🔄 Last verified June 2026 🌎 Territorial tax — $0 on foreign income

Costa Rica Rentista Visa: Complete 2026 Guide

Q: How much income do you need for the Costa Rica Rentista visa in 2026?

The Rentista visa requires US$2,500 per month of stable income, guaranteed for at least two years. The income must come from a permanent passive source — investment dividends, annuities, trust distributions, or rental income — and be certified by a letter from a Costa Rican bank. Salary, freelance or consulting fees, and ordinary savings withdrawals do not qualify. If you cannot show $2,500/month of passive income, the common alternative is to deposit US$60,000 in a regulated Costa Rican bank, which then issues a letter committing to release $2,500 per month over the 24-month period. The $2,500 figure covers the whole family unit, not each person.

Q: How does the $60,000 deposit work, and do I lose the money?

No — the $60,000 stays your money. It is an income guarantee, not a fee paid to the government. You deposit US$60,000 into an account at a regulated Costa Rican bank, and the bank issues an official letter (the financial certification) committing to make US$2,500 per month available to you for the 24 months of the residency period ($60,000 ÷ 24 = $2,500). You draw the funds down over those two years to live on. Because opening the account and structuring the certificate requires a Costa Rican bank relationship — which itself usually needs your DIMEX or a non-resident account first — most applicants use a local bank, attorney, or facilitator to set this up correctly.

Q: Can I include my spouse and children on the Rentista visa?

Yes. The $2,500/month (or the $60,000 deposit) is a family-unit amount, not a per-person figure. You can include your spouse and dependent children under 25 (or disabled children of any age), and in some cases dependent parents, under the primary applicant's category. The income is not multiplied for a couple or family — a single $2,500/month proof covers the household. Each dependent must still provide their own documents (passport, birth/marriage certificate, criminal background check where required) and biometrics. For larger families, the DGME may ask for additional evidence of financial capacity.

Q: Can I work in Costa Rica on a Rentista visa?

Not as an employee of a Costa Rican company — the Rentista visa prohibits local salaried employment. However, you may legally own and operate your own business in Costa Rica, receive dividends from it, invest, and work remotely for employers or clients located outside Costa Rica. If your main income is remote work for foreign clients and you want a visa designed around that, Costa Rica's Digital Nomad visa (Estancia) is the better-matched route. Income earned from work performed inside Costa Rica would also be subject to Costa Rican tax under the territorial system.

Q: Rentista vs Pensionado: which Costa Rica visa is right for me?

Choose Pensionado if you have a lifetime pension: it requires only US$1,000/month from a government or private pension (US Social Security qualifies), with no minimum age. Choose Rentista if you do not have a qualifying lifetime pension but have passive income or capital: it requires US$2,500/month of guaranteed passive income for two years, or a US$60,000 bank deposit. Both visas carry the same work restrictions (no local employment), the same mandatory CAJA enrollment, two-year renewable validity, and the same path to permanent residency after three years. Rentista is popular with early retirees, investors, and entrepreneurs; Pensionado with traditional retirees.

Q: Does the Rentista income have to come from outside Costa Rica?

In practice, yes — the qualifying income is foreign passive income (dividends, annuities, trusts, foreign rental income) or the $60,000 deposit converted into a bank guarantee. Costa Rican salary does not qualify, and income earned from work performed in Costa Rica would be taxable locally. At renewal, however, you must prove the required income was actually received in Costa Rica during the period — for example, transferred into a Costa Rican account — so the source can be foreign but the receipt should be demonstrable in-country.

Q: How do I renew the Rentista visa, and how long must I stay in Costa Rica?

The Rentista residency is valid for two years and is renewable for further two-year periods. To renew you must show that the required income (or a fresh $60,000 deposit) is still in place, that the income was received in Costa Rica, that you are in good standing with CAJA, and that you physically resided in Costa Rica for at least four months per year — the days can be non-consecutive. Temporary residents must also enter the country at least once each year. This makes Rentista relatively flexible: you can spend up to roughly eight months a year abroad and still keep your residency.

Q: How long until permanent residency or citizenship in Costa Rica?

You can apply for permanent residency after three years of holding temporary Rentista residency. Once you are a permanent resident, the income requirement and the work restriction fall away — you may take local employment. Costa Rican citizenship by naturalization is available after seven years of legal residency for most nationalities, including US and UK citizens (it is five years for nationals of Spain and other Ibero-American countries by birth), and requires Spanish-language ability plus knowledge of Costa Rican history and culture. Costa Rica generally permits dual citizenship.

