General program requirements

There are three investment routes for residency by investment in Costa Rica:

Make a US$150,000 investment in a new or existing business in Costa Rica. If starting a new business, an approved business plan is necessary. 

Make a US$150,000 investment in real estate and/or moveable assets, which can include condominiums, empty land, a house, farmland, cars, motorcycles, and even boats.

Make a US$100,000 investment into Forestry Projects. These projects may include lumbering, preservation, or forest regeneration. This option requires permits from the environmental agency (SETENA) and the local municipality.

Government fees of US $2,815 for the main applicant and US$1,685 for each dependent applies.

Program benefits

• Low minimum investment amount;
• Path to citizenship;
• Permits dual/multiple citizenship;
• Safety and security;
• Lower cost of living;
• Lower taxes;
• Warm climate;
• Short processing time

Requirements to qualify for citizenship

The initial residency permit is issued for two years, after which renewal is permitted based on the applicant maintaining the investments. After three years of continuous residency (minimum of 180 days physical presence per year), the applicant may apply for permanent residence.

The permanent residence permit is issued for five years and is indefinitely renewable provided the applicant visits Costa Rica at least once for 72 hours each year to maintain the status. After a total of seven years of residency, the applicant may apply for citizenship through naturalization.

Prospective citizens must master spoken and written Spanish, pass a test about Costa Rican history and values, and provide two witnesses to testify to his good conduct and adequate livelihood. Dual citizenship is permitted in Costa Rica.

Applications for this program may be directed to:

Dirección General de Migración (DGME) 

Legislation upon which this program is based:

Costa Rica Immigration Law 9996

No statistics available yet for this program.