Temporary Residency for Retired People (Pensionados)
If you, or your spouse, are receiving a lifetime monthly pension of at least $1,000 USD per month (individually) you could qualify for temporary residency as a retired person, or pensionado, in Costa Rica.
Under this category, the principal applicant is allowed to obtain residency for additional family members such as spouse, parents, and children. While the $1,000 USD will cover the family, you cannot combine the spouse’s pensions to reach the minimum $1,000 USD.
- Temporary residency under the Pensionado 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 Pensionado Category
The pensionado category is available to foreign nationals who are currently receiving a lifetime pension (or retirement income) of at least $1,000 USD per month. The pension or retirement income can come from a government retirement program such as US Social Security, or from an independent retirement program such as workers’ union, or a pension program from a private company.
- If your retirement income comes from various sources, you are still eligible, as long as the income from those sources adds up to at least $1,000 USD per month.
- If you retired because of disability, you can still qualify as long as you receive the $1,000 USD per month.
- People who retired from the military also qualify for this category as long as they meet the income requirement.
The main requirement to file under this category is a letter, issued by the applicable pension provider, stating that the applicant receives a lifetime monthly pension of X, where X must be equal to or greater than $1,000 USD.
Below you’ll find a detailed overview of the application process, as well as the fees and expenses.
Pensionado Category Application Process
The application process for temporary residency as a pensionado 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.