The Pensionado Category

Who is eligible to obtain residency as a retired person in Costa Rica?

The residency as a retired person in Costa Rica or “pensionado” category as it is known in Spanish, is available to foreign nationals who are currently receiving a pension (or retirement income) for at least $1,000 USD per month. The pension or retirement income can come from a government retirement program, or from an independent retirement program such as workers’ union, or a pension program from a private company.

If your retirement income comes from various sources, you are still eligible, as long as the income from those sources adds up to at least $1000 USD per month. If you retired because of disability, you can still qualify as long as you receive the $1000 per month. People who retired from the military also qualify for this category as long as they meet the income requirement.

The Temporary Residence under the Pensionado Category is valid for two years. It can be renewed for additional two-year periods. After three years, the person is eligible for Permanent Residence.

Under this category, the principal applicant is allowed to obtain residency for additional family members such as spouse, parents, and children.

What documents are required for residency as a retired person in Costa Rica?

The following are the documents required for filing the application for temporary residence.

1. Income verification. A letter from the pension administrator indicating that you receive at least $1000 USD per month. In the case of US nationals receiving the pension from the SSA, it is possible to obtain the letter from the US Consulate in Costa Rica. The same situation applies to Canadians, who can obtain the letter from the Canadian Government. People from other countries must obtain the benefits letter from their pension administrators. The letter and must be authenticated in order for it to be filed with the Immigration Department in Costa Rica.
2. Background check. This document should be issued by a national authority. For instance, in the case of US nationals, it should be from the FBI. In the case of Canadian nationals, it should be issued by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. In the case of UK nationals, it should be issued by the Association of Chief Police Officers.
3. Birth certificate. A new copy of your birth certificate is required, not over six months old.
4. Application form. We complete this for our clients.
5. Cover letter. We complete this for our clients as well. It contains certain information about you.
6. Fingerprints. Obtained at a police department. We will coordinate with you in order to receive these, assisting in San José or Liberia by driving you from our office to the location concerned and handling the corresponding forms.
7. Certified passport copy. We certify your passport copy.
8. Consular registration. Registration with your country’s consulate is required.
9. Six passport-size photographs. 
10. Government fees. Initially, it is required to pay $250 USD in application fees.

Important notes about the documents.

• All documents in a foreign language must be translated into Spanish. The costs for the translations will vary depending on the original language.
• All documents from abroad must be authenticated for its use in Costa Rica. Documents from certain countries require an apostille. Documents from other countries require a legalization. To learn more about apostilles please click here.
• The birth certificates and the background checks (and any other documents from abroad) must be issued within six months prior to filing the application. Therefore, the original birth certificate issued when you were born will not be valid for immigration purposes in Costa Rica.
• You will need to obtain a new copy of your birth certificate and background check shortly prior to filing.

What is the Processing Time for residency as a retired person in Costa Rica?

The application process for temporary residency has three stages. Namely, document procurement, Government Analysis and Decision, and Registration. Please review below the description of these three stages as well as the corresponding timeline applicable to each stage.

Important notes about the processing times.

• Once the application is filed, the DGME will issue a Receipt Notice, which demonstrates that there is an application pending. This document in conjunction with your passport will function as a valid ID.
• As noted, the DGME takes about 8 months for reviewing the application. The law allows the applicant to remain in the country while your application is pending. Thus, the applicant is not required to leave the country to renew the 90-day visa.
• A Costa Rican driver’s license cannot be obtained until your residency is fully approved and your DIMEX is on hand. Applicants who want to use a foreign driver’s license during the waiting period are required to leave the country every three months to obtain a renewed 90-day visa stamp in their passport. This seems to conflict with the note above but it is the result of different government departments having different rules.
• If you leave the country during the application waiting period,  you may be required to produce a return ticket when trying to reenter the country at a border or airport. Whether a bus ticket or a plane ticket is required will depend on whether you are arriving at an airport or through a border crossing.

I hope this information to be helpful. Please reach us with further questions or comments.