Costa Rica Pensionado visa requirements
Costa Rica's Pensionado residency is a temporary residence for anyone with a lifelong pension of at least $1,000 a month, renewed every 2 years.
What the law asks for, what the government charges, and how the application runs. Checked against Costa Rica's official sources on Oct 8, 2026.
- Minimum income
- $1,000/mo A lifelong, permanent and stable monthly pension, certified by the authority that pays it. Migration Law 8764; Immigration Regulation. Checked Oct 8, 2026.
- Residency
- Two-year permit, renewable Migration Law 8764; Immigration Regulation. Checked Oct 8, 2026.
- Government fees
- $135 Application for temporary residence and Request for the residence card (cédula de extranjería) and Issue of the residence document and Migration Social Fund. Migration Law 8764; Immigration Regulation. Checked Oct 8, 2026.
- Lawyer
- Not required Immigration Regulation. Checked Oct 8, 2026.
Who qualifies for the Pensionado visa
Temporary residence for anyone who receives a lifelong pension of at least $1,000 a month. It is granted for up to 2 years and renewed every 2 years, and after 3 years in a row as a temporary resident you can apply for permanent residence.
You need $1,000 a month: a lifelong, permanent and stable monthly pension, certified by the authority that pays it.
To renew, you must show CCSS insurance held without a break from the day residence was granted. The law leaves exceptions to the regulation.
Temporary residents may only do the paid work that Migración authorizes.
Every resident pays a one-off guarantee deposit set by Migración, no higher than the price of a high-season ticket to their home country.
A temporary residence can be cancelled if you are away from Costa Rica for more than 2 years in a row, unless you prove health, study, family or similar reasons.
Law 9996 gave pensionados duty-free import of household goods and up to 2 vehicles, an income tax exemption on the income declared to qualify and 20% off property transfer tax, but only to those who opted in during the 5 years from 14 July 2021. Those who did keep the benefits for 10 years.
Pensionado visa documents
Every residence permit
- Application stating your details, what you ask for, your address in Costa Rica and where to receive notices, signed in front of a Migración officer or authenticated by a lawyer
- Receipt for the $50 application fee and the fiscal stamps
- Two recent passport-size photos
- Birth certificate from your country of origin, apostilled or legalized
- Criminal record certificate from your country of origin or from where you lived legally for the last 3 years (with proof of that legal stay), apostilled or legalized
- Copies of the passport pages with your details, your Costa Rica entry stamp and visa if you needed one, certified by a notary or checked against the original by Migración
Immigration Regulation. Checked Oct 8, 2026.
This visa
- Certificate from the paying authority that you receive a lifelong pension of at least $1,000 a month, apostilled or legalized if issued abroad
Immigration Regulation. Checked Oct 8, 2026.
Documents from abroad must be apostilled or legalized, documents not in Spanish need an official translation, and certificates with no stated validity must be issued no more than 6 months before you file. Ask your lawyer whether a document must also be translated.
Pensionado visa fees
| Application for temporary residence, paid when you apply | $50 |
| Fiscal stamps on the application | CRC 125 (about $0) |
| Change of category if you apply from inside Costa Rica as a visitor | $200 |
| Request for the residence card (cédula de extranjería) | $30 |
| Issue of the residence document | $30 |
| Migration Social Fund, on approval and at each renewal | $25 |
Migration Law 8764; Immigration Regulation. Checked Oct 8, 2026. Lawyer and agency fees are not set by law; ask for a fixed written quote.
How the application runs
- Gather documents at homeA pension certificate, birth certificate and police record, apostilled or legalized, translated into Spanish and issued within 6 months of filing.
- Apply to MigraciónFile with the Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería in Costa Rica or through a Costa Rican consulate abroad, with the $50 fee. Applying from inside the country as a visitor adds a $200 change-of-category fee.
- Wait for the decisionOnce the file is complete, Migración decides within 3 months, counted from when the papers reach its central office if you filed abroad.
- Join the CCSS and get your cardAfter approval, book an appointment, show that you are enrolled with the CCSS, bring fingerprint proof from the Ministry of Public Security, and pay $30 + $30, the $25 social fund fee and the guarantee deposit set in your approval.
- Renew every 2 yearsRenew with the same fees and proof of uninterrupted CCSS insurance. After 3 consecutive years of temporary residence you can apply for permanent residence.
Spouses and children
Your spouse, children under 25 and children of any age with a disability can be included as dependants. A spouse shows an apostilled or legalized marriage certificate.
Immigration Regulation. Checked Oct 8, 2026.
Other ways to live in Costa Rica
Temporary residence, Rentista
For a stable monthly income of at least $2,500, certified by a bank to continue for at least 2 years. Since 2023 a bank deposit paid back to you in monthly instalments does not count as income. Spouse and children under 25 can be included; renewed every 2 years.
Migration Law 8764; Immigration Regulation; Decree 43926. Checked Oct 8, 2026.
Temporary residence, Inversionista
For an investment in Costa Rica of at least $150,000 in property, registrable assets, shares, securities, productive projects, venture capital funds or sustainable tourism projects. Granted for 2 years and renewed while you keep the investment; investors and their dependants may not do paid work.
Decree 43926; Law 9996. Checked Oct 8, 2026.
Remote worker stay (estancia)
A non-resident stay for people paid from abroad for remote work, with income of at least $3,000 a month over the last year ($4,000 with family) and a health policy for the whole stay. It lasts 1 year, extendable once by 1 year if you spent at least 180 days in Costa Rica.
Remote Workers Law 10008. Checked Oct 8, 2026.
Permanent residence
After 3 consecutive years of temporary residence, you, your spouse and your first-degree relatives can apply for permanent residence. It also requires uninterrupted CCSS insurance, and it can be cancelled after more than 4 years away in a row.
Migration Law 8764; Immigration Regulation. Checked Oct 8, 2026.
Pensionado visa questions
What is the income requirement for the Costa Rica pensionado visa?
A lifelong, permanent and stable pension of at least $1,000 a month, certified by the authority that pays it. The same pension covers your spouse and children under 25.
Is there an age requirement for the Costa Rica retirement visa?
No. The law sets no minimum age for the Pensionado: what counts is a lifelong pension of at least $1,000 a month.
What are the alternatives to the pensionado visa in Costa Rica?
The Rentista needs a bank-certified income of $2,500 a month for at least 2 years, and the Investor route an investment of at least $150,000. Remote workers paid from abroad can use the digital nomad stay with $3,000 a month.
Pensionado vs inversionista in Costa Rica: which is easier?
The Pensionado only needs a $1,000 lifelong monthly pension. The Inversionista needs at least $150,000 invested in Costa Rica and does not allow paid work. Both are temporary residence renewed every 2 years.
