ORVELION
Jurisdictions

Costa Rica

Costa Rica offers investor residency from a property or business investment, a territorial tax system that leaves foreign income untaxed, and a famously stable, “Pura Vida” lifestyle. Be clear-eyed on two things: the reduced 150,000 USD threshold expired in July 2026 (reverting toward 200,000 USD), and the road to citizenship is a long seven years.

Residency by investment — key figures

From
$100 000≈ $133 500 — estimated total, family of four, fees included
Processing time
3–6 months
Physical presence
Temporary residence is granted for two years and renewed as long as the investment is kept. There is no heavy stay to maintain it, but you must visit at least once a year; permanent residence follows after three years, and citizenship after seven years of continuous legal residence.

Investment routes

RouteOfficial minimumReal total, family of four
Real estate$200 000≈ $267 000
Business$200 000≈ $267 000
Business$100 000≈ $133 500

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Tax at a glance

  • Territorial tax: foreign-source income is not taxed in Costa Rica
  • Local income is taxed progressively, up to about 25%
  • No inheritance tax and no net wealth tax
  • VAT is 13%; corporate income tax is up to 30%

Compare it with another jurisdiction

—MalaysiaColombia
Official minimum$32 000lower$45 500
Real total, family of 4 (fees included)≈ $42 720lower≈ $60 743
Announced processing3–6 months1–3 monthsfaster
Presence requiredApplicants must be at least 25.This is a live-here visa.
Years to citizenship—5 yearsfaster
Investment routesBank deposit, Real estateReal estate, Business
A route returns the capitalYesNo
Open to Russian applicantsYesIdentical on this lineYesIdentical on this line
RegionAsiaLatin America

Open the country page · MalaysiaOpen the country page · Colombia

Frequently asked questions

How much do I need to invest for Costa Rica residency?

The reduced 150,000 USD threshold under Law 9996 expired on 14 July 2026; unless it was renewed, the minimum reverts to 200,000 USD in real estate, an active business, shares or securities, with a lower 100,000 USD entry for qualifying forestry projects. Confirm the current figure with the DGME.

Does Costa Rica tax my foreign income?

No. Costa Rica uses a territorial system, so foreign-source income is not taxed, and there is no inheritance or wealth tax. Local income is taxed progressively up to about 25%. This does not remove obligations to a country that taxes on citizenship, such as the United States.

Can Costa Rica residency lead to citizenship?

Yes, but slowly: naturalisation is available after seven years of continuous legal residence, with permanent residence reachable after three. Treat it as a lifestyle and tax base first.

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What we do for you

Citizenship or residence, the honest answer often is not the one you arrived with. We take the whole procedure with you — eligibility, the route that fits your situation, the file, the follow-up — with one person on your side throughout.

For Costa Rica specifically, you are talking to someone who already knows the file: who to speak to on the ground, what the unit actually asks for, and the points where applications stall.

  • One point of contact, from the first call to the certificate
  • Vetted partners on the ground — law firms, licensed agents, banks — introduced, not listed
  • It starts with a short qualifying call, and no, it is not a sales call

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