Residency · Americas
Residency · AmericasCosta Rica Investor Residence
Temporary residence in Costa Rica for investors of at least USD 150,000. The window for new applicants to claim Law 9996's extra tax incentives closed in July 2026.
Decision summary
- What do you obtain?
- Costa Rica Investor ResidenceRoute to citizenshipCitizenship after seven years of residence (five for Central American, Ibero-American and Spanish nationals).
- What does your family invest?
- USD 150,000.
- What is additional?
- Information pending verification
- How long does it take?
- About 9 to 12 months.
- Must you travel or live there?
- At least one day a year in Costa Rica.
- What is the main drawback?
- The investment must be maintained, with a yearly visit and social security registration.
- Family inclusion
- Spouse, Children · conditions apply
- Program status
- Operational
Overview
Costa Rica grants temporary residence to foreigners who make a qualifying investment of at least USD 150,000, such as real estate, under the immigration law and Law No. 9996 on attracting investors, rentiers and pensioners.
Temporary residence is granted for two years and is renewable while the investment is maintained continuously.
Law 9996 also offered incentives such as duty-free import of household goods and vehicles, but only to people who opted in within five years of the law taking effect. Costa Rican law firms report that this window closed in July 2026: new investor applicants can no longer claim them, while those already granted them keep them for ten years. The investor residence itself continues.
Path to citizenship
7 yearsof residence before you can apply for citizenship
Citizenship after seven years of residence (five for Central American, Ibero-American and Spanish nationals).
See every residency route to citizenship →Who this program may not suit
Taken from the facts recorded on this page. It may not suit you if:
- Your budget is below USD 150,000, the minimum recorded investment, before fees and costs.
- You cannot meet the stay rule: At least one day a year in Costa Rica.
Investment pathways
- Investment pathway
- Qualifying investment, commonly real estate, maintained without interruption.
- Minimum investment
- USD 150,000.
From published programme sources
Family inclusion
Spouse
Named in the rule
Children
Named in the rule
Parents
Not named in the rule
Siblings
Not named in the rule
Ages, dependency and other conditions are in the rule below; confirm them for each family member.
- Eligible dependents
- Spouse, children under 18 and single dependent children under 25.
From published programme sources
Application process
- 1The investor makes a qualifying investment of at least US$150,000 under Law 9996, commonly real estate registered in their own name in the National Registry.
- 2The applicant gathers a passport, apostilled birth certificate and police clearance, investment registration evidence and proof of funds, with official Spanish translations.
- 3The application, with a formal Spanish request letter and the government deposit receipt, is filed with the Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería in person or through an authorised legal representative.
- 4Migración verifies the investment and issues a resolution granting two-year renewable temporary residence that does not permit paid work and requires the investment to be maintained.
- 5The resident enrols with the social security fund (CCSS), keeps payments current and books an appointment to receive the DIMEX residence card.
- 6Every two years the resident renews by proving the investment was kept without interruption; residence lapses if renewal is not completed within three months after expiry.
Steps and timings can change; your advisor confirms the current process before you apply.
Indicative timelines
- Indicative processing timeframe
- About 9 to 12 months.
From published programme sources
Investment and fees
Qualifying investment amounts and government fees are always shown separately. We do not publish single "total price" figures, as the total depends on family composition and circumstances.
Estimate for your family
- Investment for your family
- USD 150,000
- Qualifying investment (from)
- Known total so far
- USD 150,000
- 5 cost items not yet included
Children are counted as 10 and parents as 60 unless you enter ages in the calculator. Full breakdown and ages
Qualifying investment
- Qualifying investment (from)
- USD 150,000
- To be confirmed
- Government fees · Due diligence fees · Estimated additional costs · Investment holding period
From published programme sources
Residence requirements
- Residence requirements
- At least one day a year in Costa Rica.
- Renewal requirements
- Two-year temporary residence, renewable.
- Potential route to citizenship
- Citizenship after seven years of residence (five for Central American, Ibero-American and Spanish nationals).
From published programme sources
Due diligence and documentation
Applicants and included dependants undergo background and source-of-funds checks by the relevant authority. Documentation requirements are confirmed during preparation — no documents are needed for an initial consultation.
Considerations, limitations and risks
Important restrictions
The investment must be maintained, with a yearly visit and social security registration.
- Published entry thresholds are not comprehensive costs; taxes, professional fees and dependent charges may apply.
- Immigration law, visa access and naturalisation rules can change without notice.
- Individual eligibility depends on nationality, financial background, due diligence and program-specific criteria.
Status and authority
- Operational status
- Operational
- Official government authority
- Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería, Costa Rica
- Legal basis
- General Law of Migration No. 8764; Law No. 9996 and Executive Decree No. 43926-MGP-H-TUR.
- To be confirmed
- Nationality restrictions
Programme rules change; your advisor confirms every figure before you commit.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum investment for Costa Rica residence?
USD 150,000 in a qualifying investment such as real estate, maintained without interruption.
What is the minimum investment for Costa Rica Investor Residence?
USD 150,000.
Can my family be included?
Spouse, children under 18 and single dependent children under 25.
Is there a minimum stay requirement for Costa Rica Investor Residence?
At least one day a year in Costa Rica.
How long does the process take?
About 9 to 12 months.
Does the Costa Rica Investor Residence lead to citizenship?
Citizenship after seven years of residence (five for Central American, Ibero-American and Spanish nationals).
Is approval guaranteed?
No. Every application is decided by the government concerned after due diligence, and requirements can change.
Discuss Costa Rica with an advisor.
Share your objectives in confidence. An advisor will outline the options that may be relevant to your family and circumstances.