Costa Rica · Retirement visa
Costa Rica retirement visa for US citizens
Short answer
The main route is the Temporary residence for retirees (Residencia temporal, Pensionado). Retirees with a lifetime pension of at least $1,000 a month and a clean criminal record.
- Money needed: A lifetime pension of at least $1,000 a month
- How long it lasts: Up to 2 years, renewable for 2 years at a time
- Leads to: Permanent residence after 3 years in a row; you apply, it isn't automatic
Key facts
- Money needed
- A lifetime pension of at least $1,000 a month
- How long it lasts
- Up to 2 years, renewable for 2 years at a time
- Leads to
- Permanent residence after 3 years in a row; you apply, it isn't automatic
- Apply from
- The immigration office, online or in person; from inside Costa Rica it's a change of category
- Processing time
- No set time found Not established yet; real waits Not yet verified
Checked against the law Rules read in the immigration law and its regulation.
Still being checked The health-insurance contribution, ID fee and deposit, and the $200 fee for applying in the country.
Pending change A bill from September 2026 would tax residents' foreign interest and dividends at 15%; it isn't law.
What you need
- Pension certificate: from the paying authority, showing at least $1,000 a month for life
- Birth certificate: apostilled
- Criminal record check: from where you've lived in the last 3 years, apostilled
- Passport: notarised copies, including your entry stamp, plus two photos
- Translations: by an official translator or a notary who knows the language
- Fees: $50 to apply, $60 for the ID card, $25 at each grant and renewal, and a deposit; ID document fee Not yet verified
- Public health insurance: you must join the national system (CCSS) and keep paying
Good to know
- Work: only activities the immigration office authorises; don't treat it as a work permit.
- Absences: residence can be cancelled after more than 2 years in a row abroad.
- Tax: the residence permit alone doesn't make you a tax resident, and foreign income isn't taxed. Pending change
Every Costa Rica residency route, compared → The full Costa Rica guide →
Questions people ask
How much income do I need for Costa Rica's retirement visa?
A lifetime pension of at least $1,000 a month
How long does it last?
Up to 2 years, renewable for 2 years at a time
Does it lead to permanent residence or citizenship?
Permanent residence after 3 years in a row; you apply, it isn't automatic
Where do I apply?
The immigration office, online or in person; from inside Costa Rica it's a change of category
How long does processing take?
No set time found (Not established yet); real waits (Not yet verified)