Residencia Temporal Pensionado

The Residencia Temporal Pensionado (Temporary Residency for Pensioners) allows foreign nationals receiving a permanent lifetime pension to reside in Costa Rica. Established under Article 81 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 is open to applicants of any nationality and age who receive a qualifying pension of at least USD 1,000 per month from any government, private, or institutional source.

• Permanent lifetime pension of at least USD 1,000 per month from a government entity, private pension plan, social security system, annuity, or similar guaranteed source
• Official certification from the competent authority confirming the pension is active, permanent, and for life (issued within the last 6 months)
• Mandatory affiliation to the Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social (CCSS) upon approval
• Physical presence of at least 4 months per year in Costa Rica (continuous or discontinuous)
• No educational, professional, or age qualifications required
• Fixed-term bank deposits created to simulate a pension do not qualify

• Signed letter requesting legal permanence (carta de solicitud) with full name, nationality, profession, passport number, date of entry, and civil status
• Valid passport (copy notarised by a Costa Rican notary)
• Birth certificate (apostilled or legalised, translated into Spanish)
• Criminal background certificate from country of origin or residence for the past 3 years (issued within 6 months, apostilled, translated into Spanish)
• Official pension certification confirming the pension is permanent, for life, and at least USD 1,000/month (issued within 6 months, apostilled, translated into Spanish)
• Passport-size photographs
• Proof of payment of application fee (USD 50)

The permit is issued for 2 years and renewable for additional 2-year periods. At renewal, applicants must demonstrate that pension income has been received and exchanged in Costa Rica, maintain physical presence of at least 4 months per year, and have current CCSS affiliation. After 3 continuous years of temporary residency, the holder may apply for permanent residence, which removes work restrictions.

Spouse and children under 25 (or older with a disability or financial dependence) may be included as dependants. The USD 1,000 monthly pension covers the applicant and all dependants without an additional income requirement. Each dependant must submit their own apostilled documents including birth or marriage certificate and criminal background check.

Costa Rica operates a territorial tax system where only locally sourced income is taxed. Pension income received from abroad is not taxed. Under Law 9996 (for applications filed before July 2026), pensionados benefit from income tax exemption on declared pension income, one-time duty-free import of household goods, duty-free import of up to two vehicles, a 20% reduction on real estate transfer tax, and duty-free import of professional instruments. These benefits last for 10 years from the date of approval. CCSS social security contributions are mandatory and calculated based on declared pension income.

Pensionado residents may not work as employees in Costa Rica. However, they may own businesses, receive dividends, and manage companies, provided they do not personally perform paid labour.

Applications are submitted to the DGME at their offices in La Uruca, San Jose, or through a Costa Rican consulate abroad. The application fee is USD 50, with an additional USD 200 if applying from within Costa Rica as a change of status. Processing takes approximately 6 to 12 months. Upon approval, applicants receive temporary residency status and must obtain a DIMEX card (the resident identification document) and affiliate with the CCSS. Law 9996 established a specialized service window within the DGME to streamline processing for pensionado applications.

As of 1 May 2026, the USD 1,000 minimum monthly pension threshold remains in force unchanged. During April-May 2026, expat-oriented commentary discussed a possible government proposal to raise the Pensionado minimum income -- reportedly with no grandfathering for existing pensionados -- but no such reform has been published in La Gaceta, no executive decree amending the relevant articles of the Reglamento de Extranjeria has been issued by the DGME, and no corresponding bill has been enacted by the Asamblea Legislativa. The most recent DGME publication in La Gaceta (Alcance N 148, 17 November 2025) deals only with consular entry-visa categories and does not affect Pensionado thresholds.

The enrolment window for the 10-year tax incentive lock-in under Law 9996 expires in July 2026 -- applicants approved before that date retain the benefits for 10 years from the date granted.