Authored by the expert who managed and guided the team behind the Costa Rica Property Pack
Everything you need to know before buying real estate is included in our Costa Rica Property Pack
Costa Rica is one of the most welcoming countries in Central America for foreign property buyers, but owning real estate here does not automatically give you the right to live permanently.
The good news is that your property purchase can count toward an investor residency visa, which opens the door to permanent residency and, eventually, Costa Rican citizenship.
We constantly update this blog post to reflect the latest rules and thresholds, so you always have access to current information.
And if you're planning to buy a property in this place, you may want to download our pack covering the real estate market in Costa Rica.
Insights
- Costa Rica reduced its investor residency threshold from USD 200,000 to USD 150,000 in 2021 through Law 9996, making it one of the more accessible investment residency programs in Latin America.
- Real estate investments in Costa Rica must now be held in your personal name rather than through a corporation to qualify for investor residency, which is a change many buyers are not aware of.
- The path from temporary residency to Costa Rican citizenship takes a minimum of seven years for most nationalities, but Spanish and Latin American citizens can apply after just five years.
- Costa Rica does not have a formal minimum stay requirement for maintaining investor residency, with many sources indicating you only need to visit once per year, but citizenship requires spending more than 183 days annually in the country.
- The maritime zone law restricts foreigners from holding concessions on beachfront land within 200 meters of the high tide line unless they have been Costa Rican residents for at least five years.
- Costa Rica allows dual citizenship, so you do not have to give up your original passport when you naturalize as a Costa Rican citizen.
- Applicants over 65 years old are exempt from the Spanish language and Costa Rican history test required for citizenship, which is a significant advantage for retirees.
- Processing times for investor residency applications in Costa Rica typically range from 6 to 12 months, which is faster than many European golden visa programs.
Can buying property help me get permanent residency in Costa Rica?
Does buying a property qualify or at least help for residency in Costa Rica?
As of early 2026, buying property in Costa Rica does not automatically grant you residency, but a real estate purchase that meets the minimum investment threshold can qualify you for the Investor (Inversionista) temporary residency visa.
The current minimum investment required to qualify for investor residency in Costa Rica is USD 150,000 (approximately EUR 145,000 or CRC 78 million), which was reduced from USD 200,000 through Law 9996 enacted in 2021 to attract more foreign investment after the pandemic.
One important condition that many buyers miss is that, under the updated rules, the real estate investment must be held directly in your personal name rather than through a Costa Rican corporation, although corporate ownership may still qualify under specific strict conditions.
Beyond the property purchase itself, you will need to provide standard documents including a clean criminal record check, birth certificate, proof of consular registration, and all documents must be apostilled and translated into Spanish.
Even if you do not meet the USD 150,000 threshold, owning property in Costa Rica can serve as supporting evidence for other visa categories such as the Rentista (passive income) program, which requires showing USD 2,500 per month in stable income for at least two years.
Is there any residency visa directly linked to property ownership in Costa Rica right now?
Costa Rica does not have a traditional "golden visa" program where any property purchase instantly grants residency, but it does have the Investor (Inversionista) temporary residency category where real estate is one of several qualifying investment types.
Buying a primary residence in Costa Rica absolutely qualifies for the investor residency program, as long as the property value meets or exceeds the USD 150,000 minimum threshold and is properly registered in your personal name at the National Registry.
Similarly, buying a rental or investment property also qualifies for investor residency in Costa Rica, because the immigration authorities care about the existence and value of your investment rather than whether you personally occupy the property.
What exactly do I get with a property-based residency in Costa Rica?
Is this residency temporary or permanent in Costa Rica right now?
When you qualify through property investment in Costa Rica, you initially receive temporary residency status rather than permanent residency, which is a common source of confusion for first-time applicants.
The official name for this visa category is "Residencia Temporal como Inversionista" (Temporary Residency as an Investor), which is processed through the General Directorate of Migration and Immigration (DGME).
The key legal distinction in Costa Rica is that temporary residents must maintain their qualifying status (in this case, keeping the investment), while permanent residents have unconditional rights to remain in the country indefinitely.
Temporary residency in Costa Rica limits your ability to work as a salaried employee for a local company, whereas permanent residency gives you full work authorization equivalent to what Costa Rican citizens enjoy.
How long is the initial residency permit valid in Costa Rica in 2026?
As of early 2026, the initial investor residency permit in Costa Rica is typically issued for two years, which is the standard validity period that immigration attorneys consistently report in practice.
This two-year initial validity has remained stable in recent years and was not changed by Law 9996, which focused primarily on lowering the investment threshold rather than altering permit durations.
The validity period begins from the date your residency card (DIMEX) is issued, not from when you submitted your application or entered the country.
Immigration experts recommend starting your renewal process at least three months before your permit expires to avoid any gaps in your legal status and to account for administrative processing times.
