Costa Rica Immigration Experts
Retire in Costa Rica with a US$1,000 a month pension.
Or qualify with US$2,500 a month in steady income, or by buying your own home for US$150,000. CRIE guides you through every step.
Costa Rica residency, by the numbers
Moving to Costa Rica costs less than you think.
All amounts in US dollars
Where to live
The beach is for vacations. The Central Valley is for living.
Beach videos won’t tell you this: almost everything you need as a new resident is in the Central Valley. That’s why so many people who move to Costa Rica settle here, and it’s where CRIE has helped clients since the early 2000s.
Your paperwork, close by
The immigration office, the National Registry, the banks and the embassies are all in the Central Valley.
Top hospitals, minutes away
The country’s main private hospitals and specialists are here, not hours down the road.
Spring weather all year
Warm days, cool nights and far less humidity than the coast.
Everything you need
Malls, supermarkets, restaurants, schools and services, open all year.
The airport next door
The main international airport is in the valley, so trips home and family visits are easy.
The beach as a day trip
Drive to the coast whenever you like, then come home to the cool.
Planning your move? WhatsApp Johanna, our immigration expert
Find your path
Which residency option fits your life?
Your income, family connections, and plans help determine the right starting point. Explore the options below, or ask us to help you compare.
Pensionado
Have a lifetime pension of at least US$1,000 a month? You can apply to retire in Costa Rica, including with a qualifying disability pension.Explore Pensionado residency →
Rentista
For applicants with stable income of at least US$2,500 a month for two years.Explore Rentista residency →
Investor
Buy a home in Costa Rica for US$150,000 or more and you could qualify for Investor residency. Other investments can qualify too.Explore investor residency →
Family residency
Understand the pathways through a qualifying Costa Rican spouse, parent, or child.Spouse residency →Parents of Costa Rican children →Children of Costa Rican citizens →
Renewals & support
Already a resident? Get help with renewals, status questions, and your next steps.Get renewal guidance →
Documents & preparation
Get your document requirements, apostilles, and translations organized before filing.Explore document services →
Why the Central Valley
Why most of our clients choose the Central Valley
- Spring-like weather all year. Cooler mountains or warmer valley towns: pick your microclimate, without the heat and humidity of the coast.
- The best healthcare in the country. The largest public hospitals and the top private hospitals and specialists are here.
- Everything you need. Malls, restaurants, banks and services, with the international airport close by.
- Your residency, close to home. The immigration offices and the government offices you will visit are here.
- Local life, not tourist life, and any beach is a weekend trip away.
Thinking about where to live? Talk to our immigration expert, Johanna, on WhatsApp +506 8373 2085.
A clear process
From your first question to your next step.
Tell us your plans
Share your goals, income, family situation, and timing so we can help identify a suitable path.
Build a clear checklist
Understand which documents you need, how to prepare them, and which timing issues to watch.
Proceed with support
Receive guidance on filing, follow-ups, and the steps that come after approval.
People you can talk to
The person behind CRIE.
Johanna started out working alongside a Costa Rican immigration lawyer in the early 2000s — and one of the first files she handled was Glenn Tellier’s own residency application. The lawyer asked her to join his practice, and she spent years guiding applicants through it.
When he retired, Johanna and Glenn founded CRIE in 2008. She has led it ever since. If you become a CRIE client, she is the person setting the strategy on your file — which category fits you, what your documents need to look like, and in what order.
Is CRIE right for you?
You’ll enjoy working with us if…
You want it done right the first time
You would rather have one team prepare a complete application, with the apostilles, translations and appointments handled, than fix problems later.
You value experience
Johanna and our team have been helping people make Costa Rica their home for over 20 years, and you want that experience on your side.
You want a relationship, not a transaction
Renewals, family members joining you, a change of category later on: you want someone who still knows your file years from now.
Sound like you? Talk to our immigration expert, Johanna, on WhatsApp +506 8373 2085 or at info@crie.cr.
Start with the essentials
Helpful guides, before you make the move.
Residency requirements
Get familiar with the documents and preparation involved.View the requirements →
Common questions
Find answers to the questions prospective residents ask most often.Browse the FAQs →
Life in Costa Rica
Explore practical reading for your move and life as a resident.Explore our guides →
Let’s talk about your plans.
You do not need to have everything figured out. Tell us where you are in the process, and we will help you find a starting point.
Ask about your residency options
Tell us a little about your situation, or talk to us now, we value your call: WhatsApp +506 8373 2085, call (USA) or (Canada), or email info@crie.cr.
Informational only and not legal advice.