Did you already see the country and found a reason to make of Costa Rica your new home? Costa Rican laws permit foreigners to become residents under the following status:
- Permanent resident
- Temporary resident
- Resident investor
- Resident rentista
- Resident pensionado
Pensionados or retirees enjoy the same individual and social privileges as Costa Ricans, and are equally subject to the nation's authorities and courts. There are just a few rights you are not entitled to as a retiree, such as voting, interfering with the political issues of the country, and working as a paid employee, but may set up your own business, and become a share-holder or legal representative in a company.
Here is a list of the requirements to become a resident pensionado (retired):
- Income Certificate: Proof of permanent fixed pension of at least $600 per month. Retirement income must come from abroad Costa Rica.
- Police Certificate: Documentation from your local area stating good conduct of applicant, spouse and children over 18.
- Birth Certificate.
- Marriage Certificate (if applicable).
- Certified copy of your entire passport (including blank pages).
- Certificate of non-residence.
All documents must be officially translated into Spanish, notarized by a local notary public, and authenticated by the Costa Rican Consul in the country of residence.
You must take into account other requirements that will be essential if you want to keep your pensionado status: retirement income must be exchanged into colones (local currency) at a bank in Costa Rica (always keep bank receipts); you must stay in the country for at least four months each year; your pensionado I. D. card must be renewed every two years, and there is a $100 charge for each renewal.
All documents must be presented to the Costa Rican Tourism Institute (Instituto Costarricense de Turismo - I.C.T.), who will be in charge of processing your application, but final approval rests in the Department of Immigration.
The procedure should not take any longer than six months, although some cases have proven to be more complicated. It is advisable to hire a bilingual attorney who has enough experience dealing with such matters. Avoiding line-ups should be a great relief for you, and lawyers sure know the turn-arounds of bureaucracy here in Costa Rica.
The Association of Residents of Costa Rica, helps foreigners planning to move to Costa Rica by informing members about government laws and procedures for becoming legal residents, and it provides assistance during the process. The Association also advocates for members before the government in legal and human rights matters. You may want to contact them in order to obtain further information.
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