About Costa Rica

Whether you’re looking to visit, live or work in Costa Rica—we can support your immigration needs at every stage of your journey.

​​If you’re a foreign national looking to visit, live and/or work in Costa Rica, several options are available.

• Business Visits: As a business visitor and depending on your citizenship, you'll generally enter Costa Rica without a visa, or you'll need to secure a Consular or Restricted Entry Visa from a Costa Rican consular post before your travel. Depending on your nationality, you can stay for up to 30, 90, or 180 days, provided you are not receiving remuneration locally. If you are being paid for your activities in Costa Rica, you may require work authorization; be sure to consult an immigration professional.
• Work Authorization: One of the main work authorization categories is the Short-Stay Visa, suitable for short-term remunerated work; it permits work authorization initially from six months to one year. Another standard option is the Temporary Residence permit, typically granted for two years.
• Internships/Traineeships: ​There is no trainee-specific work authorization category in Costa Rica.​​​
• Self-sponsored: If you're seeking to reside in Costa Rica on your own, you have various options to obtain Temporary Residence (and subsequently permanent residence, after three continuous years of residence). These include (1) Rentist​ status, subject to a minimum monthly income amount; (2) Investor status, subject to a minimum investment amount; and (3) Retiree status, subject to a minimum monthly income for life.​

Costa Rica also offers the Short-Term Visa for Remote Workers or Service Providers, which allows you to reside and work remotely from Costa Rica if you are employed outside Costa Rica or provide services to persons or entities outside Costa Rica. The Short-Term Visa is valid for up to one year (renewable for one additional year) without local employer sponsorship.

Fragomen can also consult on citizenship matters and, as permitted within the confines of local law, may be able to offer citizenship assistance.