Temporary Residency for People with Fixed Income (Rentistas)
If you, or your spouse, receive an income of at least $2,500 USD per month ($30,000 per year), individually, you could qualify for temporary residency as a person with fixed income, or rentista, in Costa Rica.
Under this category, the principal applicant is allowed to obtain residency for additional family members such as spouse, parents, and children.
- The temporary residency under the Rentista Category is valid for two years.
- It can be renewed for additional two-year periods.
- After three years of holding temporary residency, you will become eligible for permanent residency.
Main Requirement for the Rentista Category
The rentista residency category is available to people who have an income of at least $2,500 per month (or $30,000 USD per year). There are two options to qualify for this residency.
- Set up a trust or account in your home country with $60,000. The $60,000 would cover a family unit, meaning spouses and children. The bank or financial institution you use abroad would need to provide a letter stating that you have the money and that $2,500 will be deposited, monthly for 24 months, in a Costa Rican account upon the approval of residency. The language on the letter needs to be exactly as requested by Immigration. Upon engaging our services.
- Set up a trust or account in a Costa Rican bank with $60,000. The exact same rules as option 1 would apply. In this case, however, you would need to open a second Costa Rican account where the $2,500 will go every month upon approval of residency. The language on the letter needs to be exactly as requested by Immigration. Upon engaging our services.
Regardless, upon approval of residency, $2,500 must be deposited in a Costa Rican account every month for 24 months.
Below you’ll find a detailed overview of the application process, as well as the fees and expenses.https://forms.outlierlegal.com/outlierlegalservices/form/QuestionsContactUs/formperma/aOUpdjvBvFpgyuGUxWKzAKXYDnYF-FyYvxmcnWs7phk?gclid=undefined
Rentista Category Application Process
The application process for temporary residency as a rentista takes between 12 and 15 months, depending on the processing time of the Costa Rica Immigration department (DGME), which takes approximately 9 months to analyze the application.
Our team will guide you through the process from start to finish, including CAJA (Costa Rican Social Security) registration and DIMEX (Costa Rican ID for residents) procurement. Plus, depending on the level of service you choose, we can also assist with document procurement and residency renewal at a discounted rate.
- Step 1. Document Procurement
- Step 2. Filing the Application
- Step 3. Analysis & Decision by the DGME
- Step 4. Approval Notice
- Step 5. Payment of the Guarantee Deposit
- Step 6. CCSS/Caja Registration & DIMEX Request
- Step 7. Delivery of Your DIMEX
- Renewal & Beyond
Document Procurement
Process Timeline2 to 3 months – 18%
The first two to three months of the application process are spent collecting the documents required for the residency application. It is important to collect all the required documents during this time frame, as documents from abroad must be issued within six months of filing. Our team will work closely with you to ensure all documents are valid, translated, and ready for review by the DGME.
The following documents are required for filing an application for residency in Costa Rica.
Vital Records & Background Checks
Application Documents
The first phase of the residency application process requires you to collect all the relevant documents needed. It is important that you submit these documents within the first two to three months, since foreign documents must be acquired in six months or less.. We will collaborate with you to guarantee all the materials meet the DGME’s requirements, are correctly translated and ready for review.
Fees & Expenses
Our fees for application for temporary residency as a rentista are flexible and comprehensive. We include all the standard fees and expenses in our pricing, with the intention of making the process as easy as possible for you.
- Payment Options
- Description of Fees & Expenses
- Additional Fees
