Australia Shipping - Moving Regulations

Moving Regulations - Costa Rica

All applications for residency in Costa Rica must be filed in country of their origin, directly with the Department of Immigration or through local consul.

The only current exceptions are Immediate Relative Residency Petitions and Rentista and Pensionado (retirement) Residency.

First of all the Department of Immigration favors applicants that can prove their financial benefit and contribute to create employment for Costa Rica citizens either in the form of direct investment or indirect investment. Direct investment refers to entrepreneurs and direct investors, while indirect investment refers to Rentista and Pensionado visas.

You should apply for rentista and pensionado status at the Costa Rican consular office in your area. Such documents are required for these visas:
• A certified copy of your birth certificate and that of your dependents.
• A certified copy of the marriage certificate if you have a spouse who will also be applying.
• If your income is from a bank or other financial institution, it must issue the letter certifying the income. If your income draws from a government pension, you must obtain a letter from your government.
• A certificate of good conduct from the police department where you last resided.
• The Ministry of Public Security in Costa Rica will carry out an Interpol background check. You will be asked to fill out an application form signed by the Department of Immigration and addressed to the Department of Public Security.
• Throughout the process you need to supply many passport-style photos - at least 10 photographs facing the front and five facing the side.

When you have compiled all your documents, it must be translated into Spanish.

The Consulate will send your application to the Department of Immigration, which will only process applications with all the supporting documentation.

To simplify the process of application you have to provide the following information: your full name, nationality, father’s name, mother’s name, spouse’s name (if applicable), occupation, race, color of your eyes and hair, weight (in kilos), height (in meters), marital status, date of birth, birthplace and your address and phone number in Costa Rica.