Costa Rica

Visa and residency reference data is available for Citizenship, Digital Nomad, Investor, and 5 more.

• Citizenship: Costa Rican naturalization route under constitutional articles 14 to 16. The Constitution sets a five-year residence threshold for nationals of other Central American countries, Spaniards, and Ibero-Americans by birth, a seven-year threshold for other foreigners and non-birth members of those groups, and a two-year marriage-and-residence route for spouses of Costa Rican citizens. Applicants must also show good conduct, a known occupation or means of living, Spanish literacy, knowledge of Costa Rican history and values, and an oath to respect the constitutional order.
• Digital Nomad: Non-resident estancia subcategory for foreign nationals who work or provide services remotely for persons or entities outside Costa Rica and are paid from abroad.
• Investor: Temporary-resident investor subcategory for foreigners who make a qualifying investment in Costa Rica.
• Retirement: Temporary-resident pensionado subcategory for foreigners who prove a stable foreign pension.
• Permanent Residency: Permanent-resident category for foreigners granted indefinite residence, including people who have held temporary residence for three consecutive years and qualifying first-degree relatives of Costa Rican citizens.
• Passive Income / Rentista: Temporary-resident rentista subcategory for foreigners who prove stable monthly rent or other recurring income.
• Tourist / Visa Waiver: Non-resident tourist category for foreign nationals admitted to Costa Rica for stays under 90 days. The law allows pre-expiry extensions when the applicant proves sufficient means to subsist.
• Work (Employer-Sponsored): Employer-sponsored work authorization under Costa Rica's occupation-specific worker category. The regulation covers applications filed by a legal entity or an individual employer, grants the permit for one year, and allows annual renewal while the approved employment conditions continue.

• Spanish(Official)

Exercise a high degree of caution

3 source-backed travel advisories are available for Costa Rica.

• Canada: Exercise a high degree of caution - Exercise a high degree of caution in Costa Rica due to crime.
• United Kingdom: No destination-wide FCDO travel warning - FCDO travel advice currently has no destination-wide warning for Costa Rica. Review the full FCDO travel advice before travelling, including safety, entry, health, and insurance guidance.
• United States: Level 2 - Exercise increased caution - Exercise increased caution in Costa Rica due to crime. Petty crime is common throughout Costa Rica. Violent crime also affects tourists. This includes armed robbery, homicide, and sexual assault.