🇨🇷 Costa Rica Rentista Visa
Prove you have money arriving every month — don't explain where from
The Rentista ('income earner') visa is Costa Rica's path for non-retirees who have stable income but not from a pension. You need $2,500/month in guaranteed income for at least 2 years — deposited into a Costa Rican bank as a 2-year CD, or proven through regular monthly transfers. It's popular with younger remote workers, investors, and FIRE people who have passive income streams but aren't old enough for a pension. Same benefits as Pensionado: CAJA healthcare, 4-month residency requirement, path to permanence after 3 years. The key difference: higher income threshold and the money must demonstrably flow through a Costa Rican bank.
Who actually qualifies
- ✓Guaranteed income of at least $2,500/month from non-pension sources (investments, rental income, business income from abroad)
- ✓Income must be provable for at least 24 months (via bank deposits or lump-sum CD)
- ✓Option: deposit $60,000 (24 × $2,500) into a Costa Rican bank as a certificate of deposit
- ✓Must enroll in CAJA (universal healthcare)
- ✓Must reside in Costa Rica for at least 4 months per year
- ✓Clean criminal record from country of origin
The paperwork pile
- 📄Proof of income: bank statements showing $2,500/month for 12+ months, or CD confirmation from Costa Rican bank
- 📄Valid passport (6+ months)
- 📄Police clearance (apostilled + translated to Spanish)
- 📄Birth certificate (apostilled + translated)
- 📄Marriage certificate if applicable (apostilled + translated)
- 📄Consular registration
- 📄Fingerprints (taken at DGME)
- 📄Photos
What it'll cost you
The waiting game
Processing time
6–12 months at DGME. Provisional permit while waiting.
Path to permanent residency
3 years of temporary residency → permanent residence.
Path to citizenship
7 years of legal residence. Dual citizenship allowed.
The tax situation
Same territorial system as Pensionado — only Costa Rica-source income is taxed. Foreign investment income, rental income from abroad, and remote work for foreign clients are all tax-free. The $2,500/month flowing through your Costa Rican bank is not taxed unless it's from a Costa Rican source.
Bringing your person
Dependents receive residence but cannot work without a separate permit. Must enroll in CAJA. 4-month residency minimum applies to all.
Sources
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does the Costa Rica Rentista Visa take to process?▼
6–12 months at DGME. Provisional permit while waiting.
Can the Costa Rica Rentista Visa lead to permanent residency?▼
3 years of temporary residency → permanent residence.
How long until citizenship in Costa Rica?▼
7 years of legal residence. Dual citizenship allowed.
What are the tax implications of the Costa Rica Rentista Visa?▼
Same territorial system as Pensionado — only Costa Rica-source income is taxed. Foreign investment income, rental income from abroad, and remote work for foreign clients are all tax-free. The $2,500/month flowing through your Costa Rican bank is not taxed unless it's from a Costa Rican source.
Can my spouse work on the Costa Rica Rentista Visa?▼
Dependents receive residence but cannot work without a separate permit. Must enroll in CAJA. 4-month residency minimum applies to all.
Immigration rules change frequently. Always verify with official government sources.