At ERP Lawyers & Associates we provide advice in the area of immigration law, such as applications to obtain Residencies, adjusting to the requirements of each of the different existing categories, and among them of Pensioner Resident in Costa Rica.

For different reasons, such as legal security, natural beauty, democracy, education, access to infrastructure, health service, among others, Costa Rica has become not only a tourist destination, but also a home for a large number of foreign people who decide to settle temporarily or permanently.

It is at the moment of making this decision when it is very important to seek advice to ensure that this entire process is carried out according to and covering each and every one of the needs of each person.

Specifically, with respect to Migration, there are general immigration requirements established in our legislation, which apply in all the different categories of residence. These requirements are:

a) Residence application
b) Affiliation form.
c) Birth certificate duly apostilled or legalized.
d) Certificate of criminal record duly apostilled or legalized. Said certificate will be valid for six months, unless the document expressly indicates another period of validity.
e) Marriage certificate duly apostilled or legalized. This requirement applies only in cases where the applicant wishes to cover their spouse as a dependent. If there are minor children, the birth certificate of each of them must also be presented.
f) Taking fingerprints.
g) Six recent passport size photographs.
h) Consular Registration.
i) Certified copy of all pages of the passport.
j) Proof of government payments.
k) Official translation of all those documents that are issued in a language other than Spanish.

Regarding to the category of residence as a pensioner in Costa Rica, the specific requirement is to have a monthly and permanent pension for the minimum sum of USD $1,000.00, which gives the foreign person the right to apply along with their family nucleus for the category of Temporary Resident as a Pensioner. This must be certified by the authority or institution that provides said privilege; and it must be apostilled and translated into Spanish if it is issued in another language.

If you are interested in enjoying your retirement in Costa Rica, and / or have questions or queries regarding the requirements and the process, we invite you to contact us by email info@erplawyers.com, where we will gladly assist you.