Q: Do I have to pay Costa Rican tax on my foreign income as a Rentista?

No. Costa Rica uses a territorial tax system: only income earned inside Costa Rica is taxed. Foreign-source income — pensions, Social Security, dividends, interest, and remote work for non-Costa Rican employers — is not subject to Costa Rican income tax, and the benefit is automatic, with no special regime to apply for. You will, however, pay mandatory CAJA (social security) contributions of roughly 9–10% of your declared income once your DIMEX card is issued. Note that US citizens still file a US return on worldwide income (using the FEIE or Foreign Tax Credit), and UK movers should review their UK tax residence position before leaving.

The Rentista (officially persona de renta, “person of independent means”) is Costa Rica’s residency route for people with passive income or capital but no lifetime pension. You qualify with $2,500/month of guaranteed passive income — or, more commonly, by depositing $60,000 in a Costa Rican bank that then guarantees that monthly amount. There is no consulate visa: you enter as a tourist and apply in-country at the DGME. This guide covers both routes, the family-unit rules, the full application, CAJA healthcare, Costa Rica’s territorial tax system, costs, and the fast 3-year path to permanent residency.

$2,500/mo Min Income (passive)

$60,000 or Bank Deposit

6–18 mo Processing Time

2 years Validity (renewable)

📋 Get My Rentista Checklist PDF 🔍 Check Your Income Eligibility

1. Who Qualifies 2. How to Apply 3. Documents 4. Costs & Fees 5. Taxes & CAJA 6. After Arrival & Residency 7. FAQ

Who Qualifies for the Costa Rica Rentista Visa?

The Rentista visa is for anyone who can show stable, guaranteed financial means but does not receive a lifetime pension (that is the Pensionado route). It is the flexible choice for early retirees, investors, the self-employed, and remote professionals with savings or passive income. The legal category is residente temporal — persona de renta, administered by the Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería (DGME).

💵 Two ways to qualify — pick one

Route A — Income: Prove $2,500/month of guaranteed passive income for at least two years, certified by a letter from a Costa Rican bank.

Route B — Deposit (most common): Deposit $60,000 in a regulated Costa Rican bank; it issues a letter committing to release $2,500/month over the 24-month period ($60,000 ÷ 24 = $2,500). The money stays yours — you live on it.

Condition	Requirement (2026)	Notes
Income route	$2,500/mo guaranteed for 2 years	From a permanent passive source: investment dividends, annuities, trust distributions, or rental income. Certified by a Costa Rican bank letter.
Deposit route	$60,000 in a regulated CR bank	The common alternative. The bank issues a letter committing $2,500/mo for 24 months. Capital you keep — not a fee.
Family unit	$2,500 covers the whole household	Spouse, children under 25 (or disabled), and dependent parents included under the primary applicant. Income is not multiplied per person; large families may be asked for more.
Income source	Passive — not salary or fees	Salary, freelance/consulting income, and ordinary savings withdrawals do not qualify. Remote workers should look at the Digital Nomad visa instead.
Criminal record	Clean check, apostilled	FBI Identity History Summary (US) or ACRO Police Certificate (UK), apostilled and issued within the last 6 months.
Health cover (CAJA)	Mandatory after DIMEX	Enroll in CAJA once your residency card is issued; contribution ~9–10% of declared income. Keep private insurance during the approval wait.
Validity	2 years, renewable	Renew on proof income was received in CR, ≥4 months/yr in country, and CAJA in good standing.
Path to PR	Permanent residency after 3 years	Then citizenship after 7 years of legal residency (5 for Ibero-American/Spanish nationals).

⚠️ Rentista income is strictly passive — and the deposit is not a “fee”

Two points trip people up. First, the income route must be a permanent passive source — a salary, consulting fees, or simply drawing down a savings account does not qualify. Second, the $60,000 deposit route is the structured way around that: the money remains yours, parked in a regulated Costa Rican bank that certifies a $2,500/month release. Confusing the two is the most common Rentista misunderstanding.

Rentista vs Pensionado: Which Route Fits You?

Costa Rica’s two income-based residencies look similar but suit different people. The deciding question is simple: do you have a qualifying lifetime pension?

