Costa Rica Investor Residency (Inversionista)
- 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.
- Family
- Spouse, dependent children and dependent parents can be included with the main applicant.
Investment routes
Real estate
From $200 000
- Capital
- Non-refundable
Real estate held directly in the applicant’s own name, maintained for the duration of residency. A reduced 150,000 USD threshold under Law 9996 carried a sunset dated 14 July 2026; unless renewed, the minimum reverts to 200,000 USD, so verify the figure in force before you file.
Business investment
From $200 000
- Capital
- Non-refundable
Alternatively, 200,000 USD in an active business, company shares, securities or venture capital.
Business investment
From $100 000
- Capital
- Non-refundable
A lower entry of 100,000 USD applies to qualifying forestry and national-interest projects.
Limits and drawbacks
- The pricing is in flux: the reduced 150,000 USD threshold under Law 9996 expired on 14 July 2026, and unless the Assembly renewed it, the minimum is 200,000 USD. Confirm the current figure with the DGME before committing.
- This is residency, not citizenship. Naturalisation comes only after seven years of continuous legal residence — one of the longer horizons in the region.
- The investment must be kept for the whole of your temporary residency; disposing of it early can end your status.
- Costa Rica is a lifestyle and territorial-tax base, not a fast or cheap passport; judge it on that.