Costa Rica’s Residence by Investment (often called the Inversionista or Investor residency) is a migration program that allows foreign nationals and their families to obtain temporary residency in Costa Rica through qualifying investments. Rather than being a visa just for visitors, this program grants the right to live (and eventually seek permanent residence, then possibly citizenship) in Costa Rica under certain conditions.
This option is for people who have capital they can invest (in property, business, shares, forestry, etc.), wish to have legal long-term status in Costa Rica, and are willing to maintain their investment while meeting other immigration requirements.
Here are the core eligibility rules and requirements for the Costa Rica Investor Residency (Inversionista) program:
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Minimum investment amount |
US$150,000 in most approved forms of investment. For forestry / reforestation projects the threshold can be lower in some cases (often US$100,000). |
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Qualifying investment types |
Real estate; shares or securities of Costa Rican corporations; productive businesses; projects declared of national interest; forestry / reforestation projects. |
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Proof of funds & legal source |
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Criminal background |
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Dependents |
Spouse; children under a certain age (often under 25 for children in education); in some cases, disabled dependents beyond that age.
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Visit requirement |
There is usually a minimum residence/physical presence requirement (for example, you must visit / stay in Costa Rica for at least one day per year to maintain status).
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Other documents |
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If you meet the conditions and get the Investor Residency, these are among the major benefits:
Here are a few illustrative, hypothetical examples to help you imagine how people use this program:
Example 1: Business Investor
A tech entrepreneur from Germany invests USD 150,000 to co-found or buy into a Costa Rican software business. She includes her spouse and two children under age 25 in her application. She obtains temporary investor residency, enrolls in the public health system, and after three years applies for permanent residency. At year 7, she becomes eligible for citizenship (assuming all other conditions met). She uses Costa Rica as her home base but continues business operations globally, benefiting from the territorial tax system so only Costa Rican-sourced profits are taxed locally.
Example 2: Real Estate Investor
A family from Canada purchases a property (home or commercial real estate) in Costa Rica with value over USD 150,000. They make sure it’s properly registered, prove ownership, etc. The parents include their children under 25, and use their investor residency to live in the property part of the year. They maintain the investment, visit Costa Rica annually, and after eligibility period apply for citizenship. Meanwhile, they enjoy import tax exemptions on their household goods, and benefit from favorable import rules on a vehicle if allowed.
Example 3: Forestry / Environmental Investor
An investor from Europe invests approximately USD 100,000 in a sustainable reforestation project that qualifies under Costa Rica’s forestry laws. This meets the threshold for that specific category. They gain investor residency, contribute to environmental goals, and after required years, can seek permanent residence and thereafter citizenship. This path may appeal to those who wish to combine impact/environmental goals with residency.
At the moment, USD 150,000 is the standard minimum investment for the Investor Residency category for most approved types. However, laws can change. For example, Law 9996 (2021) lowered certain thresholds (from USD 200,000 down to USD 150,000) and introduced tax incentives. It is wise to check the most current regulations before applying.
Not always. Under many investment residency temporary permits, holders are not allowed to be employed by another employer until permanent residency is granted. However, they can run or manage their own investment business (depending on the investment type). This depends on specific immigration rules and how “work” is defined.
You must ensure you satisfy the minimum physical presence requirements (for example at least one day per year, or whatever rule applies for your category) to maintain residency. If you fail to meet these obligations, you may lose the status.
Generally after 7 years of legal temporary + permanent residency you can seek citizenship. For citizens of Central America, Ibero-America, or Spain, there may be a shorter period (often 5 years).
Yes. Although Costa Rica uses a territorial tax system (so only local income is taxed), you’ll still need to comply with Costa Rica’s tax filings for your business/investment income inside Costa Rica. Your foreign income is generally not taxed locally, but your home country may have its own rules. Also, you will have to pay health insurance (if enrolling); property-tax or municipal taxes if owning property; import duties (where not exempt), etc.