1. An application addressed to the Director General of Migration by the person concerned. If the applicant is not going to be able to go in person, he/she should grant a special power of attorney to a representative in the USA, who will sign the residence application form and present all the documents at the Consulate. This power of attorney should be in Spanish, notarized and follow the authentication procedures.


2. The applicant should grant special authority to a representative (apoderado). This document could be either signed or authenticated in the Consulate. It should indicate the personal particulars of the representative (apoderado) and the address where to receive notifications, both within the judicial perimeter of San Jose.


3. Birth Certificate (required for applicant, spouse and all dependent children up to 18 years or up to 25 if a university student – proof of enrollment is required)*. Every certificate should have the parents' name.


4. Police Certificate (not older than six months) issued by the State/last place where the applicant has lived for the past two years (required for applicant, spouse and any dependent children aged 18 to 25.


5. Applications received after November 15th, 2002 will require an FBI identification record (required for applicant, spouse and any dependent children aged 18 to 25). For further information please access http://foia.fbi.gov/firs552.htm


6. Marriage Certificate (if the applicant is married)*.


7. Photocopy of the passport certified by the Consul (required for applicant, spouse and any dependent children) or by a Notary Public, but in this last case, the copies will also have to be authenticated.


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


9. Eligible individuals can claim their spouses and children under 18, as dependents, as well as older children with disabilities. A son or daughter between 18 and 25 can be included as dependent if he or she is enrolled in a University.


10. In the case of a family group, an individual file is required per member. Parents should sign applications on behalf of minor children.


11. In order to practice a profession, the individual concerned should provide his or her diplomas. Concerning other professional activities, relevant documentation such as courses and studies undertaken should be submitted.

* NB: All documents listed in paragraphs 3, 4 and 6 must be authenticated by the Costa Rican Consul and translated to Spanish language. (A Costa Rican Consulate will charge US$ 40 in official stamps for authentication of each document).

Once you have all the required documents, send them FIRST to the Consulate of your jurisdiction, where they will be checked. If documents are complete, you will be asked to go to the Consulate for an interview and sign the application you have already sent, as well as the power of attorney. As mentioned in point 1., if you are not going to appear in person, you should grant a power of attorney to someone in the USA who will submit the documents to the Consulate. In this case, since you are not going personally to the Consulate, the power of attorney mentioned on point 2. should be already signed by you, and it should be notarized and authenticated.

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

Additionally to points 1-11, you should fulfill the following requirements depending on your immigration category. Those documents do not need to be sent together with the ones mentioned in points 1-11, but if they are missing, your representative will be notified once Migration receives and processes the documents sent by the Consulate. He/she will have 10 days to complete those documents which are issued in Costa Rica, or 30 days if they are issued abroad. Please consider that some need to be authenticated by the Costa Rican Consulate first.


Retirees (Pensionados)

12. The applicant should receive at least six hundred dollars (US$ 600) a month from a qualified retirement plan or a lifetime pension source outside Costa Rica.


13. Income certificate - The applicant should provide an original document from the company, government or institution guaranteeing that the monthly income will be sent to Costa Rica in the name of the applicant.


14. Foreigners could also demonstrate that they receive the minimum amount of US$ 600 from interests or dividends from investments on foreign currency deposited in a Costa Rican government bank.


15. The Police Certificate mentioned in paragraph 4 should be issued by the State in which the applicant has resided for the last six (6) months.


16. The foreign currency received as a monthly pension should be converted into Costa Rican currency (colones). The Costa Rican Central Bank or any other government bank should certify this requirement.


17. The retirees (and their dependents) cannot work and/or earn a salary in Costa Rica. They can however, administer their own investments but without a salary. In addition, a physical presence in Costa Rica for a minimum of 4 months each year is required.

12. The applicant should demonstrate that he or she would receive income from an investment such as a certificate of deposit or annuity of at least US$ 1,000 per month per person and US $ 500,00 per children under 18 in the same family group.


13. Income certificate - The applicant should provide an original document 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 (5) years and that the monthly income will be sent to Costa Rica in the name of the applicant.


14. The income should be converted into Costa Rican colones. The colones exchange rate is established by the Central Bank.


15. A deposit of US$ 60,000 in an approved Costa Rican bank will satisfy the government requirements for the residency status.


16. The rentists (and their dependents) cannot work and/or earn a salary in Costa Rica. They can however, administer their own investments but without a salary. In addition, a physical presence in Costa Rica for a minimum of 4 months each year is required.

12. The applicant should invest at least US$ 50,000 with an approved organization in a field such as tourism or export businesses.


13. In case of a reforestation project, US$ 100,000 in a reforestation project;


14. In other type of business, US$ 200,000.


15. The investor should spend at least six months per year in Costa Rica.

12. Permanent residency can be applied for if you have first-degree family members such as parents, siblings, spouses, children who are citizens of Costa Rica.


13. When the applicant is married with a Costa Rican citizen, the Marriage Certificate should be issued by the Civil Registry (Registro Civil) in Costa Rica. The same applies for Birth Certificates in case of children or siblings born in Costa Rica.


14. Photocopy of the ID (cédula de identidad) of the Costa Rican citizen relative of the foreign applicant should be submitted as well.

12. In order to obtain a student visa, the applicant should provide:

1. Enrollment in an educational private or public center, recognized by Costa Rica;


2. Relevant academic diplomas authenticated by the Consulate.


3. Proof of sufficient economic resources for the duration of the educational program.

12. The following individuals might obtain a temporary working permit in Costa Rica:

1. Scientists, professionals, teachers, technicians and specialized staff hired by companies or institutions based in Costa Rica;


2. Businessmen and board members of national and international companies.

13. The employing company or institution should provide a document describing the:

1. Functions to be undertaken by the employee;


2. Length of the contract;


3. Salary or wages to be received and


4. Why they need to employ that particular individual (justification of employment).

14. The Police Certificate mentioned in paragraph 4 should be issued by that place where he or she has resided for the last five (5) years.

All the residency status will require upon approval to make a US $ 300,00 per person as guarantee deposit as well as the cost for the issuance of an ID card ( today US $ 150,00 per person).