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If you’re thinking about moving to Costa Rica and also have no idea what the mandatory residency procedures are, you’ve come to the right place. In terms of trying to get residency in Costa Rica, there are general and specific requirements that require to be filled and documents that must be submitted. You need to submit any obtain residency in Costa Rica to the Costa Rican Consulate in your country. We recommend you begin this process at least 3 months ahead of your anticipated departure.

The following are the overall requirements that need to be filled for just about any residency application in Costa Rica:

1. You should submit an application addressed to the Director General of Migration. If you cannot be there in person, you should grant a special power of attorney – notarized, authenticated, and in Spanish – to a representative in the USA who’ll sign the residence application form and submit all the documents to the Consulate.

2. You should grant special authority to a representative (apoderado) by submitting a document, signed by you and notarized and authenticated in the Consulate, that presents the personal information on the representative and the address to which they receive notifications within the judicial perimeter of San Jose.

3. Birth Certificate that clearly shows the parents’ name (required for all applicants, spouse, and dependent children around 18 years or around 25 in case a university student with a proof enrollment)*

4. Police Certificate (not over the age of six months) issued by the state where you have lived for days gone by two years (required for all applicants, spouse, and all dependent children aged 18 to 25)*

5. Applications received after November 15th, 2002 will require an FBI identification record. (Necessary for all applicants, spouse, and all dependent children aged 18 to 25)

6. Marriage Certificate (if found)*

7. Photocopy of the passport certified by the Consulate or certified and authenticated by way of a Notary Public (required for all applicants, spouse, and any dependent children)

8. Four recent forehead passport-size photographs (necessary for all applicants, spouse, and any dependent children)

9. Eligible individuals can claim their spouses, children under 18, and teenagers with disabilities as dependents. A child between 18 and 25 can be considered dependents if they are signed up for a university.

10. Regarding a family group, a person file is required for every member. Parents should sign applications with respect to their minor children.

11. For practicing an occupation, you should provide your diplomas. For pursuing other professional activities, relevant documentation – such as for example courses and studies undertaken – should be submitted as well.

*All documents listed in 3, 4, and 6 should be authenticated by the Costa Rican Consulate and translated into Spanish. Before they’re submitted to the Consulate, these documents must be notarized and in addition apostilled by the respective states in which they originated.

You should send all the required documents first to the Consulate of your jurisdiction to be checked. If the documents are complete, you – or your representative – will be asked to visit the Consulate for an interview and sign the application form you have already sent.

The documents will undoubtedly be delivered to Migration in Costa Rica, who’ll contact your representative in Costa Rica. For things to do in Dominical , you will have to purchase the courier service.

In addition to the general requirements mentioned above for residency application, you need to fulfill the following specific requirements based on your immigration category. You do not have to send those documents alongside the ones mentioned above. However, if they are missing, you – or your representative – will be notified once Migration receives and processes the documents sent by the Consulate. You may be given 10 days to perform those documents if they’re issued in Costa Rica, or 30 days if they are issued abroad. Please be aware that some documents need to be authenticated by the Costa Rican Consulate first.

Retirees (Pensionados):

12. If you’re a retiree, you should be receiving at least US $600 per month from the qualified retirement plan or perhaps a lifetime pension source outside Costa Rica.

13. Original Income Certificate from the company, government, or institution guaranteeing that the monthly income will be delivered to Costa Rica in your name

14. You could also demonstrate that you receive the minimum amount of US $600 from interests or dividends from investments on forex deposited in a Costa Rican government bank.

15. THE AUTHORITIES Certificate mentioned above should be issued by hawaii where you have lived for the last six months.

16. The forex you receive as a monthly pension ought to be changed into the Costa Rican currency (colones). This may be certified by the Costa Rican Central Bank or any government bank.

17. You (as well as your dependents) cannot work and/or earn an income in Costa Rica. It is possible to, however, administer your personal investments but without a salary. Furthermore, a physical presence in Costa Rica for a minimum of 4 months each year is required.

(Rentistas):

12. If you are a rentista, you should prove that you would receive income from an investment such as a certificate of deposit or annuity of at least US $1,000 per month per person (or couple) and US $500 per children under 18 in exactly the same family group.

13. Original Income Certificate from the banking institution (in a foreign country or in Costa Rica) guaranteeing they hold sufficient funds in a well balanced and permanent account to provide an income of US $1,000 monthly for at the very least five years and that the monthly income will be sent to Costa Rica in your name.

14. Your income ought to be converted into Costa Rican colones, whose exchange rate is established by the Central Bank.

15. You could have a deposit of US $60,000 in an approved Costa Rican bank to meet up the government requirements for the residency status.

16. You (as well as your dependents) cannot work and/or earn a salary in Costa Rica. It is possible to, however, administer your own investments but without a salary. In addition, a physical presence in Costa Rica for at the least 4 months every year is required.

Investor (Inversionista):

12. If you’re an investor, you can be required to invest at least US $50,000 having an approved organization in a field such as tourism or export businesses.

13. You can be necessary to invest US $100,000 in a reforestation project.

14. In other types of business, some US $200,000 invested will be required.

15. Being an investor, you should spend at least six months each year in Costa Rica.

Foreign Relatives of a Costa Rican Citizen:

12. Should you have first-degree family members such as for example parents, siblings, spouses, or children who are citizens of Costa Rica, it is possible to make an application for permanent residency.

13. If you’re married to a Costa Rican citizen, the Marriage Certificate ought to be issued by the Civil Registry (Registro Civil) in Costa Rica. In the event of children or siblings born in Costa Rica, Birth Certificates should also be issued by the Civil Registry in Costa Rica.

14. You should submit a photocopy of the ID (c�dula de identidad) of the Costa Rican citizen who is related to you.

Students:

12. If you’re a student looking to get yourself a Student Visa, you need to provide: (a) proof enrollment within an educational private or public center acknowledged by Costa Rica, (b) relevant academic diplomas authenticated by the Consulate, and (c) proof sufficient economic resources for the duration of the educational program.

Temporary Workers (Work Visa):

12. The following individuals might obtain a temporary work permit in Costa Rica: (a) scientists, professionals, teachers, technicians, and specialized staff hired by companies or institutions based in Costa Rica and (b) businessmen and board members of national and international companies.

13. The employing company or institution should provide a document describing the: (a) functions to be undertaken by the employee, (b) amount of the contract, (c) salary or wages to be received, and (d) why they need to employ that particular individual (justification of employment).

14. The Police Certificate mentioned above should be issued by the state/place where you have resided going back five years.

All the residency status will require, upon approval, US $300 per person as a return trip guarantee deposit and also US $150 per person for the issuance of an ID card.

Moving to Costa Rica might seem just like a paperwork nightmare. These classifications and the associated process for every tend to be more for the “do-it-yourself” sort of person; however, it really is super easy and simple by using a lawyer who focuses on this process. All of the steps involved have become procedural, and all you have to do is take them one step at the same time.

Pura Vida!