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LATIN AMERICA · LONG-TERM RESIDENCY BY INVESTMENT

Costa Rica Inversionista

A temporarily reduced $150,000 investment threshold for Costa Rican residency, across real estate, business, or approved projects — but the discount has a real expiry date.

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Minimum Investment
$150,000
Key Benefit
Costa Rican temporary residency at a discounted investment threshold, with a defined path to permanent residency after three years and citizenship after seven.

Costa Rica Investor Residency Overview

Costa Rica's residency framework operates under the Law of Migration and Foreigners (Law 8764), administered by the General Directorate of Migration and Foreign Nationals (DGME). The Inversionista (Investor) category grants residency to investors who place qualifying capital in Costa Rica, at a threshold temporarily cut from $200,000 to $150,000 under Law No. 9996.

This reduced threshold operates under a sunset provision: it applies only until 14 July 2026, after which the minimum is expected to revert to $200,000 unless Costa Rica's National Assembly enacts renewal legislation.

Benefits of Costa Rica Investor Residency

  • A currently reduced $150,000 investment threshold, versus the standard $200,000 — but time-limited under Law 9996's sunset clause
  • Multiple qualifying investment types: real estate, a registered business, company shares, or an approved project
  • A defined path from temporary residency (2 years) to permanent residency (3 years) to citizenship (7 years)
  • A lower $100,000 threshold applies specifically to qualifying forestry projects

Requirements

The main applicant places qualifying capital into one of several accepted investment types, held personally rather than through a company for real estate:

1. Standard Investment (Real Estate, Business, Shares, or Approved Project)

A minimum of $150,000, into real estate (held in the applicant's personal name, not through a company), a registered business, company shares, or an approved project. This reduced threshold is in effect until 14 July 2026 under Law No. 9996.

2. Forestry Project Investment

A lower threshold of $100,000 applies specifically to qualifying forestry projects.

Procedure

The applicant completes the qualifying investment and submits an Inversionista application to the DGME under Law 8764. Once approved, temporary residency is granted for 2 years, with permanent residency available after 3 years and citizenship after 7.

Fees & Costs

Beyond the $150,000 investment itself, applicants pay DGME processing fees per applicant and dependant, plus separate legal and investment due-diligence advisory fees. Indohill discloses the full statutory and legal fee breakdown for this programme, and every other programme we track, in the Global Matrix Marketplace fee breakdown tool before you commit to a specific investment.

The Reduced Threshold Expires 14 July 2026

The $150,000 threshold is a temporary reduction under Law No. 9996's sunset clause. Unless Costa Rica's National Assembly enacts renewal legislation before 14 July 2026, the minimum investment reverts to $200,000. Indohill treats this deadline as real and binding for any client considering this route, exactly as it does for Panama's comparable Decree 193 sunset.

Background & Legal Considerations

Costa Rica's residency framework is governed by the Law of Migration and Foreigners (Law 8764), administered by the DGME. The reduced $150,000 Inversionista threshold was introduced under Law No. 9996, applying under that law's sunset provisions until 14 July 2026.

Why Indohill Advises This Program

  • A private, advisor-reviewed intake — every application is scoped by a person, with the Law 9996 expiry date confirmed and factored into client timelines
  • Coordination with pre-vetted Costa Rican real estate, business, and immigration advisors, reviewed against Indohill's Certified Partner Network standards before any introduction is made
  • Full statutory and legal fee disclosure through the Global Matrix Marketplace before you commit to a specific investment
  • The same 5-phase advisory methodology Indohill applies across every program, from initial audit through lifelong governance and renewal support
FREQUENTLY ASKED

Costa Rica Investor Residency FAQ

Currently $150,000, temporarily reduced from $200,000 under Law No. 9996's sunset provision, in effect until 14 July 2026.

Unless Costa Rica's National Assembly enacts renewal legislation, the minimum investment reverts to the standard $200,000.

Real estate (held personally, not through a company), a registered business, company shares, or an approved project — with a lower $100,000 threshold for qualifying forestry projects specifically.

Temporary residency (2 years) leads to permanent residency (3 years), with citizenship available after 7 years total.

The General Directorate of Migration and Foreign Nationals (DGME), under the Law of Migration and Foreigners (Law 8764).

Indohill's tracked timeframe for this program is approximately 4 months, covering investment completion and DGME review.

Law No. 9996, which reduced the standard $200,000 threshold to $150,000 under a sunset clause expiring 14 July 2026.

Related Latin American Programs

Argentina — Rentista Visa Mexico — Temporary Residency (Financial Solvency) Paraguay — Investor Pass Uruguay — Legal Residency (Real Estate Route) Panama — Qualified Investor Visa Panama — Friendly Nations Visa

Comparing Latin American options? View every Latin American program we track in the Global Matrix Marketplace →

Discuss Costa Rica With an Advisor.

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