October 4th, 2023 at 11:00 am

Obtaining a Retirement Visa in Costa Rica

The level of living in Costa Rica is among the greatest in Latin America. Coupled with its stunning beaches, reasonably priced real estate, excellent year-round climate, and vibrant culture, Costa Rica is a top retirement destination for many retirees.

A retirement visa, sometimes referred to as a Pensionado Visa, is required in order to retire in Costa Rica.

Who in Costa Rica Is Eligible to Apply for a Retirement Visa?

You must get a lifetime monthly pension of at least $1,000 per person in order to be eligible for the Pensionado Visa. This can be accomplished through retirement accounts, annuities, social security, military pensions, or other retirement benefits. Pensioners in Costa Rica do not need to be a certain age.

Permit Documents for Retirement in Costa Rica

To finish your application for a retirement visa for Costa Rica, you must provide the following documents:

• A letter of request outlining the rationale for your proposal to apply in Costa Rica. The request letter needs to include your name, the lawyer’s name, nationality, age, occupation, address, and other relevant information. Either a public notary or an immigration officer must sign the letter.
• Two freshly taken pictures. You have to be facing the camera and in full view for the passport-sized photo to be taken.
• The application form is filled out and signed. Either the Costa Rican immigration services or the embassy/consulate where you are applying will provide you with the application form.
• The Ministry of Public Safety’s fingerprint registration proof. Dependents under the age of twelve are not covered by this.
• A certified and authenticated birth certificate, no more than six months old, issued by the nation where you were born
• A certified copy of your previous criminal history, authenticated by your home country or the place you have lived for the last three years, if applicable. The Federal Criminal Background Certificate submitted by US applicants must be no more than six months old.
• Passport page copies number seven. The official or a public notary must certify each copy and compare it to the original.
• The pension is granted for life by the appropriate authority. A certificate certifying that you will get a pension exceeding $1,000 per month.
• If there are dependents traveling with you, show proof of your relationship, such as a marriage or birth certificate or any medical records attesting to your dependency.
• Proof of payment. After making the requested payment, affix the receipt to the remaining paperwork.
• Payment in the amounts of $1.25 and $2.50 for every page that is included in the residence request.

NOTE: 

Following legalization, authentication, or apostille by the Costa Rican Consulate, all documents issued overseas must be certified by the Costa Rican Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Documents issued in languages other than Spanish require an official translation performed by a public notary.

How can you apply for a Costa Rican retirement visa?

Applying for a Costa Rican retirement visa can be done in one of two ways:

1. At the Costa Rican Department of Immigration.
2. In a permanent residence abroad in Costa Rica.

In Costa Rica, how to apply for a retirement visa

The Costa Rican Department of Immigration is where you must submit your retirement visa application if you are already in the country. To apply, you must use either one of the Department of Immigration’s regional offices or its central offices’ Platform of Services. The steps are as follows:

• Firstly, finish the document checklist. You will be given ten days to turn in any missing documentation. You must file a formal request to extend the deadline if it takes longer to provide the missing documentation.
• Present the paperwork to the Department of Immigration. Following submission, the documents will be checked over and entered into the database.
• Go through your application. A document including your file number, personal information, and a list of the documents you have supplied will be sent to you. To ensure that the information is accurate, you must review it.
• Await the outcome of your visa application. The department needs ninety days to make a determination. You will receive the decision by fax if you provide a fax number on the application. If not, you should inquire about the status of your application in person at the Platform of Services.

Obtaining a Retirement Visa for Costa Rica from Outside

Applying for a Costa Rica retirement visa while overseas is possible at any Costa Rican embassy or consulate. The steps are as follows:

Make a scheduled time. Make an appointment by contacting the Costa Rican consular office that is closest to your place of residence. You might need to come into the office in person or make an inquiry to get further details.

Completing the document list. At the time of application submission, you must have the complete list of required papers. See the section below titled “Documents For a Costa Rica Retirement Visa.”

Fill out the application. A retirement visa application form is available at the Costa Rican embassy, consulate, or immigration office. After filling it out, attach it to the rest of your application. Make sure there are no missing documents by going over the paperwork.

Upon submitting the application, watch for a response. Provide any necessary documentation, as requested by the embassy or consulate, on the day of your appointment. A decision on your application might not be available for up to ninety days.

Retirement Visa Cost for Costa Rica

The cost of obtaining a retirement visa for Costa Rica is $50 per application. The Department of Immigration in Costa Rica has given you a bank account where you can make the payment. The required bank details for the payment of the visa fee will be supplied by the consulate or embassy when you apply for a retirement visa from overseas.

How long is it valid for a retirement visa in Costa Rica?

The duration of the Costa Rica Pensionado Visa is two years. You can submit an application to have your retirement visa renewed after two years. You must show that you make $1,000 each month.

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