Sign in
Flag of Costa Rica
Residence by investment

Costa Rica Investor Residence

Stable, green, democratic Latin America with a territorial tax system.

Minimum investment
US$200,000
Passport visa waiver (on citizenship)
147
Processing
6–12 months
Visit / stay
1 day per year

Buy online · 2026

Costa Rica Investor Residence Program

Invest in Real estate property. Minimum investment US$200,000 onwards.

  1. ReserveUS$500 online
  2. Pre-eligibilityDue diligence screening
  3. Submit & investPaid to the government
  4. Residence permit6–12 months

Investment options · Frequently asked questions

2026 update: The reduced US$150,000 threshold (Law 9996) expired on 14 July 2026. The minimum is now US$200,000.

Overview

Costa Rica grants investor residence to foreigners who invest at least US$200,000 in real estate, a business, company shares or securities registered in their name, or US$100,000 in an approved reforestation project. The reduced US$150,000 threshold under Law 9996 expired on 14 July 2026.

Applications take around 6–12 months. Residents need to spend just one day a year in Costa Rica, can apply for permanent residence after three years and citizenship after seven.

Key benefits

  1. Territorial tax system: foreign-sourced income is not taxed
  2. Minimal presence: just one day a year in Costa Rica
  3. Spouse and children included
  4. Permanent residence after 3 years
  5. Path to citizenship after 7 years
  6. Reforestation route from US$100,000
  7. You own a real asset, such as property or a business
  8. Access to Costa Rica's public healthcare system (CCSS)
  9. Stable democracy with no army since 1948
  10. Home to around 5% of the world's biodiversity
  11. Around three hours' flight from Miami

Investment options

Real estate, business or securities

Registered in the applicant’s name.

US$200,000

Approved reforestation project

Government-approved forestry projects.

US$100,000

Family & requirements

Who can be included
Spouse and children
Visit or residence
1 day per year
Path to citizenship
PR after 3 years; citizenship after 7 years.
Processing time
6–12 months
  • Territorial taxation
  • No army since 1948
  • Among Latin America’s most stable democracies

Costa Rica passport: travel access

147destinations without a visa in advance

Visa waiver, visa on arrival or electronic travel authorisation (eTA), per the Henley Passport Index. eVisas are not counted.

  • Schengen Area – no visa in advance
  • United Kingdom – no visa in advance
  • Ireland – no visa in advance
  • Canada – visa required
  • United States – visa required
  • Singapore – no visa in advance
  • Japan – no visa in advance
  • South Korea – no visa in advance
  • Brazil – no visa in advance
  • Russia – no visa in advance
  • China – visa required
  • United Arab Emirates – no visa in advance
  • Switzerland – no visa in advance
  • Australia – visa required
  • New Zealand – visa required
Show visa waiver countries

Albania · Andorra · Argentina · Austria · Bahamas · Bahrain · Bangladesh · Barbados · Belgium · Belize · Bolivia · Bosnia and Herzegovina · Botswana · Brazil · Brunei · Bulgaria · Burundi · Cambodia · Cape Verde · Chile · Colombia · Comoros · Croatia · Cyprus · Czech Republic · Denmark · Dominica · Dominican Republic · Ecuador · Egypt · El Salvador · Estonia · Finland · France and territories · Gambia · Georgia · Germany · Greece · Grenada · Guatemala · Guinea-Bissau · Guyana · Haiti · Honduras · Hungary · Iceland · Iran · Ireland · Israel · Italy · Jamaica · Japan · Jordan · Kenya · Kiribati · South Korea · Laos · Latvia · Lebanon · Liechtenstein · Lithuania · Luxembourg · Madagascar · Malawi · Malaysia · Maldives · Malta · Marshall Islands · Mauritius · Mexico · Micronesia · Moldova · Monaco · Montenegro · Mozambique · Nepal · Netherlands · Nicaragua · North Macedonia · Norway · Pakistan · Palau · Panama · Paraguay · Peru · Philippines · Poland · Portugal · Qatar · Romania · Russia · Rwanda · Saint Kitts and Nevis · Saint Lucia · Saint Vincent and the Grenadines · Samoa · San Marino · Senegal · Serbia · Seychelles · Singapore · Slovakia · Slovenia · Solomon Islands · South Africa · Spain · Sri Lanka · Sweden · Switzerland · Tajikistan · Tanzania · Thailand · Timor-Leste · Trinidad and Tobago · Tunisia · Turkey · Tuvalu · Uganda · United Arab Emirates · United Kingdom · Uruguay · Uzbekistan · Vatican City · Venezuela · Zambia · Zimbabwe

Count: Henley Passport Index, updated 12 Oct 2026 (227 destinations incl. territories). Country list: Wikipedia – Visa requirements for Costa Rican citizens (sovereign countries only). Always confirm entry rules with the destination before travel.

How Citizenship Shop helps

Add the program to your cart or click Buy now to reserve it for US$500. Create your client account and complete the pre-eligibility questions at checkout. A senior advisor then reviews your profile within one business day, confirms the best investment route and the exact government fees for your family, and prepares your application with a licensed local agent.

Costa Rica Investor Residence: FAQ

How much does the Costa Rica Investor Residence cost?

The minimum investment is US$200,000. Available options: Real estate, business or securities (US$200,000); Approved reforestation project (US$100,000). The investment is paid directly to the government or approved project, never to us.

How long does the Costa Rica Investor Residence take?

Processing typically takes 6–12 months from submission of a complete application. Your advisor gives you a personal timeline after the pre-eligibility review.

Can I include my family in the application?

Family members who can be included: Spouse and children. Your advisor checks each dependant’s eligibility before you apply.

Do I need to visit or live in Costa Rica?

1 day per year. Rules change from time to time, so your advisor confirms the current requirement in writing.

Does the Costa Rica Investor Residence lead to citizenship?

PR after 3 years; citizenship after 7 years.

Official source

Prices and rules on this page were verified on 28 September 2026 against: Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería.

Governments revise fees and thresholds without notice. Your advisor confirms the exact figures in writing before any investment is made.

Compare similar programs

Book Now US$500