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Visas and residence in Costa Rica: the three migration categories, who may work and how long each status lasts

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

Ley 8764 sorts foreigners into permanent residents, temporary residents (up to two years, renewable), non residents (tourists and stays such as digital nomads) and special categories (workers, business visitors, students and others). Only permanent residents may work freely; temporary residents and special categories may only do the paid work the Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería (DGME) authorises. Residence holders must keep CCSS social security cover to renew their card.

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 term of each temporary residence grant	2 yearsLey 8764 art. 79, as of 2010-03-01 · in force
DGME deadline to decide a complete residence application	3 monthsDecreto 37112-G art. 27, as of 2012-05-17 · in force
Fee for a first temporary or permanent residence application	50 USDLey 8764 art. 255, as of 2010-03-01 · in force
Fee to change migration category from inside the country	200 USDLey 8764 art. 89, as of 2010-03-01 · in force

The rule

1. Permanent residents receive authorisation to stay for an indefinite time.Ley 8764, art. 77, 2009-08-19 official text · verified 2026-10-29

2. Temporary residence is granted for more than 90 days and up to two years, renewable for the same term, to spouses of Costa Ricans, religious workers, executives, representatives, managers and technical staff of companies established in the country and their families, specialised employees, investors, scientists, professionals, interns and specialised technicians, accredited athletes, press correspondents, rentistas and pensioners.Ley 8764, art. 79, 2009-08-19 official text · verified 2026-10-29

3. Temporary residents may only carry out the paid or profit making activities the DGME authorises, taking into account recommendations of the Ministry of Labour; dependants may study or work with prior authorisation.Ley 8764, art. 80, 2009-08-19 official text · verified 2026-10-29

4. Non residents are tourists, stays (estancia), persons in transit, border transit for up to 48 hours and crews of international transport; non residents may not work, except crews and the stay subcategories for invited persons of special relevance, business agents not paid locally and foreign media staff.Ley 8764, art. 87 and art. 92, 2009-08-19 official text · verified 2026-10-29

5. Special categories include cross border workers, temporary workers, specific occupation workers, business visitors, intracompany transferees, after sales service staff and self employed workers, students, teachers and researchers, refugees, asylees and workers on specific projects; they do not create a right to permanent stay (except asylees and stateless persons).Ley 8764, as amended by Ley 10645, art. 94 and art. 95, 2025-02-24 official text · verified 2026-10-29 · changed: Ley 10645 (in force 17 March 2025) rewrote art. 94(4) to cover students, teachers, interns, researchers and volunteers, including short stays.

6. Applications by temporary residents are filed through Costa Rican consuls abroad or at DGME offices in Costa Rica; once the file is complete DGME must decide within three months, and an incomplete file must be completed within 10 business days or it is archived.Ley 8764 art. 84; Decreto Ejecutivo 37112-G, art. 84 (law); art. 27 and 28 (regulation), 2012-03-21 official text · verified 2026-10-29

7. Residents (temporary and permanent) must prove uninterrupted CCSS insurance from the grant of residence to renew their cédula de extranjería.Ley 8764, art. 78 and art. 80, 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

9. A non resident or special category holder who changes migration category from inside Costa Rica pays US$200.
Cost to do it: US$200 (₡90,964)
Example: ₡90,964 / US$200Ley 8764, art. 89 and art. 96, 2009-08-19 official text · verified 2026-10-29

Route	Category	Key requirement	Work allowed	Term
Executive, manager, technical staff	Temporary residence (art. 79(3))	Salary at least 25% above the legal minimum for the post (art. 83)	Only for the authorised employer	Up to 2 years, renewable
Investor	Temporary residence (art. 79(4))	US$150,000 investment (Decreto 43926 art. 4)	No paid manual or intellectual work (Decreto 43926 art. 13)	2 years, renewable
Rentista	Temporary residence (art. 79(9))	US$2,500 a month for at least two years (art. 82)	Only as authorised by DGME	Up to 2 years, renewable
Pensioner	Temporary residence (art. 79(10))	Lifetime pension of US$1,000 a month (art. 81)	Only as authorised by DGME	Up to 2 years, renewable
Digital nomad	Non resident, stay (art. 88(5))	US$3,000 a month foreign income, US$4,000 with family (Ley 10008 art. 10)	Only remote work for clients abroad (Ley 10008 art. 14)	Up to 1 year plus 1 year
Business visitor, transferee, after sales staff	Special category (art. 94(3))	Company letter, US$200 fee	No local salary or fees for visitors	Double the visa stay (art. 100)
Permanent resident	Permanent (art. 78)	Three years of temporary residence or first degree tie to a Costa Rican	Any work (Decreto 37112-G art. 74)	Indefinite

Main routes for investors and staff (Ley 8764 and regulations)

Worked example

A manager moving from abroad with spouse and one child files three first applications: 3 x US$50 = US$150 (₡68,223) before documents, deposits and card fees.

Step by step

Pick the category that matches the activity: work for a local entity needs residence or a special category, not a tourist entry.
Gather apostilled birth certificate and criminal record certificate (country of origin or of legal residence in the last three years) with official Spanish translations (Decreto 37112-G art. 8, 9 and 11).
File at a consulate abroad or with DGME in Costa Rica within the stay already authorised (Decreto 37112-G art. 26).
Answer any request for missing documents within 10 business days (art. 28).
After approval pay the deposit and card fees, enrol with the CCSS and book biometrics for the DIMEX card.
Diary the card expiry: late renewal costs US$3 a month and non renewal for three months is a ground for cancellation (Ley 8764 art. 254 and 129(10)).

Common traps

Tourist status does not allow paid work in Costa Rica, even remote work for a local client.
Temporary residence does not automatically allow any job: the authorised activity is tied to the category and, for executives, the employer.
Gaps in CCSS cover block renewal of the residence card.
The DGME website returned errors to automated access on 29 October 2026; rely on the statutes and regulations linked here and confirm forms at the counter.

Sources

← Labour claims, inspections and fines in Costa Rica: one year to sue, fines of 1 to 23 salarios base and conciliation under the Reforma Procesal LaboralBusiness visitors and visa free entry to Costa Rica: the four visa groups, the 180 day limit and when a visitor needs a permit →

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