The following is a list of commonly asked questions regarding obtaining residency in Costa Rica: Is it true that there are various residency categories? That is correct. One cannot simply apply for residency; one must apply for one of the many distinct residency categories our law offers. An applicant must

The Immigration Department has issued a new Resolution aiming to simplify the requirements for Residency for on-going applications filed by October 14, 2019. The background check requirement listed on item 1 below, however, is suggested for all new applications as well. Below a summary of the major key elements that

Our current law offers expats various options to secure legal immigration status in Costa Rica. On the one hand, you have the Immigration Law (Law No. 8764) and Ruling (Decree No. 37112-G) which provides the rules of the game for our General Department of Immigration (Dirección General de Migración y

Here at Outlier Legal Services, we receive numerous calls from expats whom have handled the residency process on their own or perhaps have hired help from someone in the community and find themselves stuck in a years-long process that become too cumbersome and stressful to handle. The service of requesting

The official newspaper La Gaceta published on September 23, 2019, the new rates for the Guarantee Deposits (Security Deposits). The Guarantee Deposit, also known as Security Deposit, is a mandatory government fee to be paid by foreigners who are granted immigration status in Costa Rica, such as Temporary and Permanent

Many expats come to us asking about the various residency options that Costa Rica offers. The two easiest options are, of course, when you become the parent of a Costa Rican national or when you get residency based on marriage. The simplest option besides those two choices, however, is that

Of the myriad categories found within Costa Rican Immigration Law, one of the simplest and most flexible is the Rentista or “People with Fixed Income” category as defined in Article 79, Section 9 of the Ley General de Migración y Extranjería. This category shares a lot of the same standard

So, as some of you may know, we are in a constant battle with the Immigration Department or DGME (and other government agencies) to make them do their job. We have been working on the driver’s license, CAJA requirements, processing times for applications for residency, so on and so forth.

[metaslider id=1057]   In previous installments we have reviewed the penalties for overstaying in Costa Rica. Section 33 of the Immigration law issued in 2012 establishes a fine of $100 USD per each month that a foreign national overstays in Costa Rica. This fine became effective in 2012, however, the

Unfortunately, and as it happens, there is a lot of “fake news” regarding the minimum amount of time required to remain in Costa Rica to keep the residency. People generally ask “Am I required to be in Costa Rica for at least four months?” I wish that other firms providing