Quick answer: The core Costa Rica golden visa requirements are a qualifying investment of at least $150,000 (reduced from $200,000 by Law 9996), held in your personal name, plus a clean set of apostilled and translated documents. In return you receive temporary investor residency, renewable every two years and eligible for permanent residency after about three years.
What are the Costa Rica golden visa requirements for investors?
The investor category (inversionista) is Costa Rica's version of a golden visa. To qualify you must show a verifiable investment of USD $150,000 or more in an approved asset, prove the funds are yours and lawfully sourced, and submit a standard immigration document package. There is no minimum-stay obligation that forces you to live in the country full time, which makes it popular with investors building a second-residency "Plan B."
How much do you need to invest, and in what?
The threshold is $150,000. Costa Rica accepts several forms of qualifying investment:
- Real estate: the most common route — a home, land, or commercial property valued at $150,000+.
- Registered businesses or shares in a Costa Rican company.
- Approved investment vehicles such as certain funds or forestry/tourism projects recognized by the authorities.
A key rule: for real estate, the property generally must be held in your personal name (not solely inside a corporation) for it to count toward the investor requirement. Confirm the structure before you buy.
What documents do the Costa Rica golden visa requirements include?
Immigration (Migración) expects a consistent, properly legalized file. The standard checklist is:
- Valid passport with sufficient remaining validity.
- Apostilled FBI background check (police clearance) issued recently.
- Apostilled birth certificate, and marriage certificate if applying with a spouse.
- Official Spanish translations of all foreign documents by an authorized translator.
- Proof of the qualifying investment (title, registration, appraisal, or bank documentation).
- Passport photos, the immigration application forms, and consular registration.
How long does the process take?
Plan on roughly one to three months to gather and legalize documents, followed by several months up to about a year for Migración to review and approve the file. Once approved, you receive your DIMEX residency card. The investor status is temporary and renewable every two years; after approximately three years of legal residency you can typically apply to convert to permanent residency.
Can I include my family?
Yes. One qualifying investment can anchor residency for your immediate family. A spouse and dependent children are generally added as dependents on the primary investor's application, each with their own document set (birth/marriage certificates, background checks where required, and Spanish translations). This lets a whole family secure residency on a single $150,000 investment.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a Costa Rica golden visa?
Costa Rica does not brand it a "golden visa," but the investor residency program functions like one: invest $150,000+ and qualify for residency.
Does the property have to be in my personal name?
For real estate to count toward the investor threshold, it generally must be held in your personal name rather than only within a company. Verify the structure before purchasing.
Do I have to live in Costa Rica full time?
No. The investor category does not require full-time residence, though you must renew on schedule and maintain the qualifying investment.
Ready to check your eligibility?
Every file is unique, and small structuring choices affect whether an investment qualifies. Book a free consultation and we'll review your situation and map the fastest compliant path to Costa Rica investor residency.
This article is for general information only and is not legal, tax, or financial advice.