Answer 5 quick questions to find out which visas you qualify for and what you need to apply.
Your citizenship affects visa options
Costa Rica offers several visa pathways for foreigners looking to live, work, or retire in the country. The most popular options include the Tourist Visa (90 days automatic for most Western countries), the Digital Nomad Visa (for remote workers), and residency options like Rentista and Pensionado for those with stable income.
Launched in 2021, the Costa Rica Digital Nomad Visa is designed for remote workers. Key requirements include:
Citizens from the US, Canada, EU, UK, Australia, and most Western countries receive automatic 90-day tourist visas on arrival. No application needed. After 90 days, many expats do "border runs" to Panama or Nicaragua to reset their visa. While common, this is a gray area. Immigration may question frequent border runs.
For those seeking permanent residency, Costa Rica offers the Rentista visa ($2,500/month stable income) and Pensionado visa ($1,000/month pension). Both lead to permanent residency after 3 years and citizenship after 7 years. These require more paperwork and typically need an immigration lawyer.
For tourist visas, no. For Digital Nomad Visa, it's optional but helpful. For residency applications (Rentista, Pensionado, Investor), a Costa Rica immigration lawyer is strongly recommended. The process involves authenticated documents, apostilles, and dealing with local bureaucracy.