Republic of Costa Rica · investor · Leads to settlement
Temporary Residence - Inversionista (Investor)
By Sam Parks · Last reviewed:
Temporary residence for foreign nationals making a qualifying investment in Costa Rica.
- Processing time
- Indicative only - confirm current timelines on the official DGME page.
- Government fees
- Indicative only - government processing fees apply; confirm current amounts on the official page.
- Typical duration
- Granted for a defined period (commonly two years) and renewable while the investment is maintained, leading to permanent residence after the qualifying period. Confirm current terms on the official page.
- Sponsorship required
- No
- Leads to permanent residency
- Yes
In short
As of 9 July 2026, the Temporary Residence - Inversionista (Investor) for Republic of Costa Rica is an unsponsored Costa Rica immigration route. Sources: official Republic of Costa Rica government pages, reviewed 9 July 2026.
Cite this: https://visaatlas.org/visas/costa-rica/inversionista#answer
What is the Temporary Residence - Inversionista (Investor) in Republic of Costa Rica?
Temporary Residence - Inversionista (Investor) is an unsponsored Costa Rica route. Indicative government fees are Indicative only - government processing fees apply; confirm current amounts on the official page; indicative processing time is Indicative only - confirm current timelines on the official DGME page; typical duration is Granted for a defined period (commonly two years) and renewable while the investment is maintained, leading to permanent residence after the qualifying period. Confirm current terms on the official page. This route can lead to permanent residence.
Verified against Direccion General de Migracion y Extranjeria (Costa Rica) on 1 June 2026.
Overview
The Inversionista category grants temporary residence to foreign nationals who make a qualifying investment in Costa Rica - in real estate, registrable assets, shares and securities, productive or national-interest projects, venture-capital funds or sustainable-tourism infrastructure - at or above the minimum amount set by Law 9996 and its regulations. The category is granted for a defined period and renewable while the investment is maintained, and after the qualifying period of temporary residence the holder can apply for permanent residence. It is administered by the DGME.
Eligibility
Typical criteria
- ✓A qualifying investment is made at or above the minimum amount set by Law 9996 and its regulations.Direccion General de Migracion y Extranjeria (Costa Rica) ↗
- ✓The investment falls within an accepted class (real estate, registrable assets, shares and securities, productive or national-interest projects, venture-capital funds or sustainable-tourism infrastructure).Direccion General de Migracion y Extranjeria (Costa Rica) ↗
- ✓The investment is documented and registered as required, and maintained during the validity.Direccion General de Migracion y Extranjeria (Costa Rica) ↗
- ✓A valid passport and a clean criminal-record certificate are presented.Direccion General de Migracion y Extranjeria (Costa Rica) ↗
Common blockers
- !The investment value is below the minimum set by Law 9996.Direccion General de Migracion y Extranjeria (Costa Rica) ↗
- !The investment does not fall within an accepted class or cannot be properly evidenced.Direccion General de Migracion y Extranjeria (Costa Rica) ↗
- !Failure to maintain the investment, which can affect renewal.Direccion General de Migracion y Extranjeria (Costa Rica) ↗
Typical evidence
- ·Property registration (deed/folio real) or documentation of the qualifying asset, shares or project.Direccion General de Migracion y Extranjeria (Costa Rica) ↗
- ·Proof of the capital transfer and the investment value.Direccion General de Migracion y Extranjeria (Costa Rica) ↗
- ·Valid passport and recent criminal-record certificate, apostilled or legalised.Direccion General de Migracion y Extranjeria (Costa Rica) ↗
- ·Birth and, where applicable, marriage certificates for dependents.Direccion General de Migracion y Extranjeria (Costa Rica) ↗
Application pathway
Check the route fit
Confirm the investment type and the current minimum amount under Law 9996 and its regulations, using the official DGME page.
Build the evidence pack
Complete the investment, gather the registration or asset documents and proof of value, plus passport and apostilled civil and criminal-record documents.
Submit through the official channel
File the Inversionista temporary-residence application with the DGME following the official Law 9996 requirements.
After approval
Register for the DIMEX ID card, maintain the investment, and renew toward permanent residence.
Official application links
Where to actually go next
These are the official pages to use for this route. Open them before preparing documents: the forms, fees, appointment systems, and sponsor steps can change without warning.
- Official guidanceApplicantUse official Temporary Residence - Inversionista (Investor) route page ↗
Use this official page to confirm requirements and follow the government filing route for Temporary Residence - Inversionista (Investor).
Direccion General de Migracion y Extranjeria (Costa Rica) · verified
Matches these professions
Also explored by
Compare Republic of Costa Rica with
Related routes
Temporary Residence - Pensionado (Pensioner)
Temporary residence for retirees who receive a guaranteed lifetime pension from a recognised source.
Temporary Residence - Rentista (Person of Independent Means)
Temporary residence for people of independent means who can show stable monthly income for a sustained period.
Permanent Residence (Residencia Permanente)
Costa Rican permanent residence, typically reached after a qualifying period of temporary residence or directly through a first-degree tie to a Costa Rican.
Frequently asked questions
What investment qualifies for Costa Rican investor residence?+
Qualifying investments include real estate, registrable assets, shares and securities, productive or national-interest projects, venture-capital funds and sustainable-tourism infrastructure, at or above the minimum set by Law 9996. Because that minimum is set by regulation, confirm the current amount on the official DGME page.
Does investor residence lead to permanent residence?+
Yes. After the qualifying period of continuous temporary residence with the investment maintained, Inversionista holders can apply to change to permanent residence. Confirm the current qualifying period on the official DGME page.
What happens to my investor residence if I sell or end the investment?+
The qualifying investment must be maintained during the validity of the residence, and failing to maintain it is a common blocker that can affect renewal. Confirm the current rules on the official DGME page.
Need tailored advice?
We do not provide legal advice. For an application that depends on your exact circumstances, consult a regulator-listed immigration advisor.
Find a regulated advisor in Costa RicaHow we verified this
We check every figure on this page against the primary government source, record the date it was last checked, and re-check it on a regular schedule. Rules change, so always confirm time-sensitive details with the official source before you rely on them. Visa Atlas is an information-only publication and does not give legal advice.
Primary source: Direccion General de Migracion y Extranjeria (Costa Rica)
Last checked: 1 June 2026