Quick answer: Costa Rica's investor residency programme (popularly called the Golden Visa) grants two-year renewable residency to anyone who invests at least USD $150,000 — roughly ₹1.3 crore — in Costa Rican real estate, a local business, or approved securities. Your spouse and dependent children are included at no extra investment. The $150,000 threshold is a temporary benefit under Law 9996 that expires on July 14, 2026; applications submitted after that date are expected to require $200,000.
For years, conversations about second residency in Indian living rooms have revolved around Portugal, Dubai, and Canada. Quietly, a small Central American country has built one of the most accessible investment residency programmes in the world — and for Indian families thinking about a Plan B, it deserves a serious look.
What exactly is the Costa Rica Golden Visa?
The official category is Inversionista (investor), created under Law No. 9996 — the Law to Attract Investors, Rentistas and Pensioners — which came into force in 2021. It is not a citizenship-by-investment scheme and it is not a visa you buy. It is a genuine residency permit: you make a qualifying investment, file with Costa Rica's immigration department (the DGME), and receive temporary residency for two years, renewable as long as you maintain the investment.
After three consecutive years of temporary residency you can apply for permanent residency, which removes the investment condition entirely. After seven years of legal residency you become eligible to apply for citizenship — though, as we cover in a separate article, Indian citizens should think carefully here, because India does not permit dual citizenship.
What investments qualify for the $150,000 threshold?
Four routes qualify, and the first is by far the most popular with Indian buyers:
- Real estate — a house, condominium, or land with a registered value of at least $150,000, held in your personal name at the National Registry.
- Business equity — capital invested in a Costa Rican company, including one you found and manage yourself.
- Securities and funds — shares, securities, or private equity funds registered in Costa Rica.
- Forestry and sustainable tourism projects — the forestry threshold is actually lower, at $100,000.
Real estate dominates because it does double duty: the same asset that qualifies you for residency can house your family on visits, earn vacation-rental income the rest of the year, and appreciate in one of Latin America's most stable property markets.
What does an Indian family actually get?
One investment covers the whole family file — spouse and dependent children are included without any additional investment. Residency brings the right to live in Costa Rica year-round (there is no minimum stay requirement beyond visiting once a year to keep the permit alive), access to the Caja — Costa Rica's well-regarded public healthcare system — and, under Law 9996's temporary benefits, a one-time duty exemption on importing household goods plus duty-free import of up to two vehicles.
One honest caveat: investor residency does not permit you to take a salaried job with a Costa Rican employer. You can own, manage, and draw income from your own business — most Indian investors structure their affairs exactly this way — but the programme is designed for investors, not employees.
Why does the July 14, 2026 date matter so much?
Law 9996's reduced $150,000 threshold carries a sunset clause that expires on July 14, 2026. What counts is the date your application is submitted to the DGME, not the date it is approved — a correctly filed application submitted before the deadline locks in the benefits even if approval arrives months later. After the deadline, the investment minimum is expected to revert to $200,000, and the import-duty benefits lapse unless Costa Rica's National Assembly passes renewal legislation.
If you are reading this before the deadline with your investment and paperwork already complete, speak to counsel immediately about filing. If — like most readers — you are starting your research now, don't despair: the programme itself continues. The mathematics simply shift from $150,000 to an expected $200,000, which at today's exchange rate moves the entry point from roughly ₹1.3 crore to about ₹1.7 crore. Still substantially below a Portugal fund investment, and with a lifestyle argument Dubai cannot make.
How do the money and paperwork work from India?
Two Indian regulatory realities shape every Costa Rica plan. First, the Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS) caps individual outward remittances at USD $250,000 per financial year — comfortably above the threshold, and a couple can pool two limits if needed. Remittances above ₹10 lakh attract Tax Collected at Source (TCS) of up to 20%, which is not an extra cost in the long run — you adjust it against your Indian tax liability — but it is a cash-flow item to plan for. Second, all funds must travel through official banking channels into a Costa Rican bank or escrow account, and the investment must be registered with Costa Rica's Central Bank (BCCR) as foreign direct investment to count for immigration purposes.
On documents, India's membership of the Hague Apostille Convention makes life easier than many expect: your birth certificate, marriage certificate, and police clearance certificate are apostilled through the Ministry of External Affairs, then translated into Spanish by a certified translator. A 2024 procedural change makes accuracy critical — incomplete applications can no longer be corrected and must be re-filed from scratch.
How long does the whole process take?
For a well-organised Indian buyer purchasing remotely, expect roughly six to ten months end-to-end: four to eight weeks from property search to signed contract, six to ten weeks for closing and title registration, four to eight weeks to register the investment and compile the immigration file, and three to six months of DGME processing before your DIMEX residency card is issued. Much of the Indian-side paperwork — apostilles, police clearance, source-of-funds documentation — can run in parallel with the property search.
Frequently asked questions
Can I apply without travelling to Costa Rica?
Almost the entire property purchase can be done remotely through an apostilled Power of Attorney. You will need to visit for biometrics when your residency is approved, and most buyers choose to visit at least once before committing.
Does Costa Rica tax my Indian income?
No. Costa Rica taxes on a territorial basis — foreign-source income is generally outside its net. As an Indian tax resident you remain taxable in India on worldwide income, so the planning happens on the Indian side.
Is the investment refundable?
You are buying a real asset, not paying a fee. Maintain it for three years until permanent residency; after that you are free to sell.
Do I need to know Spanish?
Not for residency. English is widely spoken in expat and business circles, though learning Spanish enriches daily life enormously.
Ready to explore whether Costa Rica fits your family's plans? Contact our team for a consultation and a shortlist of qualifying properties.
This article is general information, not legal or tax advice. Verify current figures with a licensed Costa Rican attorney and your Indian chartered accountant before committing funds.