Costa Rica
Costa Rica visa and residence guide
- 8 visa types
- checked 24 October 2026
How visas for Costa Rica work
Costa Rica's Directorate General of Migration and Foreign Nationals (DGME) handles residence, special categories, stays for remote workers and refugee claims. Entry rules for visitors are set in the General Visa Directives for entry and stay of non-residents, which sort nationalities into groups: some enter without a visa, others need a consular visa, and some a restricted visa approved by the Commission for Restricted Visas and Refuge. Check the group of your nationality in the directive in force before travelling.
Most long-stay routes are applications filed inside Costa Rica, at the DGME in La Uruca, at regional offices or online through the Trámite Ya platform (a one-off USD 11 charge). Temporary residence costs USD 50 and permanent residence USD 50; anyone changing from a non-resident status such as tourist adds USD 200. Payments go to Banco de Costa Rica account 242480-0 in the applicant's name.
All files share general requirements: two photos, an apostilled birth certificate, an apostilled criminal record covering the last three years, certified passport copies showing the entry stamp, the fingerprint receipt and the consular registration receipt, with official Spanish translations. Tourists admitted for fewer than 90 days, or less than their nationality allows, can ask for an extension up to that limit for USD 100, without appointment.
Which visa do I need?
Retiring on a pension of at least USD 1,000 a month, or living on USD 2,500 a month guaranteed for two years: pensionado or rentista residence.
Investing USD 150,000 or more in property, shares or projects: investor residence.
Working remotely for clients abroad with USD 3,000 a month (USD 4,000 with family): remote worker stay.
Hired by a Costa Rican employer or running your own business: specific-occupation work category.
Studying, teaching, researching or volunteering: special student category.
Married to a Costa Rican: spouse residence, then permanent residence after three years.
Three years of temporary residence, or parent of a Costa Rican: permanent residence.
Fleeing persecution: refugee claim at the border or within 30 days of entry.
Visa types for Costa Rica
Business and self-employment
- Investor visa Temporary residence as investor (Inversionista, Ley 9996)
Foreigners who invest at least USD 150,000 in Costa Rica can request temporary residence in the Inversionista subcategory.
Validity: Two years, renewable while the investment is maintained
Study and training
- Student visa Special category for students, researchers, teachers and volunteers (Categoría especial Estudiante)
Foreigners who study, teach or do research at a recognised educational institution in Costa Rica, and volunteers in registered programmes, can obtain a special migration category from the DGME.
Work
- Digital nomad visa Stay for remote workers and service providers (Estancia Trabajador y Prestador Remoto de Servicios)
Costa Rica's digital nomad scheme is a non-resident Estancia subcategory for people who work remotely for employers or clients abroad.
Processing time: 15 calendar days from filing - Work visa Special category for workers in a specific occupation (Trabajador de Ocupación Específica)
Costa Rica's DGME grants a special category to foreigners hired for a specific occupation by a company or by an individual employer, and to self-employed people with a properly established business.
Validity: One year, extendable
Family
- Spouse and partner visa Temporary residence through marriage to a Costa Rican (vínculo matrimonial con costarricense)
A foreigner married to a Costa Rican citizen, or in a de facto union recognised by a Costa Rican court, can apply to the DGME for temporary residence.
Residence
- Retirement visa Temporary residence as pensioner or rentista (Pensionado / Rentista, Ley 9996)
Costa Rica's Directorate General of Migration and Foreign Nationals (DGME) grants temporary residence to pensioners who receive a lifetime pension of at least USD 1,000 a month and to rentistas who can show a stable income of at least USD 2,500 a month for at least two years.
- Permanent residence Permanent residence (Residencia Permanente)
Costa Rica grants permanent residence to foreigners who have held temporary residence for three consecutive years, together with their spouse and first-degree relatives, and directly to close relatives of Costa Rican citizens.
Asylum and international protection
- Asylum and international protection Refugee status (Refugio)
People who fear persecution in their country for reasons of race, religion, nationality, gender, membership of a particular social group or political opinion can apply for refugee status in Costa Rica.
Validity: Applicant document valid up to two years, renewable
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a visa to visit Costa Rica?
It depends on the group your nationality is assigned to in the current General Visa Directives of the DGME: some nationalities enter without a visa, others need a consular visa, and some a restricted visa. Check the directive in force or ask a Costa Rican consulate before travelling.
Can a tourist extend their stay in Costa Rica?
Yes, if admitted for fewer than 90 days or less than the directive allows. Only the missing days up to that limit are granted, the fee is USD 100 and no appointment is needed. People who have already overstayed cannot extend.
Where are residence applications filed?
Inside Costa Rica at the DGME in La Uruca or a regional office, or online through Trámite Ya, which charges USD 11 once to open a file.
What does it cost to apply while visiting as a tourist?
The category fee (USD 50 for temporary or permanent residence) plus USD 200 for the change from non-resident status.
Which documents must be apostilled?
The birth certificate and the criminal record from your country of origin or of legal residence in the last three years, plus any foreign pension, income or marriage certificates. All need an official Spanish translation.
Embassies and consulates
Last checked 24 October 2026. Each visa page lists the official sources it is based on.