All residency applications have to be filed through the Costa Rican Consulate in the country where the petitioner was born or legally resides. The process can be done personally or by granting a Special Power of Attorney to a third party. These dispositions apply to everyone exempting those who have a Costa Rican relative, such as a spouse, children, parents and single siblings. If that is the case, the application can be done through an attorney or directly at the Immigration General Direction.
There are three types of residency status that foreigners can apply for: Pensionado (Retiree), Rentista (Legal Resident) and Inversionista (Investor).
These are the requirements needed for the application of any type of residency:
a) Certified copy of Birth Certificate, including name of both parents.
b) Police Clearance, a certified letter of No Criminal Records, from last place of residency. A police record is valid for six months.
c) Marriage certificate, if married.
d) Proof of Income: If applying for Pensionado status, a certified letter from the entity or retirement plan, stating name of beneficiary, monthly amount and this to be a lifetime pension to be received in Costa Rica. If benefits are received from the U.S. Social Security, a letter from the Social Security Department of the United States Embassy in Costa Rica may be obtained.
e) Photocopy of all pages of passport
f) Eight front view photographs, four to be included with the application and four to be submitted to the Costa Rican Police Archives when fingerprints are taken;
g) Power of Attorney granted to the legal representative in Costa Rica.
If applying for rentista status, a deposit in a Bank of Costa Rica in the amount of S $60,000; USD $120,000 if spouse is to be included as a dependent or proof from an overseas Bank or Financial Institution of a five year Bank guarantee in the amount of USD $1000 or USD $2000 per month, from a stable and permanent income, the latter amount when spouse is to be included as a dependent, Under the rentista status the applicant shall exchange USD $12,000 (or USD $24,000 if spouse is included as a dependent) into local currency on a yearly basis (USD $1,000 / $2,000 per month) upon approval of the migratory condition and shall show proof of it, with bank receipts to the Immigration Direction. In order to maintain the condition a new bank guarantee is required every five years.
If claiming children as dependents, under the rentista status the amount of USD $500 per month per child is required following the aforementioned rules.
Documents from the Unites States of America shall have the authentications by the Secretary of the State where the document originates and the Costa Rican Consul in the respective jurisdiction. Each document requires USD $40 in consular stamps, and USD $100 for the Power of Attorney granted to the legal representative in Costa Rica. Each Costa Rican Consulate has jurisdiction over several states, for example: a birth certificate from Connecticut shall have the authentication by the Secretary of said State and the Costa Rican Consul in New York. Documents from other countries shall have the authentications from their respective authorities and by the Costa Rican Consulate.
Note: If US citizens by naturalization, authenticated proof is also required, following the aforementioned.
Investors qualify for a Temporary Migratory Condition, by Providing an investment project of more that USD$2000 providing it will contribute to the economic and or social development of the country. The project shall explain in detail the type of investment and attach a chronogram of real activities. Therefore personal acquisitions of land, homes, buildings or any other such investment are excluded from qualifying for said migratory condition.
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A certified Public Accountant shall issue a certification of the economic solvency of the petitioner, based on Financial Statements from the previous fiscal year, stating that the investment is within the parameter of the activities to be developed.
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Proof of the total financing of the project
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Birth Certificate
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Police Certificate, Clear Record from country of origin or country of legal residence the previous three years, in the latter case, proof of legal residency
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Power of Attorney granted to legal representative in Costa Rica.
Documents from the United States of America shall have the authentications by the Secretary of the State where the document originates and the Costa Rican Consul in the respective jurisdiction. Each document requires USD $40 in consular stamps, and USD $100 for the Power of Attorney granted to the legal representative in Costa Rica. Documents from other countries shall have the authentications from their respective authorities and by the Costa Rican Consulate.
