Countries › Costa Rica › Guide › 8. Immigration › Family members of foreign residents in Costa Rica: spouses, children under 25 and permission to work

Family members of foreign residents in Costa Rica: spouses, children under 25 and permission to work

Last verified: 2026-10-29 · Status: Stable

Most residence routes let the principal include a spouse and children who are minors, under 25 and dependent (for rentistas, pensioners and investors) or of any age with a disability. Each dependant files the core documents and the US$50 fee, and may only work or study with DGME authorisation. Spouses of Costa Ricans have their own temporary residence route and first degree relatives of Costa Ricans can go straight to permanent residence.

Colón figures use the Banco Central de Costa Rica reference selling rate of ₡454.82 per US dollar published for 29 October 2026 (indicator 318 on bccr.fi.cr), which is also the rate Ley 8764 tells payers to use for fees set in dollars. Fines set in salarios base use the 2026 salario base of ₡462,200 (Circular 246-2025 of the Consejo Superior del Poder Judicial, under Ley 7337 art. 2).

Key facts

Maximum age of non disabled children included as dependants (rentista, investor)	25 yearsLey 8764 art. 82; Decreto 43926 art. 6, as of 2023-02-23 · in force

The rule

1. Dependants of temporary residents may study or work with prior DGME authorisation and must pay the corresponding migration payment.Ley 8764, art. 80, 2009-08-19 official text · verified 2026-10-29

2. The rentista amount covers the spouse and children under 25 or with disabilities.Ley 8764, art. 82, 2009-08-19 official text · verified 2026-10-29

3. Investor dependants (spouse, minor children, children with a disability, or single children under 25 economically dependent and studying) file the core documents; children under 25 add a sworn statement of single status and proof of studies and dependence.Decreto Ejecutivo 43926-MGP-H-TUR, art. 6, 2023-02-14 official text · verified 2026-10-29

4. Executive and rentista dependants prove the link by an apostilled marriage certificate or birth certificate, and for adult children with a disability a medical report.Decreto Ejecutivo 37112-G, art. 83(k) and art. 99(k), 2012-03-21 official text · verified 2026-10-29

5. Digital nomads may include a spouse or partner, children under 25 or with a disability and older adults living with them, each paying a separate visa amount.Ley 10008, art. 11, 2021-08-11 official text · verified 2026-10-29

6. The spouse of a Costa Rican citizen is a temporary residence subcategory; parents, minor or disabled children and minor or disabled siblings of a Costa Rican may apply directly for permanent residence.Ley 8764, art. 78(2) and art. 79(1), 2009-08-19 official text · verified 2026-10-29

7. Residence granted on a marriage with a Costa Rican entered into only to obtain migration benefits is cancelled.Ley 8764, art. 129(11), 2009-08-19 official text · verified 2026-10-29

8. Every first application for temporary or permanent residence must carry proof of payment of US$50 to the State; without it the application is not processed.
Cost to do it: US$50 (₡22,741)
Example: ₡22,741 / US$50Ley 8764, art. 255, 2009-08-19 official text · verified 2026-10-29

Worked example

An investor family of four (two parents, children aged 12 and 20) files four first applications: 4 x US$50 = US$200 (₡90,964); the 20 year old adds proof of studies and dependence.

Step by step

List each family member and the category that covers them.
Obtain apostilled marriage and birth certificates and translations.
File dependants together with the principal so the files are linked.
Ask DGME for work authorisation before a dependent spouse takes a job.

Common traps

A child who turns 25 or marries loses dependant status and needs their own category.
Dependants of investors may not take paid work (Decreto 43926 art. 13).
Each family member pays their own card fees and CCSS cover.

Sources

← Digital nomad stay in Costa Rica: US$3,000 a month, US$50,000 health cover and the income tax exemptionCosta Rican immigration fees, guarantee deposits and processing times: what a residence file actually costs →

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