Costa Rica · Passive income
Passive-Income Residency (Rentista)
USD 2,500 a month for at least two years under Decreto 37112 art. 99 l), shown by a document from a bank in Costa Rica or in the country where the income originates, or, failing that, by a certificate from a Costa Rica-accredited CPA. The familiar USD 60,000 lump sum is market arithmetic (2,500 × 24), and since 23 February 2023 Decreto 37112 art. 2 excludes a bank deposit paid back in monthly instalments from counting as income.
For years the classic structure was a USD 60,000 deposit with a Costa Rican bank, drawn down at USD 2,500 a month. Reglamento 43926 art. 30 ended it in February 2023: a deposit paid back in monthly instalments is not income. The route now suits people with a real, stable income from assets, documented by a bank or a CPA.
Qualifying routes
Per month, for at least two years, shown by a bank document (a Costa Rican bank or one in the income's country of origin) or, failing that, a Costa Rica-accredited CPA certificate.
The facts
- Minimum
- $2.5k
- Total landed cost
- Roughly USD 4–10k in legal and government fees, plus CCSS contributions. No lump-sum deposit is required: the requirement is documented income.
- Route type
- Income requirement
- Timeline
- 8–24 months (DGME backlogs.)
- Physical presence
- There is no annual minimum. The absence limits under art. 214 still apply.
- Family
- SpouseChildren under 25Disabled adult children
- Permanent residency
- 3 consecutive years.
- Citizenship
- 7 years, or 5 years for Ibero-Americans and Spaniards by birth.
- Language test
- A Spanish exam, plus a test on history and values.
- Dual citizenship
- Permitted
- Requirements
- a bank document, or failing that a Costa Rica-accredited CPA certificate, showing at least USD 2,500 a month for at least two yearsclean criminal record, apostilledCCSS affiliationrenewal every two years
- Reglamento 43926 art. 30 added to Decreto 37112 art. 2 a definition of income (renta) that excludes a bank deposit paid back in monthly instalments. The deposit-and-drawdown structure therefore does not meet art. 99. Build the application on a real income stream.
- The USD 60,000 figure appears in no regulation. It is 2,500 × 24, and art. 2 now rules out the deposit structure it came from.
- The income must be guaranteed and unearned. Salary and consulting fees do not count.
- Affiliation with the CCSS is mandatory, and contributions are assessed on income.
- DGME backlogs commonly run past a year.