Residency Requirements and Classifications in Costa Rica
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If you're thinking about moving to Costa Rica and have no idea what the required residency procedures are, you've come to the right place. In terms of applying for residency in Costa Rica, you can find general and specific requirements that need to be filled and documents that must definitely 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 technique at least a few months prior to your anticipated departure.
The following are the general requirements that need to be filled for any residency application in Costa Rica:
1. You should submit an application addressed to the Director General of Migration. If you can't be there in person, you should grant a special power of attorney - notarized, authenticated, and in Spanish - to a representative in america who will 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 shows the personal details of the representative and the address to which they receive notifications within the judicial perimeter of San Jose.
3. Birth Certificate that clearly shows the parents' name (required for all applicants, spouse, and dependent children up to 18 years or up to 25 in case a university student with a proof of enrollment)*
4. Police Certificate (not older than six months) issued by the state where you have lived for days gone by 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 https://www.discoverpuravida.com/five-things-to-do-in-dominical-costa-rica/ , 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 way of a Notary Public (necessary for all applicants, spouse, and any dependent children)
8. Four recent forehead passport-size photographs (necessary for all applicants, spouse, and any dependent children)
9. Eligible individuals can claim their spouses, children under 18, and teenagers with disabilities as dependents. A kid between 18 and 25 can be considered dependents if they are signed up for a university.
10. Regarding a family group, a person file is required for every member. Parents should sign applications on behalf of their minor children.
11. For practicing an occupation, you need to provide your diplomas. For pursuing other professional activities, relevant documentation - such as for example courses and studies undertaken - should 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 should be notarized and also apostilled by the respective states where they originated.
You should send all of the required documents first to the Consulate of one's jurisdiction to be checked. If the documents are complete, you - or your representative - will be asked to go to the Consulate for an interview and sign the application you have previously sent.
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.
As well as the general requirements mentioned above for residency application, you should match 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 be notified once Migration receives and processes the documents sent by the Consulate. You will be given 10 days to complete those documents if they are issued in Costa Rica, or 30 days if they are issued abroad. Please be aware that some documents should be authenticated by the Costa Rican Consulate first.
Retirees (Pensionados):
12. If you're a retiree, you should be receiving at the very least US $600 a month from a 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 undoubtedly be delivered to Costa Rica in your name
14. You might demonstrate that you have the minimum amount 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 should be issued by hawaii where you have lived going back six months.
16. The foreign currency you obtain as a monthly pension should be converted into the Costa Rican currency (colones). This may be certified by the Costa Rican Central Bank or any government bank.
17. You (and your dependents) cannot work and/or earn an income in Costa Rica. It is possible to, however, administer your own investments but without a salary. Furthermore, a physical presence in Costa Rica for at the least 4 months each year is required.
(Rentistas):
12. If you are a rentista, you need to prove that you would receive income from an investment such as a certificate of deposit or annuity of at the very 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 they hold sufficient funds in a well balanced and permanent account to provide an income of US $1,000 per month for at the very least five years and that the monthly income will be sent 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 could have a deposit of US $60,000 within an approved Costa Rican bank to meet up the federal government requirements for the residency status.
16. You (as well as 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 at the least 4 months each year is required.
Investor (Inversionista):
12. If you are an investor, you may be required to invest at the very least US $50,000 having an approved organization in a field such as tourism or export businesses.
13. You will be required to invest US $100,000 in a reforestation project.
14. In other styles of business, some US $200,000 invested will undoubtedly be required.
15. As an investor, you should spend at least half a year per year in Costa Rica.
Foreign Relatives of a Costa Rican Citizen:
12. When you have first-degree family members such as for example parents, siblings, spouses, or children that are citizens of Costa Rica, you can make an application for permanent residency.
13. If you are married to a Costa Rican citizen, the Marriage Certificate ought to be issued by the Civil Registry (Registro Civil) in Costa Rica. In the event 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's related to you.
Students:
12. If you're students looking to obtain a Student Visa, you need to provide: (a) proof enrollment in an educational private or public center acknowledged by Costa Rica, (b) relevant academic diplomas authenticated by the Consulate, and (c) proof of sufficient economic resources throughout the educational program.
Temporary Workers (Work Visa):
12. The following individuals might obtain a temporary work permit in Costa Rica: (a) scientists, professionals, teachers, technicians, and specialized staff hired by companies or institutions based 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) amount 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.
All of the residency status will demand, upon approval, US $300 per person as a return trip guarantee deposit as well as US $150 per person for the issuance of an ID card.
Moving to Costa Rica might seem like a paperwork nightmare. These classifications and the associated process for every are more for the "do-it-yourself" sort of person; however, it is usually very easy and simple with the aid of a lawyer who focuses on this process. All of the steps involved have become procedural, and all you need to do is take them one step at a time.
