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Residency Checklist 2026
The real chronological order — not the order on the Immigration website. If you follow these steps in this order, you won't need to fly back to your home country for a forgotten document.
1. Base documents (all categories)
- ✓Valid passport with at least 6 months of validity (all family members).
- ✓Apostilled birth certificate (issued within the last 6 months).
- ✓Apostilled marriage certificate, if applicable (last 6 months).
- ✓Criminal background check from country of origin, apostilled (last 6 months).
- ✓6 recent passport-size photos.
- ✓Application letter signed by a Costa Rican lawyer, addressed to the General Directorate of Immigration.
- ✓Proof of payment of the security deposit (US$300 per person).
- ✓Proof of payment of the immigration status change fee (US$200).
2. Documents by category
Rentier
- ✓Certified bank letter proving monthly income of US$2,500 for at least 2 years. Apostilled.
- ✓Exchange contract or financial structure backing the cash flow (reviewed by a lawyer).
Pensioner
- ✓Letter from the entity paying the pension (government or private) certifying US$1,000 per month for life. Apostilled.
Investor
- ✓Proof of investment of at least US$150,000 in real estate, active business, forestry project, or Central Bank securities.
- ✓If real estate: copy of registered cadastral plan, registered deed, and registry appraisal.
- ✓If a business: bylaws, incorporation minutes, sworn declaration of employees.
3. Five-phase schedule
Phase01
Before traveling (3–4 months before)
- Gather documents from home country and get them apostilled.
- Official translations into Spanish by an accredited translator.
- Video call with immigration lawyer in CR. Don't start without one.
Phase02
Arrival (weeks 1–2)
- Enter as a tourist (90 days). Keep the passport stamp.
- Meet in person with the lawyer, sign special power of attorney, open a temporary bank account.
- Pay fiscal stamps and deposits at BCR payable to Immigration.
Phase03
Filing (weeks 3–4)
- Lawyer submits the physical file at Immigration.
- You receive a filing receipt. Keep it.
- Biometric appointment: fingerprints and photo on the Immigration platform (4–8 weeks after filing).
Phase04
Wait and resolution (4–14 months)
- Legal deadline: 3 months. Real deadline 2026: 6–14 months depending on category and office.
- You can request tourist status extensions (every 90 days or by leaving the country).
- Resolution arrives via notification to the lawyer. If approved: appointment to receive the DIMEX ID.
Phase05
Post-approval (first month with DIMEX)
- Register with CCSS (Caja). Mandatory monthly payment: 7%–11% on contribution base.
- Open a permanent bank account with DIMEX.
- Convert your foreign driver's license to a Costa Rican one (valid foreign license required).
4. Mistakes we see every month
- Getting apostilles and letting documents sit for 8 months. Immigration requires documents issued within 6 months at the time of filing. If you wait too long, you have to start over.
- Translating before apostilling. It's the other way around: apostille first, translation after. If done wrong, the translation is invalid.
- Starting without a lawyer. Immigration does not process applications from foreign individuals directly. You need legal representation, period.
- Not registering with Caja from day one. The day you receive DIMEX, you're already required to register. If you wait 6 months, they charge you retroactively.
5. How much does the process cost?
Attorney fees: between US$1,800 and US$3,500 per person, depending on category and firm. Government fees: ~US$550 per person (deposit US$300, status change US$200, stamps US$50). Apostilles and translations: US$300–US$600 depending on country.
Total per person: US$2,700 to US$4,700. Family of 4: shared costs are divided (not multiplied exactly by 4).
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