Residencia Temporal Inversionista

The Residencia Temporal Inversionista (Temporary Residence for Investors) is Costa Rica's investor residency program, allowing foreign nationals who make a qualifying capital investment to obtain temporary residence. Established under Article 79(4) of the General Migration Law (Ley 8764) and enhanced by Law 9996 (2021), the program is administered by the Direccion General de Migracion y Extranjeria (DGME). It targets foreign nationals seeking to invest in Costa Rica through real estate, securities, productive projects, reforestation, venture capital funds, or sustainable tourism infrastructure.

• Minimum investment of USD 150,000 in qualifying categories (USD 100,000 for reforestation projects)
• Investment must be maintained continuously throughout the residency period
• Real estate must be registered in the applicant's personal name (corporate ownership structures are not accepted)
• Securities investments must be through licensed brokerage firms registered with SUGEVAL
• Reforestation projects require certification from the Ministry of Environment and Energy (MINAE)
• Sustainable tourism infrastructure requires approval from the Instituto Costarricense de Turismo (ICT)
• Mandatory enrollment in the Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social (CCSS) upon approval

• Complete passport copy (all pages, including blank pages) for applicant and dependants
• Six passport-sized photographs (front view, white background) per applicant
• Criminal background certificate from country of residence for the past 3 years (issued within 6 months, apostilled, translated to Spanish)
• Birth certificate (apostilled, translated to Spanish)
• Marriage certificate if applicable (apostilled, translated to Spanish)
• Proof of consular registration with applicant's country's consulate in Costa Rica
• Proof of qualifying investment (documentation varies by investment type)
• Proof of DGME fee deposits
• All foreign documents must be apostilled (Hague Convention) and translated by a certified Costa Rican translator

The permit is issued for 2 years and renewable for additional 2-year periods. Renewal applications must be submitted between 3 months before and 3 months after DIMEX expiration. The investment must be maintained continuously and proof is required at each renewal. Late renewal incurs a penalty of USD 3.00 per month of delay. After 3 consecutive years of temporary residence, investors may apply for permanent residence.

Spouse, minor children, disabled adult children, and unmarried children under 25 with demonstrated economic dependence may be included as dependants. Each dependant requires separate documentation and additional DGME fees. Dependants receive the same residency status and duration as the principal applicant. Dependant applications are typically filed simultaneously with the principal but may also be filed after the principal's residency is approved.

Costa Rica operates a territorial tax system where only income generated within the country is subject to taxation. Under Law 9996 (for applications filed before July 2026), investors benefit from income tax exemption on declared qualifying income, a 20% exemption on Real Estate Transfer Tax, one-time duty-free importation of household goods, duty-free importation of up to two vehicles for personal use, and duty-free importation of professional instruments. These tax incentive benefits apply for 10 years from the date of residency approval. Annual property tax is 0.25% of the registered municipal value.

Investors and their dependants may not work as employees in Costa Rica. They may only derive income from their investments or establish businesses related to their investment activity.

Applications are filed with the DGME either in person at their offices in San Jose or through an authorized legal representative. The process involves gathering and apostilling all documents, making the qualifying investment, registering with your country's consulate, making required DGME deposits (USD 50 application fee, USD 200 status change fee), submitting the complete application, completing fingerprinting at the Ministry of Public Security, and awaiting DGME analysis. Processing takes approximately 9 to 15 months. Upon approval, applicants must enroll in CCSS before receiving the DIMEX residency card. Applications must be complete and accurate upon initial submission, as rejected applications require full re-submission.