38 pathways to explore
Pensionado retirement residency
Make Costa Rica your home with a qualifying lifetime pension of at least US$1,000 a month.
Rentista residency
A residence option for people who can document stable income of at least US$2,500 a month for at least two years.
Investor residency
Plan a qualifying investment in Costa Rica around the immigration rules that apply on your filing date.
Digital nomad visa
Work remotely for clients or employers outside Costa Rica with a dedicated one-year stay permission.
Residency through marriage
A temporary residence route for the spouse of a Costa Rican citizen, based on a genuine, documented marriage.
Residency through Costa Rican family
Explore residence based on a qualifying family relationship with a Costa Rican citizen.
Dependent and family residency
Coordinate residence applications for eligible family members joining a principal applicant.
Permanent residency
Move from a qualifying temporary status to a more durable residence permission when you meet the legal conditions.
Employer-sponsored work permission
Match a Costa Rican job offer with the immigration category and employer evidence it requires.
Executive and corporate residency
Immigration planning for managers, executives, representatives and qualifying technical staff.
Professional and specialist residency
A focused residence pathway for qualifying scientists, professionals, interns and specialist technicians.
Self-employed work permission
Check whether your proposed independent activity can qualify for specific immigration authorization.
Temporary and seasonal workers
An employer-led route for authorized temporary labor needs.
Cross-border worker permission
A specialized permission for eligible residents of neighboring border areas working in Costa Rica.
Workers on specific projects
Permission for foreign workers needed on a defined project or qualifying public-interest work.
Intra-company transfers
Coordinate an executive, managerial or specialist transfer between related businesses.
After-sales technical services
Short assignments for qualifying installation, maintenance and repair commitments.
Student permission
Prepare the immigration permission required for your course or academic program in Costa Rica.
Researchers, teachers and academic visitors
Find the right permission for a research placement, teaching assignment or academic visit.
Volunteers and educational internships
Arrange immigration permission for a documented volunteer or educational placement.
Religious-worker residency
A temporary residence route for qualifying religious personnel and assignments.
Athletes and sports personnel
Review the immigration route for a professional sports appointment or sporting event.
Press and media permissions
Choose the right permission for a foreign-media assignment in Costa Rica.
Artists and public performances
Permission planning for artists, performers and qualifying event personnel.
Tourist entry and visa exemptions
Check the entry rules that apply to your passport, travel document and trip.
Consular tourist visas
Apply through a Costa Rican consulate when your nationality requires a visa and no exception applies.
Restricted entry visas
A separate pre-travel authorization for nationalities subject to Costa Rica’s restricted-visa rules.
Transit visa and airport connections
Check your connection before you travel, including nationality, airport and onward-flight conditions.
Business visits and commercial stays
Plan meetings, commercial negotiations or a qualifying business stay with the correct permission.
Medical treatment stays
A non-resident estancia option for eligible specialized treatment in Costa Rica.
Invited specialists and distinguished visitors
An estancia category for qualifying invited figures in science, culture, sport and other recognized fields.
International transport crews
Entry and stay arrangements for qualifying international passenger and cargo transport personnel.
Border-neighbor transit
A narrowly defined entry permission for qualifying neighboring border communities.
Canadian youth mobility
A bilateral program for eligible Canadians combining travel with approved work or educational experience.
Refugee protection and asylum guidance
Direct access to official information and free specialist assistance for people seeking protection.
Statelessness and political asylum
Specialist referrals for statelessness determination and political-asylum questions.
Humanitarian and trafficking-survivor referrals
Find appropriate help for humanitarian circumstances and trafficking-related protection.
Diplomatic and official status
Referral information for accredited diplomatic, consular and international-organization personnel.
No pathways found.
Try a broader search or select “All pathways.”