	Rentista	Pensionado
Income requirement	$2,500/mo passive (or $60k deposit)	$1,000/mo lifetime pension
Qualifying source	Dividends, annuity, trust, rental	Government or private pension (US Social Security qualifies)
Proof duration	Guaranteed 2 years	Lifetime
Deposit alternative	✅ $60,000 option	None
Local employment	❌ Not allowed (own business OK)	❌ Not allowed (own business OK)
CAJA + validity + PR	Mandatory · 2 yrs · PR at 3 yrs	Mandatory · 2 yrs · PR at 3 yrs
Best for	Early retirees, investors, the self-employed	Retirees with a lifetime pension

💡 Have a $1,000/mo lifetime pension? The Pensionado visa is cheaper and simpler — see the full breakdown in our moving to Costa Rica from the US guide, which covers Pensionado, Rentista, and the Digital Nomad visa side by side.

How to Apply for the Rentista Visa: 7-Step Process

Costa Rica is unusual: there is no consulate visa to obtain before you fly. You enter as a tourist and file the whole application in-country at the DGME. The steps below assume the in-country route used by US, UK, Canadian, and EU citizens.

1
Confirm your qualifying route
Before spending on apostilles and translations, decide how you will qualify:
- Income route: $2,500/mo of guaranteed passive income for 2 years
- Deposit route: $60,000 in a regulated Costa Rican bank
- Confirm your income is passive (dividends, annuity, trust, rental) — not salary or fees
- Remember the $2,500 covers your whole family unit

Order your criminal background check — start this first

It must be apostilled and issued within the last 6 months when you file, but it has the longest lead time, so begin early and time it to the end of your document gathering.

Your country	Certificate needed	Lead time (incl. apostille)
United States	FBI Identity History Summary + apostille	Allow 60–90 days
United Kingdom	ACRO Police Certificate + apostille (FCDO)	Allow ~42 days

Set your target move month to track deadlines:

3
Gather and apostille your civil & financial documents
Pull together your birth certificate (and marriage certificate if including a spouse), each apostilled. Documents not in Spanish must be translated by an official translator (traductor oficial).
- Income route: arrange the Costa Rican bank letter certifying $2,500/mo for 2 years
- Deposit route: make the $60,000 deposit and obtain the bank’s financial certification
⚠️ The bank chicken-and-egg
Both routes need a Costa Rican bank letter, but opening a full bank account generally needs your DIMEX — which you do not have yet. Most applicants open a limited non-resident account (e.g. at BAC Credomatic) or work through an attorney/facilitator to structure the certification correctly.
4

Enter Costa Rica as a tourist
US, UK, Canadian, and most EU citizens enter visa-free for up to 90 days. There is no residency visa to collect abroad — you file the application from inside the country, so plan your arrival to leave time for registration and fingerprinting.
5

File your application at the DGME
Submit your residency file to the DGME with your apostilled documents, financial certification, completed application form, and fees ($50 filing + $200 change of status). Complete your consular registration and Ministry of Public Security fingerprinting.

You receive a filing receipt (hoja de trámite) that legalizes your stay while the application is processed — you do not have to leave every 90 days once it is filed.
6

Wait for approval — and keep private insurance
Processing typically takes 6–18 months. You cannot access CAJA until your DIMEX is issued, so hold private health insurance throughout the wait. Respond promptly to any DGME prevención (request for extra documents) to avoid restarting the queue.
7

Get your DIMEX and enroll in CAJA
On approval, book a DIMEX appointment at a Banco de Costa Rica (BCR) branch — since March 2026, BCR issues the physical DIMEX card the same day, ending the old 3–6 month card wait. Then enroll in CAJA (mandatory) and upgrade to a full resident bank account with SINPE access.

✅ What your DIMEX unlocks
A full Costa Rican bank account, SINPE Móvil payments, CAJA healthcare, a local driving licence exchange, and the clock starting toward permanent residency at year three.

Documents Required for the Rentista Visa

The DGME rejects incomplete files, and a missing apostille can cost months. The criminal background check and the bank financial certification have the longest lead times — start both early. Tick off each item as you confirm it; your progress saves in this browser.

0 of 9 confirmed

Personal Documents

Valid Passport Valid well beyond your intended stay. Bring the original plus photocopies of the photo page.

Passport Photos Recent passport-size photos for each applicant, per current DGME specification.

Birth Certificate (apostilled) Apostilled and, if not in Spanish, officially translated. Required for each applicant.

Criminal Background Check (apostilled) Start first — 60–90 days (US) / ~42 days (UK) FBI Identity History Summary (US) or ACRO Police Certificate (UK), apostilled, issued within the last 6 months.

Financial Proof (choose your route)

Income Route: Bank Letter ($2,500/mo) A letter from a Costa Rican bank certifying guaranteed passive income of $2,500/month for 2 years, backed by your foreign income evidence.

