Quick answer: The "Costa Rica Golden Visa" is the country's investor residency (inversionista) program. Make a qualifying investment of at least USD $150,000—most often in real estate—and you and your immediate family can obtain temporary residency, with a clear path to permanent residency and, eventually, citizenship. There is no minimum stay of months per year, you don't have to speak Spanish, and your spouse and children under 25 can be included on your application.
If you've been researching a "Plan B," a lower cost of living, or a warmer place to retire, Costa Rica's investor residency is one of the most accessible residency-by-investment options in the Americas. This guide explains exactly how it works in 2026—what qualifies, how long it takes, what it costs, and one deadline you need to understand before you commit any money.
Is there really a "Costa Rica Golden Visa"?
Not by that official name. Costa Rica does not brand a program as a "Golden Visa" the way Portugal or Greece do. What people call the Costa Rica Golden Visa is the investor temporary residency category, reformed by Law 9996 in 2021 to attract foreign investors, retirees, and people of independent means. That law lowered the qualifying investment from $200,000 to $150,000 and added several tax and import incentives. So the "Golden Visa" is a nickname—but the residency and the benefits behind it are very real.
Who is the Costa Rica investor residency for?
This route tends to fit people who:
Want residency without needing a job offer or local employer.
Plan to buy property in Costa Rica anyway and want that purchase to double as their qualifying investment.
Are pre-retirees or investors seeking a second residency or "Plan B."
Don't qualify (or don't want to commit) under the pensioner (pensionado) or fixed-income (rentista) categories.
Want to bring a spouse and children under the same application.
How much do you need to invest?
The minimum qualifying investment is USD $150,000. This threshold was reduced from $200,000 under Law 9996 and is the figure applicants have used since 2021. Importantly, the $150,000 is an investment, not a fee you hand to the government—you keep the asset (for example, the home you buy). You still pay separate government and legal fees on top of it.
What investments qualify for residency?
Costa Rica recognizes several categories of qualifying investment under Law 9996. Each must be properly documented and registered:
Real estate or registrable assets — the most common route. The property must be recorded in the National Registry, and current rules generally require it to be held in your personal name rather than through a corporation. Financed purchases can qualify if your down payment reaches $150,000 or you combine it with other qualifying investments.
Company shares — a capital contribution in a company with genuine, active operations in Costa Rica (inactive holding companies don't count).
Securities — investments made through a licensed brokerage (puesto de bolsa) registered with SUGEVAL, the securities regulator.
Venture capital funds — funds registered in SUGEVAL's National Securities Registry.
Reforestation projects — certified by the Ministry of Environment and Energy (MINAE) under the Forestry Law.
Sustainable tourism infrastructure — projects with a technical opinion from the Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT).
Projects of national interest — declared by executive decree and published in the official gazette, La Gaceta.
Real estate is by far the most popular path because the investment is tangible, familiar, and doubles as a home or rental. But the ownership structure matters: buying under the wrong structure is one of the most common reasons applications stall, so get the details right before you wire funds.
What are the tax and import benefits?
Beyond residency itself, Law 9996 created incentives for qualifying applicants, including:
A one-time exemption from import tax on household goods.
The ability to import up to two vehicles free of certain import taxes.
Exemption from income tax on the income declared to qualify.
A 20% reduction in the real estate transfer tax on a qualifying property purchase.
Duty exemptions on certain professional or scientific equipment.
These benefits are not automatic on approval—they require the correct immigration status and separate handling with the tax authority (Hacienda). Applicants who properly obtain the benefits can generally keep them for ten years from the date granted, subject to the rules.
The July 2026 deadline you need to know about
Here's the time-sensitive part. Law 9996 was published on July 14, 2021, and its incentives were designed with a five-year window—meaning new applicants must request the benefits within roughly five years of that date. That puts mid-July 2026 at the center of the planning calendar.