How many times can I renew residency in Costa Rica?
You can renew your investor temporary residency in Costa Rica indefinitely, as long as you continue to maintain the qualifying investment and meet the standard renewal requirements.
Each renewal period in Costa Rica is typically also two years, matching the initial permit duration, which gives you a predictable timeline for planning your status.
The renewal conditions do not become stricter over time; you simply need to demonstrate that you still own the qualifying property and provide updated background checks and other standard documentation.
The most common reasons for renewal rejection in Costa Rica include letting the investment fall below the threshold, failing to maintain your CCSS (social security) registration, or submitting applications after the permit has already expired.
Can I live and work freely with this residency in Costa Rica?
With investor temporary residency in Costa Rica, you can live in the country legally and manage your own investments or run your own business, but you cannot work as a salaried employee for a local company.
This residency category allows self-employment and business ownership, meaning you can operate a rental property business, run a company, or work remotely for foreign clients without restrictions.
There are no specific professions or sectors formally restricted for investor residency holders in Costa Rica, but certain regulated professions (like medicine or law) require additional Costa Rican licensing regardless of your immigration status.
If you want to take traditional employment in Costa Rica, you would need either permanent residency or a separate work permit, which is why many investors choose to transition to permanent status after three years.
Can I travel in and out easily with residency in Costa Rica?
Costa Rican temporary residency offers excellent travel flexibility, with many sources indicating you only need to visit the country once per year (even for a single day) to maintain your status during the temporary residency phase.
Unlike some countries with strict physical presence requirements, Costa Rica does not have an official maximum time you can spend abroad during temporary residency, though prolonged absences may raise questions at renewal.
Your Costa Rican residency card does not grant visa-free access to other countries like Schengen, but it does allow you unrestricted entry into Costa Rica without the 90-day tourist visa limitations.
When re-entering Costa Rica after traveling abroad, you must carry your valid DIMEX card (the Costa Rican resident identification card) along with your passport to avoid being treated as a tourist.
Does this residency lead to permanent residency in Costa Rica eventually?
Yes, Costa Rica's investor temporary residency is specifically designed as a stepping stone to permanent residency, which you can apply for after three consecutive years of maintaining temporary resident status.
The three-year requirement is clearly stated in Costa Rica's migration law, making this one of the faster pathways to permanent residency in Latin America compared to countries requiring five or more years.
Beyond the time requirement, you will need to demonstrate continued good conduct, maintain your CCSS social security registration, and provide updated documentation similar to your original application.
Once you obtain permanent residency in Costa Rica, you are no longer required to maintain the original property investment, which gives you the freedom to sell or change your investments without affecting your immigration status.
What conditions must I keep to maintain residency in Costa Rica?
Do I need to keep the property to keep residency in Costa Rica?
During the temporary residency phase in Costa Rica, you must maintain your qualifying investment (the property worth at least USD 150,000) to keep your residency status valid.
If you sell the property before transitioning to permanent residency, you risk losing your temporary resident status at your next renewal, as your eligibility is directly tied to the investment.
Costa Rica does allow you to replace one qualifying property with another, provided the new investment still meets the minimum threshold and is properly documented before selling the original property.
During renewal applications, Costa Rican immigration authorities verify ongoing property ownership through the National Registry records, so it is essential to keep your property registration current and in good standing.
Is there a minimum stay requirement per year in Costa Rica?
For maintaining temporary investor residency in Costa Rica, the practical requirement is remarkably flexible, with most sources indicating you only need to visit the country at least once per year.
This minimal stay requirement is not strictly monitored through daily tracking, but immigration officials can review your entry and exit stamps at renewal, so maintaining some presence is advisable.
If you are completely absent from Costa Rica for an extended period (such as an entire year without any visits), you may face questions during renewal or risk being considered to have abandoned your residency.
The minimum stay requirement changes dramatically when you apply for citizenship, as naturalization requires spending more than 183 days per year in Costa Rica during the qualifying residency period.
Can I rent out the property and keep residency in Costa Rica?
Yes, you can rent out your qualifying property in Costa Rica and still maintain your investor residency, because the immigration requirement focuses on ownership value rather than personal occupancy.
There are no specific restrictions distinguishing between short-term vacation rentals and long-term leases for residency purposes, though local municipalities may have their own regulations for tourist rentals.
Rental income from your property does not negatively affect your residency status, but you are required to declare this income and pay applicable Costa Rican taxes, which range from 10% to 15% depending on the amount.
If you rent out your property, you should register the rental activity with the tax authorities (Ministerio de Hacienda) to ensure compliance, as tax issues can create complications during residency renewals.
Can residency be revoked after approval in Costa Rica right now?
Yes, Costa Rican residency can be revoked after approval if you violate the conditions of your permit, though outright revocation is relatively uncommon compared to permits simply not being renewed.
