William G. Says:
Is it true that after living in Costa Rica for three months you have to leave or renew your visa?
IL Costa Rica Correspondent Bekah Bottone Says:
Hi William,
You don’t need to apply for a tourist visa to enter Costa Rica from the US or Canada—you’ll be given a stamp upon entry.
In the past, this would allow you to stay in the country for up to 90 days (around three months). Yet, about seven months ago, there was a change in the visa policy.
Now, that stamp may allow you to stay for up to 180 days.
It’s important to remember that in the end, the amount of days is left up to the discretion of the immigration officer you get.
You can do a border run once your tourist visa runs out. That means you take a trip across the border to Nicaragua or Panama to renew the visa.
You may also look into temporary residency, which can then turn into permanent residency.
Here are the most popular options and requirements to apply for temporary residency in Costa Rica:
- To apply for the pensionado residency for retirees, provide proof of a minimum of $1,000 monthly income from a retirement fund or permanent pension source.
- The rentista category includes depositing $60,000 in a local or foreign bank and setting up a monthly transfer of $2,500 into a Costa Rican account for expenses over two years. Then after 24 months, you must deposit another $60,000 to restart the process.
- An inversionista residency requires a one-time investment of $150,000 in real estate, stocks, bonds, or another opportunity. If married to a Costa Rican, you can apply for temporary residency as a spouse.
Additionally, Costa Rica also provides a digital nomad visa if you are considering moving to Costa Rica for a year or two and working remotely.
Read more about your various visa options in Costa Rica on the IL website.
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