cr_rbi
Residency for Investors (Inversionista)
Costa Rica · Central America
Program facts from the CitizensOS Mobility Asset Database. Unknown facts are shown as Unknown, never as zero.
- Publication state
- Mobility Asset Database
- Lifecycle status
- Unknown
- Facts checked through
- Sep 21, 2026
- Source snapshots
- Database edition
Identity and current status
The route identity and current status.
- Year establishedPublished
- 2010
- Governing lawPublished
- General Law on Migration and Aliens
- Responsible authorityPublished
- General Directorate of Migration and Foreigners
What the program provides
What the program gives the holder.
- What the program providesPublished
- Invest in Costa Rica's pura vida for Central American residency with eco-friendly opportunities
Best suited for
Who the program tends to suit. Research only, never a personal recommendation.
No governed customer claim is present for this section.
Eligibility
Personal qualifications an applicant must establish.
- Minimum agePublished
- 18 years
- Clean criminal record requiredPublished
- Yes
- Local health insurance requiredPublished
- Yes
- Nationality restrictionsPublished
- No
- Basic eligibilityPublished
- Minimum investment of $200,000 (July 2026 figure: $150,000) in one of the available investment options
- Generational limitPublished
- Not applicable
Household inclusion
How spouses and children are treated.
- Family sponsorshipPublished
- Yes
- Spouse includedPublished
- Yes
- Children includedPublished
- Yes
- Child age limitPublished
- 25 years
Documents
Evidence categories and filing documents.
No governed customer claim is present for this section.
Process and timeline
How you apply and how long it takes.
- Processing timePublished
- 52–104 weeks
- Can apply without travelingPublished
- No
- How you applyPublished
- Filed in person (DGME; renewals via Banco de Costa Rica or Correos)
- Required in-person stepPublished
- In-person filing and card pickup
- What the processing time measuresPublished
- Documents to residence card in hand: 12-24 months
- Official application routePublished
- https://www.migracion.go.cr/Paginas/Portal-de-Citas-Web.aspx
Costs and investment
Fees, income and savings thresholds, and investment amounts.
- Minimum investmentPublished
- $200,000
- Minimum investment (July 2026 figure)Published
- $150,000
- Minimum passive investment (July 2026)Published
- $150,000
- Minimum active investment (July 2026)Published
- None required
- Processing feePublished
- $250
- Application feePublished
- $2,815
- Total cost to applyPublished
- $3,065
- Monthly income requiredPublished
- None required
- Monthly pension income requiredPublished
- None required
- Monthly rental income requiredPublished
- None required
- Savings requiredPublished
- None required
- Proof of sufficient fundsPublished
- No
- Local bank deposit requiredPublished
- No
- Minimum local bank depositPublished
- None required
- Minimum investment as published (Sept 2026)Published
- USD 200,000
- Other investment routes (Sept 2026)Published
- Real estate, business, securities or approved projects
- Fees paidPublished
- Before approval
Presence and maintenance
Stay, renewal, and how long the status lasts.
- Stay required to keep statusPublished
- 180 days/year
- Physical presence requiredPublished
- Yes
- In-country visit requiredPublished
- Yes
- Move-in windowPublished
- 6 months
- Length of residencyPublished
- 24 months
- Residency is lifetimePublished
- No
- RenewablePublished
- Yes
- Maximum durationUnknown
- Unknown
- Maximum duration is lifetimePublished
- Yes
- Stay rule (Sept 2026)Published
- Founder ruling 22 Sep 2026: 180 days a year (per the IMI list) | Earlier research: At least 1 day a year in Costa Rica
- Tax residency rulePublished
- Residents staying more than 183 days per year will be considered tax residents
- Personal income taxPublished
- range between 10%-25%
Rights and onward pathways
Work, healthcare and other rights, and the path to permanent residence and citizenship.
- Time to permanent residencyPublished
- 3 years
- Time to citizenshipPublished
- 7 years
- Work for a local employerPublished
- No
- Start a businessPublished
- Yes
- Remote or freelance workPublished
- Yes
- Local healthcare accessPublished
- Yes
- University accessPublished
- Yes
- Can buy landPublished
- Yes
- Local bankingPublished
- Yes
- Permanent residence timeline basisPublished
- Years stated
- Citizenship timeline basisPublished
- Years stated
Risks, limitations, and uncertainty
Notes on changes, conflicts, and limits.
- Investment note (Sept 2026)Published
- The USD 150,000 threshold under Law 9996 expired 14 July 2026 without extension
- Plan B note (Sept 2026)Published
- Some sources cite 4 months/yr for some categories; CCSS health contributions required
Sources, freshness, and conflict disclosure
Where the CitizensOS Mobility Asset Database took these facts from.
- Official program websitePublished
- http://www.costarica-embassy.org/index.php?q=node/147
- Investment source (Sept 2026)Published
- https://aglegal.com/es/6-nuevas-razones-para-ser-residente-en-costa-rica/
- Plan B sources (Sept 2026)Published
- https://crie.cr/?p=292327 | https://migronis.com/guides/costa-rica/en/ | https://crie.cr/?p=263566
Every fact on this page comes from the CitizensOS Mobility Asset Database (Sep 21, 2026 edition). A blank is shown as Unknown.
This anonymous dossier is read-only research. It does not establish personal fit, eligibility, legal or tax advice, filing, approval, residence, citizenship, or a held Right.