All destinations
Destination · Americas
Move to Costa Rica. The routes, mapped.
7 visa routes into Costa Rica, each with its real required-document list — pulled live from the Nomad knowledge graph. Start a plan and we sequence the right one for your situation.
- Country
- Costa Rica
- Region
- Americas
- Visa routes
- 7
- Coverage
- Flagship
From the US
US → Costa Rica. The money facts.
Treaty coverage, double-tax exposure, and what setup actually costs, so you know the financial shape of the move before you commit.
- US tax treaty
- No
- Totalization
- No
- Double-tax risk
- Medium
- Setup cost
- $8,000 to $25,000
Visa routes
How you can legally move to Costa Rica.
Permanent Residency (Residencia Permanente)
5 years~24 wks processing$250 fee$3,000 all-inRenewableRemote workFamily ok
Documents required
- US Passport (6-Month Validity)
- FBI Background Check ·a
- Hague Apostille (US)
- Cedula Residencia Temporary Renewal Receipts
- CCSS Caja Good Standing Letter
- Application Form Migracion PR
- Spanish Translation Certified
Inversionista
2 years~14 wks processing$250 fee$5,000 all-inRenewableRemote workFamily ok
Documents required
- US Passport (6-Month Validity)
- FBI Background Check ·a
- Hague Apostille (US)
- Birth Certificate (Apostilled) ·a
- Marriage Certificate (Apostilled) ·a
- Investment Certification Letter
- Property Title Registry Cert
- +3 more
Pensionado
2 years$1,000/mo~12 wks processing$250 fee$3,000 all-inRenewableRemote workFamily ok
Documents required
- US Passport (6-Month Validity)
- FBI Background Check ·a
- Hague Apostille (US)
- Birth Certificate (Apostilled) ·a
- Marriage Certificate (Apostilled) ·a
- SSA Benefit Verification / Award Letter (Apostilled) ·a
- Pension Certification Letter
- +2 more
Rentista
2 years$2,500/mo~12 wks processing$250 fee$3,500 all-inRenewableRemote workFamily ok
Documents required
- US Passport (6-Month Validity)
- FBI Background Check ·a
- Hague Apostille (US)
- Birth Certificate (Apostilled) ·a
- Bank Certification Letter
- Marriage Certificate (Apostilled) ·a
- Spanish Translation Certified
- +2 more
Digital Nomad Visa (Estancia)
1 year$3,000/mo~4 wks processing$100 fee$800 all-inRenewableRemote workFamily ok
Documents required
- US Passport (6-Month Validity)
- FBI Background Check ·a
- Hague Apostille (US)
- Bank Statements 12mo
- Employer Letter Notarized
- Health Insurance Proof (Costa Rica-valid)
- Spanish Translation Certified
- +1 more
Tourist Entry (Visa-Free)
6 months$29 all-inFamily ok
Documents required
- US Passport (6-Month Validity)
- Onward Return Ticket
- Yellow Fever Vaccine Conditional
Naturalization (Carta de Naturalización)
Varies~78 wks processing$250 fee$3,500 all-in
Documents required
- US Passport (6-Month Validity)
- Cedula Residencia Permanente
- FBI Background Check Final
- Hague Apostille (US)
- CR Poder Judicial Antecedentes
- Birth Certificate (Apostilled) ·a
- Marriage Certificate (Apostilled) ·a
- +5 more
Which route is right for you?
Answer 3 questions and Nomad picks the best-fit visa for your work, timeline, and family, then builds the full document checklist and a 90-day plan to Costa Rica.
Build my move plan