The Residencia Temporal Inversionista (Temporary Residence for Investors) is Costa Rica's investor residency program, allowing foreign nationals who make a qualifying capital investment to obtain temporary residence. Established under Article 79(4) of the General Migration Law (Ley 8764) and enhanced by Law 9996 (2021), the program is administered by the Direccion General de Migracion y Extranjeria (DGME). It targets foreign nationals seeking to invest in Costa Rica through real estate, securities, productive projects, reforestation, venture capital funds, or sustainable tourism infrastructure.
The reduced USD 150,000 investment threshold and the associated tax incentives come from Law 9996, which created a time-limited regime rather than a permanent change. Under Article 12 of Law 9996, these benefits are available only to applicants who file during the law's first five years — that is, until 14 July 2026. Applicants approved before that deadline keep the benefits for ten years, but new applicants filing after 14 July 2026 revert to the general Reglamento de Extranjeria baseline of USD 200,000 (Article 87) unless the Legislative Assembly extends the law. As of mid-2026 no extension had been enacted.
The permit is issued for 2 years and renewable for additional 2-year periods. Renewal applications must be submitted between 3 months before and 3 months after DIMEX expiration. The investment must be maintained continuously and proof is required at each renewal. Late renewal incurs a penalty of USD 3.00 per month of delay. After 3 consecutive years of temporary residence, investors may apply for permanent residence.
Spouse, minor children, disabled adult children, and unmarried children under 25 with demonstrated economic dependence may be included as dependants. Each dependant requires separate documentation and additional DGME fees. Dependants receive the same residency status and duration as the principal applicant. Dependant applications are typically filed simultaneously with the principal but may also be filed after the principal's residency is approved.
Costa Rica operates a territorial tax system where only income generated within the country is subject to taxation. Under Law 9996 (for applications filed before July 2026), investors benefit from income tax exemption on declared qualifying income, a 20% exemption on Real Estate Transfer Tax, one-time duty-free importation of household goods, duty-free importation of up to two vehicles for personal use, and duty-free importation of professional instruments. These tax incentive benefits apply for 10 years from the date of residency approval. Annual property tax is 0.25% of the registered municipal value.
Investors and their dependants may not work as employees in Costa Rica. They may only derive income from their investments or establish businesses related to their investment activity.
Applications are filed with the DGME either in person at their offices in San Jose or through an authorized legal representative. The process involves gathering and apostilling all documents, making the qualifying investment, registering with your country's consulate, making required DGME deposits (USD 50 application fee, USD 200 status change fee), submitting the complete application, completing fingerprinting at the Ministry of Public Security, and awaiting DGME analysis. Processing takes approximately 9 to 15 months. Upon approval, applicants must enroll in CCSS before receiving the DIMEX residency card. Applications must be complete and accurate upon initial submission, as rejected applications require full re-submission.