Investor Residency
in Costa Rica
Planning a qualifying investment in Costa Rica? We help you assess the residency route, document the investment, and prepare your application.
Request an Investor Residency ConsultationTell us what you plan to invest in—or what you already own. Our team will contact you by email.
Residency based on a qualifying investment
Investor residency in Costa Rica, known as Inversionista, is a temporary residency category. Law 9996 establishes a US$150,000 investment threshold within its applicable framework. The asset, ownership structure, valuation, and supporting evidence must satisfy the route you apply under.
The investment is not a payment to Immigration. Purchasing an asset and qualifying for residency are separate matters. Confirm the applicable framework and filing timing before committing to an investment.
Real estate
Property buyers need evidence of ownership and the value accepted for the immigration application. The advertised or purchase price alone is not a complete eligibility assessment.
Business investment
A business or productive project requires the appropriate corporate, financial, and operating evidence. Owning a company alone does not establish a qualifying investment.
Other investment routes
Registered assets, shares, securities, and qualifying projects need review under the applicable rules. Do not assume every investment product qualifies.
Review the structure before you invest
Ownership matters
Confirm whether the proposed investment must be held personally and how any corporate ownership affects the application. A property held through a company should not be assumed equivalent to direct ownership for immigration purposes.
Value must be supported
We review the investment records and identify the certifications needed to establish the qualifying amount. Joint ownership, financing, or an existing investment requires its own assessment.
The purchase has its own costs
Due diligence, conveyancing, taxes, corporate work, and investment certifications are separate from immigration filing. Your written proposal should identify which services are included.
Read our investment residency framework and Investor residency guide.
What documents will you need?
We confirm the investment evidence and personal document checklist before filing. The records required depend on the asset, ownership structure, nationality, residence history, and family applicants.
Investment evidence
- Ownership and registration records for the qualifying asset.
- Property deed and title certification, where applicable.
- Municipal tax or valuation certification relevant to the property route.
- Corporate, financial, and operating records for a business investment.
- Additional certifications required to establish the qualifying value and ownership.
Personal application documents
- Passport and required copies.
- Birth certificate and required criminal background certificate.
- Family documents for eligible dependents.
- Application form, supporting letter, photographs, and payment receipts.
- Fingerprint registration and consular registration where applicable.
- Accepted authentication and Spanish translations of foreign documents.
Coordinate validity and authentication with the filing date. Read our apostille guide and background check guide.
Plan your application budget
Ask for a written proposal identifying each applicant, the legal work included, payment options, and separate expenses. There is no need to mix government charges with the legal service fee.
Legal service fee: US$1,500
The published fee for the main applicant is payable in three installments:
- US$500 retainer to begin.
- US$500 when the application is filed.
- US$500 when residency is approved.
Your written proposal confirms the services included and any fees for additional applicants.
Government payments
- Application: US$250.
- DIMEX identity card: US$128.
- Security deposit: budget from US$300, subject to the amount applicable to your passport nationality and case.
These are the planning figures published on our service page. Confirm the applicable payments and exemptions in your written estimate.
Document expenses
The published estimate allows US$150 for translations and US$100 for certifications. Translation pricing is US$25 per page; the actual total depends on the documents and number of pages.
Budget separately for investment evidence, asset purchases, due diligence, transaction taxes, foreign certificates, background checks, apostilles, shipping, applicable CAJA contributions, and future renewals. These estimates are not an all-inclusive quote.
Explore our government fees explanation and CAJA guide.
Already own property or a business?
Tell us what you own and how it is registered so we can review the evidence.
How we help you move forward
Review the investment
We review ownership and qualifying value and identify the investment documents required before preparing the application.
Coordinate your documents
We help prepare the required evidence and submit the application to DGME through the appropriate channel.
Complete approval requirements
We follow up on the file and coordinate applicable CAJA, payments, and DIMEX steps after approval.
The service page publishes a planning estimate of 6–12 months for application processing, depending on case volume and the completeness of the file. Document procurement and investment certifications come before filing and add their own time.
After approval, complete applicable CAJA enrollment, remaining payments, and the DIMEX appointment. The original process graphic estimates 2–3 weeks for card delivery; confirm current availability and delivery arrangements when scheduling. These are published estimates, not guaranteed deadlines.
Watch the Investor residency overview
Explore the route in this introductory video. Use the written explanation and your individual review to plan the next step.
Questions about Investor residency
What is the minimum investment?
Law 9996 establishes US$150,000 within its applicable investment framework. Your category, investment type, ownership, and filing timing need review. Specialized routes should be assessed separately.
Can I use a home I already own?
An existing property can be reviewed as evidence for an application. We need to check title, accepted value, ownership, and the applicable requirements; an existing purchase does not automatically establish eligibility.
Can the property be held through a corporation?
Do not assume corporate ownership meets the requirements of the same route as personal ownership. We review the applicable rules and the legal structure before relying on the investment.
Does buying property automatically grant residency?
No. You must submit an application and obtain approval. The purchase and the immigration decision are separate processes.
Can my spouse and children apply with me?
Eligible spouses and dependent children can be reviewed for dependent applications. Each person needs supporting documents and an individual cost assessment.
How much is the legal service fee?
The published principal-applicant fee is US$1,500 in three US$500 payments: retainer, filing, and approval. Government and third-party costs are separate. The written proposal confirms the services included.
How long does the process take?
The service page publishes a 6–12 month processing estimate. Document preparation and investment certifications add time before filing. Its original graphic estimates 2–3 weeks for DIMEX delivery after registration; confirm current arrangements. These are estimates, not guarantees.
Can Investor residents work in Costa Rica?
Temporary Investor residency is not unrestricted permission to take local employment. Tell us about the proposed work or business activity so the relevant authorization can be reviewed.
Can I sell the qualifying investment after approval?
Maintaining eligibility matters while you hold temporary Investor status. Review a planned sale, restructuring, or replacement investment before acting, including any separate tax-benefit obligations.
Can I later apply for permanent residency?
After three consecutive years of temporary residency, eligible applicants can request permanent residency through a separate application. It is not an automatic change of status.
Explore the investment framework
For official reference, review Law 9996 as published in La Gaceta, Law 8764, and DGME. The applicable regulations and any changes must be checked against your proposed investment and filing date. Our complete residency guide compares Investor with other categories.
Let’s review your Investor residency plans
Tell us the investment type, approximate value, ownership structure, and whether you have already completed the purchase.
Request an Investor Residency ConsultationOur Zoho inquiry form opens next. We will contact you by email. An inquiry does not commit you to hiring us.