Deposit Route: $60,000 Bank Certification Most common Certificate from a regulated Costa Rican bank confirming the $60,000 deposit and its $2,500/mo release over 24 months. (Alternative to the income letter.)

Marriage Certificate (if including a spouse) Apostilled and translated. Needed to add your spouse as a dependent under your family-unit application.

Costa-Rica-Specific Requirements

Private Health Insurance (bridge cover) Cover for the 6–18 month wait before CAJA access. CAJA enrollment becomes mandatory once your DIMEX is issued.

Application Form + Consular Registration + Fees Completed DGME application, embassy/consular registration, Ministry of Public Security fingerprinting, and the $50 filing + $200 change-of-status fees.

📋 Get Full Rentista Checklist PDF Free tool — generates a personalised, downloadable Rentista document checklist

⚠️ Apostille and translate before you fly

Every foreign civil document (birth, marriage, criminal record) needs an apostille from the issuing country and, where not in Spanish, an official translation in Costa Rica. Budget 1–2 weeks and ~$30–80 per document, and check each apostille is still within its validity window when you file — an expired or missing apostille is the most common cause of a DGME prevención.

Total Cost Breakdown

Government fees for the Rentista visa are modest. The real money is the income proof itself — the $60,000 deposit (which you keep and live on) or the documented passive income — plus document preparation and the private insurance you carry until CAJA starts.

Item	Cost	Notes
Government Fees
DGME application filing fee	$50	Paid on submission. Same fee for each family member included.
Change of status (cambio de categoría)	$200	Applies when you apply from tourist status — the normal in-country route.
DIMEX card issuance	~$120–150 / person	Government issuance + special migration fund + BCR service. Issued same-day at BCR since March 2026.
Consular registration	~$30	Registration with your embassy plus Ministry of Public Security fingerprinting in Costa Rica.
Document Preparation
Criminal background check + apostille	$18–55 + apostille	FBI (US) or ACRO (UK), plus apostille ~$40–80 (US) / ~£40–75 (UK FCDO).
Apostilles + official translations	$30–80 per document	Birth/marriage certificates and bank letters. Spanish translation by an official translator. Allow 1–2 weeks.
Immigration attorney / facilitator (optional)	$1,000–2,500	Common for the bank certification and DGME filing. Not mandatory, but speeds a clean file.
Income Proof & Ongoing
$60,000 deposit (deposit route)	Capital you keep	Held in a regulated CR bank; drawn down at $2,500/mo over 24 months. Not a fee.
Private health insurance (bridge)	$45–400/mo	Covers the 6–18 month wait before CAJA access.
CAJA (after DIMEX)	~9–10% of declared income/mo	Mandatory social-security + healthcare contribution once residency is granted.
Out-of-pocket setup (single applicant)	~$450–750+	Government + document fees, excluding the income proof/deposit, attorney, and insurance.

Funding your $60,000 deposit or paying CR fees?

Wise moves USD to Costa Rican colones at the mid-market rate with no hidden bank markup — useful for funding your bank deposit, paying DGME fees, and covering rent before your DIMEX unlocks a full local account.

Try Wise →

Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no cost to you

Taxes & CAJA: Costa Rica’s Territorial System

Costa Rica’s tax treatment is one of the most favourable of any relocation destination — and uniquely, the benefit is automatic. Unlike Portugal’s IFICI regime or Panama’s specific programs, there is no application: the territorial system applies to every resident by default.

✅ $0 Costa Rican tax on foreign income

Costa Rica taxes only income earned inside Costa Rica. Foreign-source income — pensions, Social Security, dividends, interest, and remote work for non-Costa Rican employers — is not subject to Costa Rican income tax. A Rentista living on foreign dividends or a drawn-down deposit owes zero Costa Rican income tax, with no special regime to register for.

CAJA — Mandatory Social Security & Healthcare

The trade-off for free public healthcare is the CAJA contribution. Once your DIMEX is issued, enrolling in CAJA (Caja Costarricense del Seguro Social) is mandatory.

Contribution: roughly 9–10% of your declared monthly income — this is a social-security charge, not income tax.
Coverage: full access to Costa Rica’s public health system, widely rated among the best in Latin America.
Timing: you cannot use CAJA until your DIMEX is issued (6–18 months after filing), so carry private insurance in the meantime.

Your Costa Rican Tax ID (NITE)

After residency you obtain a tax identification number (NITE). Holding it does not create a filing obligation if you have no Costa Rica-source income — it simply identifies you in the system. If you open a local business or earn locally, that income becomes taxable on Costa Rica’s progressive scale.

