Pensionado
Often cited: lifelong/stable foreign pension of at least about USD 1,000/month. Local employment is not granted by this category alone without a status change — verify evidence rules with DGME.
Immigration & Visa
Residency categories, digital nomad (Law 10008), DIMEX and CCSS — overview, not legal advice.
Updated: November 2026
Tourism vs residency
Tourist status (limited by nationality group) is not permanent residence and generally does not allow local work. Settling, living as a retiree/rentista or investing requires a suitable DGME immigration category. The digital nomad framework (Law 10008) extends stay for remote work — it is not classic residency.
- Primary sources: migracion.go.cr, SCIJ (statutes), ICT for the nomad program
- Documents often need apostille and Spanish translation
- Deadlines, fees and checklists change — download the current DGME list
Key categories (orientation)
Rentista
Often cited: guaranteed passive income of at least about USD 2,500/month for two years (bank/finance proof). Confirm current requirements and renewals with DGME.
Inversionista
Investment in Costa Rica; secondary sources often cite about USD 150,000 (real estate, projects, etc., including context of Law 9996). Amounts, eligible projects and any tax incentives change — use primary sources and professional advice; post–July 2026 status may need separate verification (uncertain / soft).
Digital nomad (Law 10008)
Not a residency status: remote work for a foreign employer/clients. ICT: net income of at least about USD 3,000/month (about USD 4,000 with dependents), medical cover of at least about USD 50,000, typically 1 year + one extension. Foreign-source income tax exemption under program rules — see visitcostarica.com for fees and conditions.
Work / family / study
Other categories include dependent employment, family reunification and study. Purpose and documents differ — use the DGME checklist.
Typical process
- Clarify purpose and load the matching category + checklist on migracion.go.cr
- Home-country documents: police clearance, civil status — apostille and Spanish translation
- File the application (consular and/or in Costa Rica depending on category); pay fees
- After approval: apply for DIMEX; fingerprints/photos as required
- Arrange CCSS (Caja) coverage — often required for DIMEX issuance/renewal
- Bank account and everyday registrations as your status allows
DIMEX & CCSS
DIMEX (Documento de Identidad Migratorio para Extranjeros) is the ID for many legal stay statuses. CCSS (Caja) is the public social/health insurance. Continuous CCSS coverage is often required in practice for issuing or renewing DIMEX — check current DGME and CCSS rules (including any temporary simplifications).
- Missing insurance can stall document issuance
- Contributions depend on category and income — ask CCSS for current rates
- Private top-up insurance does not automatically replace Caja duties for residency
Sources
- DGME / migracion.go.cr
- ICT – Digital Nomads (Law 10008)
- CCSS – Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social
- Sistema Costarricense de Información Jurídica (SCIJ)
Disclaimer: This page is for general guidance only and is not legal, tax or immigration advice. Rules and prices change — verify with official sources.