Costa Rica Immigration
Clear costs.
Better decisions.
Compare legal fees for residency and citizenship, understand the additional expenses, and plan the costs of buying property in Costa Rica.
Request a ConsultationTell us what you are planning. Our team will contact you by email about the next step.
01 / Immigration services
Residency & citizenship costs
Costa Rica legal fees depend on the service you need. Start with the main-applicant fee below, then budget separately for government payments, documents and any additional applicants.
Not sure which route fits? Compare our residency services or read the complete residency guide.
| Service | Main applicant | Payment schedule | Additional applicants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pensionado | US$990 | 3 × US$330 | US$495 per eligible dependent |
| Parent of a Costa Rican | US$750 | 3 × US$250 | US$375 per eligible dependent |
| Marriage to a Costa Rican | US$750 | 3 × US$250 | US$375 per eligible dependent |
| Investor | US$1,500 | 3 × US$500 | US$750 per eligible dependent |
| Rentista / fixed income | US$1,200 | 3 × US$400 | US$600 per eligible dependent |
| Entrepreneur / self-employed | US$1,200 | 3 × US$400 | US$600 per eligible dependent |
| Religious worker | US$1,200 | 3 × US$400 | US$600 per eligible dependent |
| Citizenship / naturalization | US$1,200 | 3 × US$400 | US$600 per eligible dependent; separate application |
The fee is for legal services, not the total application budget. The published service pages do not establish a uniform IVA treatment; your proposal must confirm the applicable tax and whether it is included. Fees updated October 17, 2026. Each eligible dependent’s legal fee is 50% of the principal fee; separate government and document expenses still apply.
One payment schedule. Different category fees.
Where three installments are published, payment is due at signup, filing and approval. Marriage and parent applications use three US$250 payments; Investor uses three US$500 payments; the listed US$1,200 services use three US$400 payments. Pensionado uses three US$330 payments, totaling US$990.
What happens at each payment?
Begin the service
Confirm the route, applicants and scope. Sign the service agreement and pay the agreed initial installment.
Submit the application
The next installment is due when the application is filed. The written proposal identifies the supporting work included.
Complete the agreed scope
The final installment is due on approval. Residency registration payments and any other outstanding expenses remain separate.
See how our process works for the preparation, filing and registration stages.
Budget separately / Government payments
Government fees: US$673
These payments are additional to the legal service fee. Plan for US$250 at filing and US$423 upon approval.
Application payments
Government charges associated with filing the residency application.
DIMEX / registration
Payment for the post-approval residency documentation step.
Security deposit
The guarantee deposit varies depending on your country of origin.
Government payments do not receive the 50% dependent discount on legal fees. Your written proposal confirms the payments applicable to each applicant and any exemption.
Related expenses
Document preparation has its own costs
Translation costs depend on the number of pages.
Per translated page
Spanish translation of documents issued in another language. Ten pages, for example, cost US$300.
Power of attorney
Preparation of the power of attorney for representation in your application.
Certified passport copy
Certification of the passport copy required for the application file.
The power of attorney and certified passport copy total US$100. Add translations and any document procurement services required. Confirm the documents needed for each applicant before ordering.
U.S. document service
Need documents from the United States?
We can obtain them for you.
We can obtain U.S. documents for your application at US$375 per document, including the apostille and shipping. Tell us which record you need so we can confirm the issuing authority and request requirements.
Includes document procurement + apostille + shipping. Spanish translation is charged separately at US$30 per page.
Ask About U.S. DocumentsApostille and shipping included
Additional work for your category
Investment certifications, business records, accounting evidence, sponsor registration or registration of a foreign marriage can require additional professional work. Your proposal identifies what is included and what is separately charged.
Records from countries other than the United States need a separate procurement and authentication estimate.
CAJA & future renewals
CAJA contributions and future residency renewals are separate ongoing costs. They are not included in the US$673 government-payment schedule, the legal fee or the document prices above.
Read our CAJA guide and application process to plan the next steps.
Citizenship has a different cost structure
The US$1,200 citizenship fee is for CRI’s legal service. The TSE lists its naturalization service as free; required stamps, documents and third-party expenses remain separate. Residency application charges, DIMEX fees and security deposits are not naturalization filing fees.
Budget for the documents required by your route, plus applicable authentication, translations, certifications and publication or examination expenses. Review the official residence-route checklist or marriage-route checklist.
What can change your quote?
Pensionado: what to confirm
A qualifying pension is an eligibility requirement, not a legal service fee. Review the Pensionado service for the applicable scope and requirements.
Parent of a Costa Rican: what to confirm
Confirm the family records and scope for each applicant. Review the Parent of a Costa Rican service for the applicable scope and requirements.