🇺🇸 US citizens

File Form 1040 on worldwide income every year regardless of residence; FBAR (FinCEN 114) if foreign accounts exceed $10,000 at any point — the $60,000 deposit will trigger this.
There is no US–Costa Rica tax treaty. Use the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (~$130,000 for 2026, earned income only) and Foreign Tax Credit to avoid double tax on any active income.
Most Rentista income is passive (dividends, pensions), which the FEIE does not cover — but Costa Rica does not tax it either, so the practical result is usually just your normal US tax.

🇬🇧 UK citizens

File a P85 when you leave and check your position under the Statutory Residence Test; once non-resident, UK tax generally falls away on non-UK income.
UK State Pension paid to a Costa Rica resident is typically frozen (no annual uprating), as Costa Rica has no reciprocal agreement — budget for that.
UK-source income (e.g. rental property) remains UK-taxable. There is no UK–Costa Rica double-tax treaty, so review carefully.

⚠️ Get dual-qualified advice before year one

The interaction of Costa Rica’s territorial system, CAJA, FBAR/PFIC rules (US), and your home-country residence test is easy to get wrong and expensive to fix later. A one-off consultation with an adviser qualified in both Costa Rica and your home country pays for itself — especially if you will hold the $60,000 in a Costa Rican account.

After Approval: Setup & Long-Term Residency

Once your residency is approved and your DIMEX is in hand, a short setup sequence gets you fully operational. Then comes the long game: renewals, permanent residency, and citizenship.

1

Collect your DIMEX at BCR (same-day since March 2026)
Book a DIMEX appointment at a Banco de Costa Rica branch. Since March 2026, BCR branches act as full-service immigration points and hand you the physical residency card the same day, ending the previous multi-month card wait.
2

Enroll in CAJA — mandatory
Register with CAJA immediately after receiving your DIMEX. Your contribution (~9–10% of declared income) starts now; keep a supplemental private plan if you want faster specialist access.
3

Upgrade to a full resident bank account
With your DIMEX you can open a full account (no deposit caps), enroll in SINPE Móvil — Costa Rica’s instant payment system used for rent, utilities, and CAJA — and access credit products. Banco Nacional or BCR are needed for some government transactions.
4

Exchange your driving licence
With a DIMEX and your valid home licence you can drive and, through COSEVI, obtain a Costa Rican licence. Carry your DIMEX and licence together until the exchange is complete.

Renewal, Permanent Residency & Citizenship

Milestone	Requirement
Renewal (every 2 years)	Show the income (or a fresh $60,000 deposit) is still in place, that it was received in Costa Rica, CAJA in good standing, and that you resided in CR at least 4 months/year (non-consecutive allowed) with at least one entry per year.
Permanent residency — 3 years	After 3 years of temporary Rentista residency you may apply for permanent residency. The income requirement and work restriction then fall away — you can take local employment.
Citizenship — 7 years	Naturalization after 7 years of legal residency for US/UK nationals (5 years for Ibero-American/Spanish nationals by birth). Requires Spanish ability and knowledge of Costa Rican history and culture.

🏖️ The Rentista presence rule is genuinely flexible

Unlike many residencies, Rentista does not demand near-continuous presence. You must reside in Costa Rica at least 4 months per year — and those days can be split across multiple trips — plus enter at least once a year and show your income was received in-country. That leaves up to roughly eight months a year free to spend elsewhere while you build toward permanent residency.

Bridge the CAJA gap from $45/month

You cannot access CAJA until your DIMEX is issued — 6–18 months after filing. SafetyWing covers you in Costa Rica and worldwide during the wait, with no minimum stay.

Get a Quote →

Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no cost to you

Frequently Asked Questions

How much income do you need for the Costa Rica Rentista visa in 2026?

The Rentista visa requires US$2,500 per month of stable income, guaranteed for at least two years, from a permanent passive source — investment dividends, annuities, trust distributions, or rental income — certified by a Costa Rican bank letter. Salary, freelance/consulting fees, and ordinary savings withdrawals do not qualify. If you cannot show $2,500/month of passive income, the common alternative is to deposit US$60,000 in a regulated Costa Rican bank, which then issues a letter committing to release $2,500/month over 24 months. The $2,500 covers the whole family unit, not each person.

How does the $60,000 deposit work, and do I lose the money?

