Learn About the Guarantee Deposit for Temporary and Permanent Residents

In September 2019, the Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería, commonly known as DGME, updated the guarantee deposit amounts that foreign nationals must pay after their residency application is approved. Before this update, the amounts were generally treated in a more uniform way. After the change, the amount became tied more directly to the applicant’s country of origin and the estimated cost of return travel. The original Outlier article was published on June 20, 2020, and explains that the update affected the security deposits paid by temporary and permanent residents upon residency approval.

The Costa Rica immigration guarantee deposit is an important cost to understand before applying for residency. It is not the same as the application fee, the DIMEX issuance fee, or other government charges. It is a separate deposit required by Immigration once a residency application has been approved.

What Is the Immigration Guarantee Deposit?

The guarantee deposit is a security deposit paid by a foreign national after receiving approval for a residency or visa request in Costa Rica. The purpose of the deposit is to ensure that funds are available to cover repatriation costs if the person is deported, leaves the country under certain circumstances, or cancels their residency.

In practical terms, the amount is usually connected to the estimated cost of transportation from Costa Rica back to the applicant’s country of origin. This is why the amount may vary depending on nationality, location, and the official schedule applied by DGME.

For applicants, this matters because the guarantee deposit forms part of the total cost of becoming a legal resident in Costa Rica. It should be considered when budgeting for the residency process, along with document preparation, translations, apostilles, government fees, and DIMEX issuance.

Learn more about the guarantee deposit by clicking here. 

When Is the Guarantee Deposit Paid?

The guarantee deposit is usually paid after DGME approves the residency application. It is part of the final stage before the applicant receives the DIMEX card, which is the local identification card issued to foreign residents in Costa Rica.

This means the deposit is not normally paid at the beginning of the residency process. Instead, it becomes relevant once Immigration has reviewed the file and issued an approval resolution.

Applicants should review the approval resolution carefully, because it will usually indicate the required payments and next steps before DIMEX issuance.

Why the 2019 Update Matters

The 2019 update is important because it clarified and adjusted the amounts payable by foreign nationals depending on their country of origin. The original table published with this article listed guarantee deposit amounts by country, continent, city, and estimated air travel cost, including the applicable ICT tax.

For residents and applicants, the main lesson is simple: the guarantee deposit is not always the same for everyone.

Two applicants applying under the same residency category may pay different guarantee deposit amounts if they are from different countries. For example, the deposit for an applicant from the United States may differ from the deposit for an applicant from Canada, Germany, Colombia, South Africa, Japan, or Australia.

That distinction can surprise applicants who assume Costa Rican residency has one fixed government cost. Some fees are fixed. The guarantee deposit may not be.

Guarantee Deposit for Temporary and Permanent Residents

The guarantee deposit applies in the context of both temporary and permanent residency. Temporary residency categories may include, among others, Pensionado, Rentista, Investor, Marriage-based residency, or other legally recognized categories.

Permanent residency may apply to certain residents after meeting the applicable legal requirements, including qualifying through family relationship or changing category after holding temporary residency for the required period.

Whether applying for temporary residency or permanent residency, the applicant should confirm the guarantee deposit amount stated in the approval resolution and should not assume the amount based only on older information or informal discussions in expat groups.

Can the Guarantee Deposit Be Recovered?

Yes, the guarantee deposit may be recoverable under certain circumstances.

The original article notes that the deposit can be recovered once a person obtains citizenship or when residency is cancelled. In other situations, the possibility of reimbursement may depend on the applicant’s specific immigration history, category, and the administrative requirements in place at the time of the request.

However, applicants should understand that reimbursement is not automatic. A refund usually requires a formal request, supporting documents, proof of payment, and proper identification of the immigration file.

For this reason, residents should keep copies of all payment receipts, DIMEX cards, approval resolutions, and any documents related to their residency process.

Why Applicants Should Pay Attention to This Cost

The guarantee deposit is sometimes overlooked because applicants tend to focus on the main residency requirements: pension income, investment amount, marriage documents, birth certificates, background checks, apostilles, and translations.

But the guarantee deposit can affect the final cost of the process.

This is especially important for families. If several family members are applying for residency, each applicant may have separate government costs and deposit requirements. A family should not budget only for the main applicant.

The safest approach is to treat the guarantee deposit as a variable cost that must be confirmed once DGME issues the approval resolution.

GUARANTEE DEPOSIT FOR TEMPORARY AND PERMANENT RESIDENT’S STAY WHEN ENTERING THE COUNTRY BY AIR

LIST OF GUARANTEE DEPOSITS WHEN ENTERING THE COUNTRY BY LAND

GUARANTEE DEPOSITS BY VISA (GROUP IV) WHEN ENTERING THE COUNTRY BY AIR ACCORDING TO MEMORANDUM DG-041-11-2013 NOVEMBER 2013

Practical Notes for Residency Applicants

Foreign nationals applying for residency in Costa Rica should keep the following in mind:

• The guarantee deposit is separate from ordinary government fees.
• The amount may depend on the applicant’s country of origin.
• The deposit is generally paid after residency approval.
• Payment of the deposit is usually required before DIMEX issuance.
• The deposit may be refundable in certain circumstances.
• Refunds require a separate administrative process.
• Applicants should keep receipts and copies of all immigration documents.

The guarantee deposit is not the most complicated part of the Costa Rican residency process, but it is one of the costs applicants should understand before starting.

FAQ: Costa Rica Immigration Guarantee Deposit

What is the Costa Rica immigration guarantee deposit?

The Costa Rica immigration guarantee deposit is a security deposit paid by a foreign national after Immigration approves a residency or visa application. It is intended to cover potential repatriation costs under certain circumstances.

Is the guarantee deposit the same as the DIMEX fee?

No. The guarantee deposit is separate from the DIMEX issuance fee. The DIMEX fee is paid for the resident identification card. The guarantee deposit is a separate security deposit required by Immigration.

When do I pay the guarantee deposit?

The deposit is usually paid after DGME approves the residency application and before the DIMEX card is issued.

Is the guarantee deposit the same for every applicant?

No. The amount may vary depending on the applicant’s country of origin and the official deposit schedule applied by Immigration.

Does the guarantee deposit apply to temporary residents?

Yes. Temporary residents may be required to pay a guarantee deposit after their residency application is approved.

Does the guarantee deposit apply to permanent residents?

Yes. Permanent residents may also be required to pay a guarantee deposit, depending on the specific approval and immigration category.

Can I get the guarantee deposit back?

In certain circumstances, yes. The deposit may be recoverable when residency is cancelled, when a person obtains citizenship, or under other applicable conditions. However, reimbursement is not automatic and normally requires a formal request.

Why did DGME update the guarantee deposit amounts?

The 2019 update adjusted the deposit amounts based on estimated repatriation costs, which can vary by country and travel route.

Should I budget for the guarantee deposit when applying for residency?

Yes. Applicants should include the guarantee deposit as part of the total expected cost of the residency process, especially when applying with family members.

If you want to know more about the Security Deposit in Costa Rica, see our related article here