document, signed by you and notarized and authenticated in the Consulate, that presents the personal information on the representative and the address to that they receive notifications within the judicial perimeter of San Jose.

3. Birth Certificate that clearly shows the parents' name (necessary for all applicants, spouse, and dependent children around 18 years or up to 25 in case a university student with a proof of enrollment)*

4. Police Certificate (not older than half a year) issued by the state where you have lived for the past two years (required for all applicants, spouse, and all dependent children aged 18 to 25)*

5. Applications received after November 15th, 2002 will demand an FBI identification record. (Required for all applicants, spouse, and all dependent children aged 18 to 25)

6. Marriage Certificate (if found)*

7. Photocopy of the passport certified by the Consulate or certified and authenticated by a Notary Public (necessary for all applicants, spouse, and any dependent children)

8. Four recent forehead passport-size photographs (required for all applicants, spouse, and any dependent children)

9. Eligible individuals can claim their spouses, children under 18, and older children with disabilities as dependents. A son or daughter between 18 and 25 can be viewed as dependents if they are enrolled in a university.

10. Regarding a family group, an individual file is required for every member. Parents should sign applications with respect to their minor children.

11. For practicing a profession, you need to provide your diplomas. For pursuing other professional activities, relevant documentation - such as courses and studies undertaken - ought to be submitted as well.

*All documents listed in 3, 4, and 6 must be authenticated by the Costa Rican Consulate and translated into Spanish. Before they're submitted to the Consulate, these documents must be notarized and also apostilled by the respective states in which they originated.

You should send all the required documents first to the Consulate of your jurisdiction to be checked. If the documents are complete, you - or your representative - will undoubtedly be asked to visit the Consulate for an interview and sign the application form you have already sent.

The documents will be sent to Migration in Costa Rica, who will contact your representative in Costa Rica. For this function, you will have to pay for the courier service.

As well as the general requirements mentioned above for residency application, you need to fulfill the following specific requirements based on your immigration category. There is no need to send those documents together with the ones mentioned previously. However, if they're missing, you - or your representative - will undoubtedly be notified once Migration receives and processes the documents sent by the Consulate. You can be given 10 days to perform those documents if they are issued in Costa Rica, or 30 days if they are issued abroad. Please note that some documents ought to be authenticated by the Costa Rican Consulate first.

Retirees (Pensionados):

12. If you are a retiree, you should be receiving at the very least US $600 per month from the qualified retirement plan or perhaps a lifetime pension source outside Costa Rica.

13. Original Income Certificate from the business, government, or institution guaranteeing that the monthly income will be sent to Costa Rica in your name

14. You might demonstrate that you have the minimum level of US $600 from interests or dividends from investments on foreign currency deposited in a Costa Rican government bank.

15. THE AUTHORITIES Certificate mentioned above ought to be issued by the state where you have lived going back six months.

16. The forex you obtain as a monthly pension ought to be changed into the Costa Rican currency (colones). This could be certified by the Costa Rican Central Bank or any government bank.

17. You (and your dependents) cannot work and/or earn a salary in Costa Rica. It is possible to, however, administer your personal investments but with out a salary. In addition, a physical presence in Costa Rica for a minimum of 4 months every year is required.

(Rentistas):

12. If you're a rentista, you should prove that you would receive income from an investment for instance a certificate of deposit or annuity of at least US $1,000 monthly per person (or couple) and US $500 per children under 18 in the same family group.

13. Original Income Certificate from the banking institution (in a foreign country or in Costa Rica) guaranteeing that they hold sufficient funds in a stable and permanent account to provide an income of US $1,000 per month for at least five years and that the monthly income will undoubtedly be delivered to Costa Rica in your name.

14. Your income should be converted into Costa Rican colones, whose exchange rate is made by the Central Bank.

15. You might have a deposit folks $60,000 in an approved Costa Rican bank to meet the government requirements for the residency status.

16. You (and your dependents) cannot work and/or earn an income in Costa Rica. You can, however, administer your own investments but without a salary. Furthermore, a physical presence in Costa Rica for a minimum of 4 months every year is required.

Investor (Inversionista):

12. If you are an investor, you will end up required to invest at the very least US $50,000 with an approved organization in a field such as for example tourism or export businesses.

13. You will be necessary to invest US $100,000 in a reforestation project.

14. In other types of business, some US $200,000 invested will be required.

15. Being an investor, you need to spend at least half a year each year in Costa Rica.

Foreign Relatives of a Costa Rican Citizen:

12. In case you have first-degree family members such as for example parents, siblings, spouses, or children that are citizens of Costa Rica, it is possible to make an application for permanent residency.

13. If you're married to a Costa Rican citizen, the Marriage Certificate should be issued by the Civil Registry (Registro Civil) in Costa Rica. In case of children or siblings born in Costa Rica, Birth Certificates should also be issued by the Civil Registry in Costa Rica.

14. You should submit a photocopy of the ID (c�dula de identidad) of the Costa Rican citizen who is related to you.

Students:

12. If you're students looking to get yourself a Student Visa, you should provide: (a) proof of enrollment in an educational private or public center recognized by Costa Rica, (b) relevant academic diplomas authenticated by the Consulate, and (c) proof sufficient economic resources throughout the educational program.

Temporary Workers (Work Visa):

12. The next individuals might get yourself a temporary work permit in Costa Rica: (a) scientists, professionals, teachers, technicians, and specialized staff hired by companies or institutions located in Costa Rica and (b) businessmen and board members of national and international companies.

13. The employing company or institution should provide a document describing the: (a) functions to be undertaken by the employee, (b) length of the contract, (c) salary or wages to be received, and (d) why they need to employ that one individual (justification of employment).

14. The Police Certificate mentioned above should be issued by the state/place where you have resided going back five years.

things to do in Dominical will require, upon approval, US $300 per person as a return trip guarantee deposit in addition to US $150 per person for the issuance of an ID card.

Moving to Costa Rica might seem just like a paperwork nightmare. These classifications and the associated process for each are more for the "do-it-yourself" sort of person; however, it might be very easy and simple with the aid of a lawyer who specializes in this process. All of the steps involved are very procedural, and all you need to do is take them one step at the same time.

Pura Vida!