No — the $60,000 stays your money. It is an income guarantee, not a fee. You deposit it into a regulated Costa Rican bank, and the bank issues an official certification committing to make $2,500/month available to you for the 24-month period ($60,000 ÷ 24 = $2,500). You draw the funds down to live on. Because the certificate requires a Costa Rican bank relationship — which usually needs a DIMEX or a non-resident account first — most applicants set this up through a local bank, attorney, or facilitator.

Can I include my spouse and children on the Rentista visa?

Yes. The $2,500/month (or the $60,000 deposit) is a family-unit amount, not per person. You can include your spouse and dependent children under 25 (or disabled children of any age), and in some cases dependent parents, under the primary applicant’s category — the income is not multiplied for a couple or family. Each dependent still provides their own documents (passport, birth/marriage certificate, criminal check where required) and biometrics. For larger families, the DGME may request additional evidence of financial capacity.

Can I work in Costa Rica on a Rentista visa?

Not as an employee of a Costa Rican company — the Rentista visa prohibits local salaried employment. However, you may legally own and operate your own business in Costa Rica, receive dividends from it, invest, and work remotely for clients outside Costa Rica. If your main income is remote work, Costa Rica’s Digital Nomad visa (Estancia) is the better-matched route. Income from work performed inside Costa Rica would be taxable locally under the territorial system.

Rentista vs Pensionado: which Costa Rica visa is right for me?

Choose Pensionado if you have a lifetime pension: it requires only $1,000/month from a government or private pension (US Social Security qualifies), with no minimum age. Choose Rentista if you do not have a qualifying lifetime pension but have passive income or capital: $2,500/month guaranteed for two years, or a $60,000 bank deposit. Both carry the same work restrictions, mandatory CAJA, two-year renewable validity, and permanent residency after three years. Rentista suits early retirees, investors, and entrepreneurs; Pensionado suits traditional retirees.

Does the Rentista income have to come from outside Costa Rica?

In practice, yes — the qualifying income is foreign passive income (dividends, annuities, trusts, foreign rental) or the $60,000 deposit converted into a bank guarantee. Costa Rican salary does not qualify, and income earned from work performed in Costa Rica would be taxable locally. At renewal, though, you must prove the required income was actually received in Costa Rica during the period — for example, transferred into a Costa Rican account — so the source can be foreign but the receipt should be demonstrable in-country.

How do I renew the Rentista visa, and how long must I stay in Costa Rica?

The residency is valid for two years and renews for further two-year periods. To renew you must show the required income (or a fresh $60,000 deposit) is still in place, that it was received in Costa Rica, that you are in good standing with CAJA, and that you physically resided in Costa Rica for at least four months per year — the days can be non-consecutive. Temporary residents must also enter the country at least once each year. That makes Rentista relatively flexible: you can spend up to roughly eight months a year abroad and keep your residency.

How long until permanent residency or citizenship in Costa Rica?

You can apply for permanent residency after three years of holding temporary Rentista residency — after which the income requirement and work restriction fall away, so you may take local employment. Costa Rican citizenship by naturalization is available after seven years of legal residency for most nationalities, including US and UK citizens (five years for nationals of Spain and other Ibero-American countries by birth), and requires Spanish-language ability plus knowledge of Costa Rican history and culture. Costa Rica generally permits dual citizenship.

Do I have to pay Costa Rican tax on my foreign income as a Rentista?

No. Costa Rica uses a territorial tax system: only income earned inside Costa Rica is taxed. Foreign-source income — pensions, Social Security, dividends, interest, and remote work for non-Costa Rican employers — is not subject to Costa Rican income tax, and the benefit is automatic with no regime to apply for. You will, however, pay mandatory CAJA contributions of roughly 9–10% of declared income once your DIMEX is issued. US citizens still file a US return on worldwide income (FEIE or Foreign Tax Credit), and UK movers should review their UK tax residence position before leaving.

Prefer professional guidance?

A Costa Rican immigration attorney or relocation facilitator can structure your $60,000 bank certification, assemble your apostilled file, and handle the DGME filing — reducing the risk of a prevención that adds months to a 6–18 month process.

Find a Consultant →

Disclaimer: VISAPrep is an informational resource only. Costa Rica’s Rentista requirements, fees, processing times, the $60,000 deposit and $2,500/month figures, CAJA contribution rates, tax rules, and residency timelines change and are applied at the discretion of the DGME. Nothing on this page is legal, immigration, or tax advice. Always verify current requirements with the official immigration authority before applying. Last verified: June 2026. Source: migracion.go.cr (Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería).