The Costa Rica field guide
Moving to Costa Rica: a residency planning checklist
Organize your move around your immigration route, documents, family, budget, and the steps that need to happen before travel.
Read the guideCosta Rica is calling
A new chapter.
A little more
pura vida.
From the first “what if” to a clearer plan. Explore your Costa Rica visa and residency options with a real person by your side.
9°23′ N · 84°08′ WManuel Antonio, Costa Rica
Your next chapter could start here.
Your next chapter could start here.
↓ A clearer path, from here
From the founder of EcuaPass ↗
Personal, founder-led guidance
Information grounded in official sources
A pathway for your plans
Your life, your pathway
There’s more than one way
to call Costa Rica home.
Retiring, working remotely, reuniting with family, or building something new? Start with the option that fits your life.
Residency
Pensionado retirement residency
Make Costa Rica your home with a qualifying lifetime pension of at least US$1,000 a month.
Residency
Rentista residency
A residence option for people who can document stable income of at least US$2,500 a month for at least two years.
Remote work
Digital nomad visa
Work remotely for clients or employers outside Costa Rica with a dedicated one-year stay permission.
Residency
Investor residency
Plan a qualifying investment in Costa Rica around the immigration rules that apply on your filing date.
Family
Residency through marriage
A temporary residence route for the spouse of a Costa Rican citizen, based on a genuine, documented marriage.
Family
Residency through Costa Rican family
Explore residence based on a qualifying family relationship with a Costa Rican citizen.
Big move. Clear next steps.Less guesswork, more room to imagine the life you’re moving toward.
The human side of the move
A real person.
A clearer way forward.
I’m Chip Moreno, founder of EcuaPass. Living in Ecuador shaped the way I think about moving abroad: people need understandable information, honest expectations, and someone who listens.
I’m bringing that same approach to your Costa Rica plans.
- ✓Guidance built around your circumstances
- ✓Plain language and transparent next steps
- ✓Official sources you can check for yourself
A move you can map out
From possibility to a plan.
01
Tell us your story
Where you’re from, what you’re planning, and what matters most for your move.
02
Explore your fit
Understand the pathways, key requirements, and questions specific to your situation.
03
Build your checklist
Get clear on documents, dependencies, and the steps you need to verify.
04
Move with clarity
Agree on any service scope and costs before moving forward with support.
A little clarity goes a long way
Good questions.
Useful answers.
The Costa Rica field guide
Retiring in Costa Rica: Pensionado or Rentista?
Understand the difference between pension evidence and independent income, then prepare the questions that determine your retirement route.
Read the guideThe Costa Rica field guide
Costa Rica digital nomad checklist: income, insurance, and renewal
A practical document plan for remote workers, including foreign income evidence, health coverage, dependents, and the steps after approval.
Read the guideBefore you make the leap
A few things you may be wondering.
Do I need residency to spend time in Costa Rica?
That depends on your nationality, purpose, and length of stay. Visitor entry, the digital nomad stay, and residency are different permissions. Start with the visa directory to understand the distinction.
Which Costa Rica residency route is right for me?
Your income source, family ties, investment plans, and work needs all matter. Our pathway finder helps narrow the conversation; an individual review is still needed to establish eligibility.
Can I work with a Costa Rica residence permit?
Work rights depend on the specific category. Temporary residency does not automatically authorize unrestricted local employment. The digital nomad stay is designed for remote services to people or entities outside Costa Rica.
Can you guarantee approval or a processing date?
No. Costa Rican authorities decide applications and timing. We focus on clear information, realistic planning, and understanding the requirements for your situation.
Let’s make a plan
Your Costa Rica chapter
starts with a conversation.
Tell us what you have in mind. We’ll help you understand the next questions to ask and the pathway to explore.