Stage 1: Eligibility Review

We begin with a legal review of your profile.We evaluate:

1. Your nationality.

2. Your current immigration status.

3. Your income source.

4. Your banking situation.

5. Your family structure.

6. Your timeline.

7. Whether Investor is the best category.

8. Whether Rentista, Pensionado, Digital Nomad, or another category may be better.

This step avoids the most common mistake: choosing a category based on internet summaries instead of legal strategy.

Stage 2: Financial Strategy

We review how you will prove the Investor requirement.

Stage 3: Document Collection

We prepare a document checklist for each applicant.

This includes:

1. Principal applicant checklist.

2. Spouse checklist.

3. Children checklist.

4. Apostille instructions.

5. Translation requirements.

6. Costa Rica appointment requirements.

7. Documents that prove the investment.

Stage 4: Legal Review

Before filing, we review the documents carefully.

This includes:

1. Names.

2. Dates.

3. Apostilles.

4. Expiration dates.

5. Translation accuracy.

6. Income consistency.

7. Passport data.

8. Family relationships.

9. Criminal background check validity.

10. Government fee receipts.

A single inconsistency can delay the file.

Stage 5: Filing Before Immigration

Once the file is complete, the application is filed before the Costa Rican immigration authority.

We monitor the file, respond to notices, and guide the client through any additional requirements.

Stage 6: Approval Resolution

If approved, the immigration authority issues a resolution granting temporary residence.

The approval is not the final step. After approval, the applicant must complete post-approval requirements to obtain the DIMEX card.

Stage 7: DIMEX Card

The DIMEX is the physical immigration identification card.

The Costa Rican immigration authority has official procedures and requirements for DIMEX documentation and renewal processes. The official immigration website includes DIMEX information for temporary residents, including Rentista residents and dependents.

Post-approval steps may include:

1. Government payments.

2. Guarantee deposit.

3. CAJA or insurance-related requirements, depending on category and current policy.

4. Appointment scheduling.

5. DIMEX issuance.

Costa Rica has offered important fiscal benefits for certain categories of foreign residents, including investors, pensionados, and rentistas, through Law No. 9996 and related regulations. The immigration authority has published regulatory materials related to Law No. 9996 and the attraction of investors, rentistas, and pensionados.

This matters because some benefits and transitional rules may depend on timing, filing date, eligibility, and category.

For clients considering Rentista Residency, 2026 is not a year to improvise. If you are planning to relocate, import personal goods, structure funds, purchase a vehicle, or coordinate a family move, timing should be reviewed early.

A rushed application is usually more expensive than a planned application.

The strongest strategy is to begin with:

1. Legal eligibility.

2. Banking feasibility.

3. Document timeline.

4. Family filing structure.

5. Post-approval planning.

6. Benefits analysis.

This is important.

Investor Residency is not a local employment permit.

A Investor resident should not assume that they can freely work as a salaried employee in Costa Rica. The category is based on financial independence, not local labor market participation.

Generally, Investor residents may own companies, receive dividends, or manage private investments, but local employment and remunerated work in Costa Rica must be reviewed carefully.

This distinction matters because immigration compliance is not just about getting approved. It is also about preserving status after approval.

What Types of Investments May Qualify?

1. Real Estate: Real estate is one of the most common paths to investor residency in Costa Rica. A qualifying real estate investment may include land, a home, a condominium, a commercial property, a development property or another registered immovable asset. However, this category requires careful structuring. For real estate and registrable movable assets, the regulation states that the applicant must be the registered owner before the National Registry, and that assets registered under the name of a legal entity are not accepted for this specific category. The regulation also requires proof from the relevant municipality showing the property value used for municipal tax purposes and that municipal taxes are up to date. 

   This is why legal due diligence matters before purchasing property for residency purposes. The property should be reviewed not only as a real estate acquisition, but also as the basis for an immigration application.

2. Shares in a Costa Rican Company. Investment through shares in a Costa Rican company may also qualify, but the company must be properly structured and active. The regulation requires certification of legal standing and share capital, evidence of the foreign applicant’s real participation, and a Certified Public Accountant certification confirming the investment amount. It also states that this type of investment is only permitted in companies with economic activity in Costa Rica, not inactive legal entities. 

3. Securities and Regulated Financial Investments. Certain investments in securities may qualify when made through authorized channels. For this category, the regulation refers to investments through a stock exchange position registered before SUGEVAL, together with accounting certification of the investment amount.  This option requires coordination between legal counsel, financial advisors, accountants and regulated entities.

4. Venture Capital Funds. Investments in venture capital funds may qualify when the fund structure and manager satisfy the required regulatory conditions. The regulation requires that the relevant fund management company be registered in the National Securities and Intermediaries Registry of SUGEVAL and that the investment amount be certified by a Certified Public Accountant. 

5. Productive Projects and Projects of National Interest. Investments in productive projects or projects declared of national interest may also qualify. For projects of public or national interest, the relevant declaration must be properly identified. For productive projects, the investor may need documentation from the government institution connected to the relevant economic sector confirming that the project qualifies and that the investment meets the legal threshold.  This category may be relevant for investors developing businesses, infrastructure, forestry, environmental or sector specific projects.

6. Sustainable Tourism Infrastructure. Costa Rica also recognizes investments in sustainable tourism infrastructure projects. This category may require technical criteria from the Costa Rican Tourism Institute confirming that the project qualifies as sustainable tourism infrastructure.  This may be especially relevant for investors in hospitality, eco-tourism, wellness retreats, lodging, tourism infrastructure or related projects.

7. Registrable Movable Assets. Certain registrable movable assets may qualify, including assets such as vehicles, aircraft or boats, provided they are properly registered and meet the legal threshold. As with real estate, ownership and valuation must be properly documented before the relevant registry.