Country Overview
Economic Overview
Currency: CRC — ~474 per USD (Feb 2026) Inflation: −2.53% current CPI (January 2026, historic monthly drop) · ~3.8% 5yr avg
Property & Ownership
Freehold ownership: No Mechanism: unavailable Restricted zones: unavailable Recent changes: unavailable
Visa & Residency Options
Pensionado (Temporary Residence)
- Min income: 1,000/month USD
- PR path: Yes – after 3 consecutive years of temporary residency
- Requires standard DGME documentation and proof of pension; permanent residency grants full work rights
Rentista (Temporary Residence)
- Min income: 2,500 per month for 24 months or $60,000 deposit/month USD
- PR path: Yes – after 3 consecutive years of temporary residency
- Same documentation and apostille/translation requirements as Pensionado
Inversionista (Temporary Residence)
- Investment: 150,000
- PR path: Yes – after 3 consecutive years of temporary residency
- Thresholds were reduced by recent reforms; confirm current minimum with DGME
Subcategoría de Estancia – Trabajador Remoto/Prestador de Servicios (Digital Nomad)
- Min income: 3,000 (individual) / 4,000 (with dependents)/month USD
- PR path: No direct path; permanent residency possible via other categories after 3 years
- Tax‑exempt on foreign‑source income; must hold medical insurance (USD 50,000 coverage) and pay a $100 government fee
Tourist stay (nonresident)
- PR path: No
- Requires valid passport, onward/return ticket; yellow‑fever vaccine if arriving from certain countries
Social Security & Tax
SSA benefits portable: Qualified Totalization agreement: None — SSA agreements overview US expat taxes: Greenback Tax Services — Costa Rica guide