Marriage to a Costa Rican: what to confirm
Foreign marriage registration is a separate scope unless expressly included. Review the Marriage to a Costa Rican service for the applicable scope and requirements.
Investor: what to confirm
Investment evidence and the purchase transaction are separate from the residency fee. Review the Investor service for the applicable scope and requirements.
Rentista / fixed income: what to confirm
Income evidence and any financial arrangements are separate from application expenses. Review the Rentista / fixed income service for the applicable scope and requirements.
Entrepreneur / self-employed: what to confirm
Company formation, accounting and permits must be expressly included or quoted separately. Review the Entrepreneur / self-employed service for the applicable scope and requirements.
Religious worker: what to confirm
Sponsor registration and additional organizational work are separately scoped. Review the Religious worker service for the applicable scope and requirements.
Citizenship / naturalization: what to confirm
Residence and marriage routes need individual review. Any eligible dependent service is US$600; each nationality application needs its own eligibility review. Review the Citizenship / naturalization service for the applicable scope and requirements.
02 / Real estate
Budget beyond the purchase price
A property purchase has its own taxes, registration charges, professional fees and due diligence expenses. These are separate from an Investor residency application.
Plan your transaction
Real estate closing-cost calculator
Enter the purchase price in U.S. dollars and an exchange rate. Add the fiscal or registered value if known to estimate standard transfer components in dollars and colones.
Calculate Closing Costs →Opens our existing calculator. The exchange rate is an input, not a live rate.
Transfer tax, Registry charges, applicable stamps, an Article 74 notarial reference fee and VAT on that reference fee.
Your final quote still needs reviewConfirm the taxable value, transaction structure, professional fee and who pays each item before signing.
What belongs in the property budget?
Transfer taxes, charges & stamps
These depend on the transaction and applicable tax base. Use the calculator to see the components instead of relying on a single percentage of the advertised price.
The parties should agree in writing how closing expenses will be allocated.
Notarial work & applicable VAT
The transfer documentation and related legal work need a defined scope. The calculator shows a progressive Article 74 reference fee; it does not establish the professional fee for your transaction.
Ask for the agreed fee and applicable IVA to appear separately in the proposal.
Due diligence & inspections
Title and lien review, corporate records, boundaries, zoning, water availability and environmental issues can require separate checks. Surveys and technical inspections involve their own professionals.
The property and intended use determine which checks are appropriate.
Escrow, financing & corporate work
Escrow, bank charges, mortgage documentation, corporate formation or changes, and powers of attorney can add costs. Request provider-specific estimates for the services you will use.
The standard transfer calculator does not include every one of these additional services.
What does real estate legal assistance cost?
Real estate work is quoted for the transaction. The residency service prices above do not set a fee for a property closing, due diligence or corporate purchase.
Share the property details, purchase price, ownership structure, financing and intended use so the proposal can identify the work, professional fees, taxes and separate expenses.
Explore the closing-costs guide for context, then use the transfer-cost calculator to model your numbers. If the purchase will support an immigration application, also review Investor residency.
Pricing questions
Are these all-inclusive prices?
No. The comparison lists main-applicant legal service fees. Government payments, documents, dependent applications, applicable taxes and any additional work must be identified separately in your written proposal. Confirm whether IVA is included in each quoted professional fee.
Are dependent fees the same for every category?
Each eligible dependent’s legal fee is half the principal applicant’s fee: US$495 for Pensionado, US$375 for parent or marriage residency, US$750 for Investor, and US$600 for Rentista, entrepreneur or religious worker residency. Confirm eligibility and the dependent payment schedule in your proposal. Citizenship applications are assessed separately; any eligible dependent service is charged at half the principal fee.
Is the qualifying pension, income or investment a fee?
No. A pension or income requirement establishes eligibility. A qualifying investment is an asset or financial commitment; it is not a legal service fee or a payment to Immigration. Its purchase and transaction costs must be budgeted separately.
Does a real estate purchase include Investor residency?
No. The purchase transaction and the residency application have separate legal work, expenses and approvals. Ask for a proposal identifying both scopes if you want assistance with each.
Can the calculator give me a final closing quote?
No. It estimates standard transfer components from the values you enter. Your transaction can require additional work or different treatment. A final quote needs review of the property, transaction structure, financing and allocation of costs.
What should I send for an itemized quote?
For residency or citizenship, send your nationality, intended route and number of applicants. For real estate, include the price, property details, ownership structure and any financing. Contact our team so the proposal can identify the work, payment schedule, taxes and separate expenses.
Let’s put your budget in writing.
Tell us whether you need residency, citizenship, a property transaction—or help with both. We’ll review the scope before preparing your proposal.
Request a ConsultationPrefer to contact us directly? Contact our team or call 954-546-2843.