Pura Vida!
The following are the general requirements that need to be filled for any residency application in Costa Rica:
1. You should submit an application addressed to the Director General of Migration. If you can't be there in person, you should grant a special power of attorney - notarized, authenticated, and in Spanish - to a representative in america who will 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 shows the personal details of the representative and the address to which they receive notifications within the judicial perimeter of San Jose.
3. Birth Certificate that clearly shows the parents' name (required for all applicants, spouse, and dependent children up to 18 years or up to 25 in case a university student with a proof of enrollment)*
4. Police Certificate (not older than six months) issued by the state where you have lived for days gone by 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 https://www.discoverpuravida.com/five-things-to-do-in-dominical-costa-rica/ , 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 way of a Notary Public (necessary for all applicants, spouse, and any dependent children)
8. Four recent forehead passport-size photographs (necessary for all applicants, spouse, and any dependent children)
9. Eligible individuals can claim their spouses, children under 18, and teenagers with disabilities as dependents. A kid between 18 and 25 can be considered dependents if they are signed up for a university.
10. Regarding a family group, a person file is required for every member. Parents should sign applications on behalf of their minor children.
11. For practicing an occupation, you need to provide your diplomas. For pursuing other professional activities, relevant documentation - such as for example courses and studies undertaken - should 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 should be notarized and also apostilled by the respective states where they originated.
You should send all of the required documents first to the Consulate of one's jurisdiction to be checked. If the documents are complete, you - or your representative - will be asked to go to the Consulate for an interview and sign the application you have previously sent.
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.
As well as the general requirements mentioned above for residency application, you should match 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 be notified once Migration receives and processes the documents sent by the Consulate. You will be given 10 days to complete those documents if they are issued in Costa Rica, or 30 days if they are issued abroad. Please be aware that some documents should be authenticated by the Costa Rican Consulate first.
Retirees (Pensionados):
12. If you're a retiree, you should be receiving at the very least US $600 a month from a 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 undoubtedly be delivered to Costa Rica in your name
14. You might demonstrate that you have the minimum amount 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 should be issued by hawaii where you have lived going back six months.
16. The foreign currency you obtain as a monthly pension should be converted into the Costa Rican currency (colones). This may be certified by the Costa Rican Central Bank or any government bank.
17. You (and your dependents) cannot work and/or earn an income in Costa Rica. It is possible to, however, administer your own investments but without a salary. Furthermore, a physical presence in Costa Rica for at the least 4 months each year is required.
(Rentistas):
12. If you are a rentista, you need to prove that you would receive income from an investment such as a certificate of deposit or annuity of at the very 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 they hold sufficient funds in a well balanced and permanent account to provide an income of US $1,000 per month for at the very least five years and that the monthly income will be sent 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 could have a deposit of US $60,000 within an approved Costa Rican bank to meet up the federal government requirements for the residency status.
16. You (as well as 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 at the least 4 months each year is required.
Investor (Inversionista):
12. If you are an investor, you may be required to invest at the very least US $50,000 having an approved organization in a field such as tourism or export businesses.
13. You will be required to invest US $100,000 in a reforestation project.
14. In other styles of business, some US $200,000 invested will undoubtedly be required.
15. As an investor, you should spend at least half a year per year in Costa Rica.
Foreign Relatives of a Costa Rican Citizen:
12. When you have first-degree family members such as for example parents, siblings, spouses, or children that are citizens of Costa Rica, you can make an application for permanent residency.
13. If you are married to a Costa Rican citizen, the Marriage Certificate ought to be issued by the Civil Registry (Registro Civil) in Costa Rica. In the event 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's related to you.
Students:
12. If you're students looking to obtain a Student Visa, you need to provide: (a) proof enrollment in an educational private or public center acknowledged by Costa Rica, (b) relevant academic diplomas authenticated by the Consulate, and (c) proof of sufficient economic resources throughout the educational program.
Temporary Workers (Work Visa):
12. The following individuals might obtain a temporary work permit in Costa Rica: (a) scientists, professionals, teachers, technicians, and specialized staff hired by companies or institutions based 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) amount 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.
All of the residency status will demand, upon approval, US $300 per person as a return trip guarantee deposit as well as US $150 per person for the issuance of an ID card.
Moving to Costa Rica might seem like a paperwork nightmare. These classifications and the associated process for every are more for the "do-it-yourself" sort of person; however, it is usually very easy and simple with the aid of a lawyer who focuses on this process. All of the steps involved have become procedural, and all you need to do is take them one step at a time.
Pura Vida!