To be clear about what this does and doesn't mean: the expiration relates to the special tax and import incentives, not the existence of investor residency. Investor residency is expected to continue. What may change for new applicants is access to the Law 9996 perks—and, potentially, the reduced $150,000 threshold that came with the same law. Because the rules can shift, do not make large financial decisions (shipping a container, importing a vehicle, buying property for the tax savings) based on assumptions. Confirm what currently applies to your situation before you commit.
How long does the process take?
Timelines vary with your paperwork and the immigration authority's (Migración) workload, but a realistic sequence looks like this:
Preparation (1–3 months): gathering documents, apostilles, translations, and completing the qualifying investment.
Filing and review (roughly 6–12+ months): Migración reviews your application and issues a resolution.
DIMEX card: once approved, you register and receive your residency ID card.
Temporary investor residency is typically granted for two years and is renewable. After three consecutive years of temporary residency you can apply for permanent residency, which removes work restrictions. Note that investor residency itself does not let you work as a salaried employee for a Costa Rican company—though you can own and earn from your investment.
What documents will you need?
Every applicant's file is a little different, but you should expect to provide:
A valid passport.
A criminal background check (for U.S. applicants, an FBI record), apostilled.
A birth certificate, and a marriage certificate if applying with a spouse—also apostilled.
Official Spanish translations of your foreign documents.
Proof that your qualifying investment is properly registered and valued at $150,000 or more.
Preparing background checks, certificates, apostilles, and translations before you arrive is one of the simplest ways to avoid delays.
Can I include my family?
Yes. One qualifying $150,000 investment can support residency for your immediate family—typically your spouse and dependent children—rather than each person needing their own investment. This is a major reason families choose the investor route over other categories.
Costa Rica Golden Visa vs. other residency options
Investor residency isn't the only path. The two other popular categories are:
Pensionado (retiree): for those with a qualifying lifetime pension (commonly around $1,000/month). No large investment required, but you must prove ongoing pension income.
Rentista (fixed income): for those who can show stable income or a qualifying deposit over a set period. Good for those without a pension who don't want to invest $150,000.
The investor route stands out when you plan to put capital into Costa Rica anyway—especially into property—and want that capital to secure your status rather than sit idle.
Is it worth using an advisory service?
You can attempt the process yourself, but the details that trip people up—ownership structures, document sequencing, apostilles, valuations, and coordinating lawyers, realtors, and Migración—are exactly where an experienced advisor earns their keep. The cost of a restructured investment or a rejected file usually dwarfs the cost of getting it right the first time. If you're weighing the $150,000 commitment against the July 2026 timing, a short consultation is the fastest way to know where you stand.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Costa Rica Golden Visa a real government program?
It's a nickname for Costa Rica's investor residency category, reformed by Law 9996 in 2021. The residency and its benefits are official; the "Golden Visa" label is just the popular term.
How much is the Costa Rica Golden Visa?
The qualifying investment is at least $150,000, which you keep as an asset (such as real estate). Separate government and legal fees apply on top of the investment.
Does investor residency lead to citizenship?
It can. Investor residency is a path to permanent residency after three years, and permanent residents may later pursue naturalization, subject to Costa Rica's citizenship requirements and timelines.
Do I have to live in Costa Rica full-time?
No. Investor residency does not require you to spend the whole year in the country, though you must visit periodically to maintain your status. Confirm the current minimum-visit rule for your situation.
Can I work with investor residency?
You can own and earn from your investment, but investor temporary residency does not permit salaried employment with a Costa Rican company. That restriction lifts once you obtain permanent residency.
What happens after July 2026?
Investor residency is expected to continue, but the special Law 9996 tax and import incentives are tied to a five-year window from July 2021, and the reduced $150,000 threshold could be affected. Verify the current rules before committing funds.
Ready to explore your options?
Costa Rica's investor residency is one of the most straightforward ways for U.S. and Canadian buyers to secure a second residency—but the structure of your investment and the July 2026 timing both matter. Book a free consultation with Golden Visa Costa Rica and we'll review your goals, confirm which route fits, and map out your path to pura vida.
This article is for general information only and is not legal or tax advice. Immigration rules change; confirm current requirements and deadlines for your specific situation before making financial decisions.