Costa Rica Pensionado Visa
Costa Rica CRI
Costa Rica's Pensionado Visa is a retirement residency category for foreign nationals who receive a permanent pension of at least $1,000 per month, offering legal residency with one of the world's most favourable territorial tax systems that completely exempts all foreign-source income. After three years of approved Pensionado status, holders can apply for permanent residency, and Costa Rican citizenship with full dual nationality rights is accessible after seven years. The visa comes with additional retiree benefits including discounts on medical services, transportation, and entertainment.
Program Details
- Category
- Retirement
- Processing Time
- 5 months
- Application Fee
- $250
- Minimum Income
- $1,000/yr
- Minimum Investment
- N/A
- Family Included
- Spouse and dependent children under 18 (or under 25 if enrolled in university) may be included in the same application as dependants
- Path to PR
- Yes — 3 years
- Path to Citizenship
- Yes — 7 years
- Physical Presence
- Must spend at least one consecutive day per year in Costa Rica to maintain legal residency status. Permanent residency is available after 3 years of approved temporary status.
- Dual Citizenship
- Allowed
- Tax Impact
- Costa Rica operates a purely territorial tax system — all foreign-source income, including foreign pensions, is completely exempt from Costa Rican taxation regardless of the amount or residency status. Only income earned within Costa Rica is subject to local taxes.
- Renewal Cost
- $100
Minimum monthly pension income of $1,000 USD from a government or recognised private pension fund. The pension must be permanent and ongoing.
Key Requirements
- ✓Proof of a permanent monthly pension of at least $1,000 USD from a government, company, or private pension fund
- ✓Official letter from the pension institution confirming the permanent, ongoing nature of the payments
- ✓Valid passport with at least 1 year validity
- ✓Birth certificate (apostilled and officially translated into Spanish)
- ✓Criminal background check from home country (apostilled and translated)
- ✓Police clearance from Costa Rica (obtained after arrival)
- ✓Proof of accommodation in Costa Rica
- ✓Application submitted through a Costa Rican immigration attorney or directly to DGME