The official revocation process in Costa Rica is handled by the DGME (immigration authority), which can initiate proceedings for reasons including criminal activity, fraud in the application, or loss of qualifying status.
If you receive a revocation notice in Costa Rica, you have the right to appeal the decision through administrative channels and, if necessary, through the Costa Rican court system.
The grace period after revocation varies by case, but typically you would be given a reasonable timeframe (often 30 to 90 days) to leave the country voluntarily or to rectify the issue if possible.
Can real estate investment lead to citizenship in Costa Rica?
Can property investment directly lead to citizenship in Costa Rica?
Costa Rica does not offer direct citizenship by investment, meaning you cannot buy a property and immediately become a Costa Rican citizen, but your real estate investment can start a residency pathway that eventually leads to citizenship through naturalization.
A higher property investment amount (whether USD 200,000, USD 500,000, or more) does not accelerate the citizenship timeline in Costa Rica, because naturalization depends on years of residence rather than investment size.
The typical timeline from initial property investment to citizenship eligibility in Costa Rica is approximately seven years: first obtaining temporary residency, then permanent residency after three years, and finally qualifying for citizenship after a total of seven years.
The key difference is that citizenship-by-investment programs (like those in the Caribbean) grant nationality for a payment, while Costa Rica's naturalization process requires you to actually live in the country and integrate into Costa Rican society over many years.
Is citizenship automatic after long-term residency in Costa Rica?
Citizenship is not automatic in Costa Rica; even after meeting the residency time requirements, you must submit a formal application to the Tribunal Supremo de Elecciones (TSE) and pass specific tests.
For most nationalities, seven years of legal residency in Costa Rica are required before you can apply for citizenship, though citizens of Central American countries, Spain, and Latin American nations by birth qualify after just five years.
Applicants under 65 years old must pass a Spanish language proficiency test and an exam covering Costa Rican history, culture, and civic values, which typically requires dedicated preparation.
The processing time for citizenship applications in Costa Rica typically ranges from six months to two years after you submit all required documents and complete the testing requirements.
What are the real requirements to become a citizen in Costa Rica?
Do I need physical presence for citizenship in Costa Rica right now?
Yes, Costa Rica requires genuine physical presence for citizenship eligibility, with the widely accepted benchmark being more than 183 days per year in the country during your qualifying residency period.
Physical presence is calculated based on your immigration entry and exit records, and any month spent abroad is deducted from your total qualifying time, effectively extending how long you must wait.
The TSE (electoral tribunal that processes citizenship) verifies physical presence by requesting your complete migratory movement records from immigration authorities when evaluating your application.
There are no formal exemptions to the physical presence requirement for standard naturalization applicants, though citizens married to Costa Ricans face different (shorter) residency requirements of just two years.
Can my spouse and kids get citizenship too in Costa Rica in 2026?
As of early 2026, your spouse and children can pursue their own citizenship pathways in Costa Rica, but they do not automatically receive citizenship simply because you naturalize.
Family members can be included in your initial investor residency application (spouse and children under 25 or with disabilities), allowing them to build their own qualifying residency time alongside you.
Children under 25 can be included as dependents in the residency application, and those born in Costa Rica to resident parents may have additional pathways through birth registration.
Spouses face different requirements depending on their situation: if married to a Costa Rican citizen (which you would become after naturalizing), they can apply for citizenship after just two years of marriage and residence in Costa Rica.
What are the most common reasons citizenship is denied in Costa Rica?
The most common reason citizenship applications are denied in Costa Rica is failing to prove genuine physical residence in the country, typically because applicants spent too much time abroad during their qualifying years.
Two other frequently cited reasons for denial include failing the Spanish language and history test (for applicants under 65) and submitting incomplete or improperly apostilled documentation.
If your citizenship application is denied in Costa Rica, you can generally reapply after addressing the deficiencies, though you may need to wait and accumulate additional qualifying time depending on the reason for rejection.
The single most effective step to avoid citizenship denial in Costa Rica is to maintain meticulous records of your time in the country, including CCSS contributions, utility bills, and other documentary evidence of genuine residence.
Important warning about beachfront property in Costa Rica
If your dream is to own beachfront property in Costa Rica, you need to understand the Zona Maritimo Terrestre (Maritime Zone Law 6043), which creates restrictions that catch many foreign buyers by surprise.
The first 50 meters from the high tide line is a public zone where no private construction or occupation is allowed, and the next 150 meters is a restricted zone where you can only obtain a concession rather than full ownership.
Foreigners who have not been Costa Rican residents for at least five years cannot directly hold concessions in the restricted maritime zone, and there are additional limits on foreign control of concession-holding entities.
This does not mean you should avoid beach areas, but it means you must treat title verification as your first priority and always confirm a property's legal status through the National Registry before purchasing.