Expat Community > Costa Rica

worldtraveler7
Joined 2012
Posts: 8

Obtaining Residency in C.R.

12 years ago

I would like to get temporary or permanent residency before arriving in Costa Rica. I have heard that people on a tourist visa go every 90 days out
of Costa Rica for 3 days to return and repeat indefinitely - yet it is a lot easier doing something like this as one single adult vs. one adult parent and several children.

I read here:

http://www.transitionsabroad.com/listings/living/livingabroadin/living_abroad_in_costa_rica_moving.shtml

That if one parent is traveling in/out with kids there could be a lot of problems/interrogation which might lead to not getting back into Costa Rica - if you left every 90 days. I don't want to have to deal with this scenario time and time again, so think if I could obtain some type of residency it would make things much easier. I do have sole physical/legal custody of my kids and living overseas is a non issue, but the Costa Rican Gov't might not be accepting of this.

The question is, how to get residency exactly ? Is it very difficult to obtain ? Does the Consulate care where the money is coming from for the Pensioner status and/or the Small Investor status? .... I mean, can you claim pension income, when it is not really from a pension (like child support instead)?

And as far as the Rentista status - it states, 'You’ll need to prove a monthly income of US $1,000 (usually a CD or annuity), guaranteed by a banking institution' ...Does it have to be money coming in with a CD or annuity - or any other income coming in ? Not sure how specific they are
about this. If I have a guaranteed amount that would qualify for either the rentista or pensionado - but it is from child support/alimony would that be sufficient ?

If any of you have any information on this topic I would really appreciate your help.

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Obtaining Residency in C.R.

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