Costa Rica Golden Visa & Residency Programs

Costa Rica offers multiple pathways to legal residency and the internationally recognized “Rentista” and “Inversionista” (Investor) residency categories that are commonly referred to as the Golden Visa route.

Investor Residency (Inversionista)

Invest a minimum of $150,000 USD in Costa Rica and qualify for permanent residency. This applies to real estate purchases, business investment, or a combination.

Rentista Residency

Demonstrate a guaranteed income of $2,500 USD/month from a stable foreign source (pension, investment income, or a $60,000 USD bank deposit) to qualify.

Pensionado Residency

Retirees with a guaranteed monthly pension of at least $1,000 USD from a government source qualify for this category — one of the most affordable retirement visas in the world.

Benefits of Costa Rica Residency

• Path to citizenship after 7 years
• No global income tax obligations for foreign-sourced income
• Access to world-class public healthcare (CAJA)
• Stable democracy — no standing army since 1948
• Year-round spring climate in the Central Valley