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Obtaining Costa Rica Residency

There are several ways a foreign citizen can obtain residency in Costa Rica. Obtaining residency is the way to go if you are serious about staying in Costa Rica, although some ex-pats who live in Costa Rica have become ¨perpetual tourists¨ and do a visa run to the border (Nicaragua and Panama are the most popular choices) every 90 days, but this is a risky proposition because visas are renewed for ¨up to¨ 90 days but this is done at the discretion of the immigration person at the border who can give you less time on that visa renewal and then you are left in a bad position. There is of course a bureaucratic procedure to obtain your residency and of course there are the related expenses. However; in my opinion, the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages especially with the new Pensionado Law benefits . For example, only with a legal residency can a foreigner get a driver´s license, or be allowed to work legally, or get a post pay cell phone or other utility services, open an unlimited bank account, obtain a loan or not need to carry around a passport, or get local prices at many places versus tourist prices, etc., etc., so it all begins to add up. Let´s examine some of the various ways you can obtain residency:

TEMPORARY RESIDENCY:

PENSIONADO: Requires monthly income of US$1000 per month. This would be from a permanent fixed income like a private sector, government or social security benefits pension.

RENTISTA: Requires a monthly income of US$2500 per month and includes spouse and children under 25 years of age. This category requires a permanent and stable source of income equal to or above US$2500 for two years which equals US$60,000 and is renewable for 2 more years (after 3 years you can apply for Permanent Residency). An international and recognized bank or financial institution has to issue you a letter that states this or you can deposit the US$60,000 in a local bank and can take out $2500 per month. This is usually the quickest way to get your DIMEX residency card based on results I have witnessed.

Riding on deserted endless beaches... Playa Esterillos, Central Pacific

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