How long to get residency in Costa Rica?

One question we often get is, how long does it take me to get residency? Many have come to CRIE with pending residency cases stuck in limbo for months or even years.

We are pleased to announce that, recently, residency applications prepared and submitted through CRIE have been processed by Costa Rica immigration much faster than before.

Why is this? Because we take special care to present a complete, thorough residency application on your behalf in a format ideal for Costa Rica immigration authorities to process. We lay it out for them clearly and completely according to their specifications and guidelines.

Once a complete residency application is submitted, we are getting responses from Costa Rica immigration in 90-120 days. Most of these responses are approvals on the first go. Sometimes, however, immigration comes back with questions that need to be answered and items to be submitted, delaying the process. Still, we do our absolute best to avoid these whenever possible.

How Quickly Can I Get Started?

If you already have the required documents from your home country, properly authenticated and legalized or Apostilled (depending on where the documents were issued), we can get a complete residency application prepared and submitted within 2 weeks.

Note that this timeframe includes preparing local requirements, which can involve setting up appointments with local institutions such as fingerprinting and consular offices.

If you have to cancel and reschedule appointments with institutions, it can cause major delays, so take your immigration process seriously and make it the priority that it should be.

Note: since Costa Rica immigration is a government institution serving the public, we have no control over their internal processing of applications.

-Written by Glenn Tellier (Founder of CRIE and Grupo Gap).

[email protected]

Fill out the form below to determine your residency category. Or click here!

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Select all options that apply to you

Pensionado (Pension/Disability) Category

I am entitled to a lifetime retirement or disability pension equivalent to at least $1,000 USD per month

Rentista (Fixed Income) Category

I can make a deposit in a Costa Rica bank of at least $60,000 USD

Inversionista (Investor) Category

I have or am willing to make an investment(s) (real state/business) of at least $150,000 USD in Costa Rica

Family ties with a Costa Rican Resident/Citizen Category

I have a Costa Rican child

I am married to a Costa Rican citizen/resident

I have a Costa Rican parent

I have a Costa Rican sibling

My residency company let me down

I could use your help to continue my process

I am not sure.

I require more assistance to know.

Personal Information

Full Name

Your Email

Repeat to confirm

Country Of Birth

Country of Residence

How many people under your application (spouse, children under 25)

Phone Number with Country Code (optional)

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Patricia Ibe

Posted March 4, 2021 8:05 pm 0Likes

Good evening! I have got a question: My friend (she is from Austria) called the migration office and asked for an appointment, which will be in January next year. There are different information around: Does she have to extend the visa during this time or can she just stay in the country with the confirmation of the migration office? It would be great if you could help us with this issue.

Thank you very much!
Kind regards,
Patricia