About CRIE — Costa Rica Immigration Experts
CRIE Has Been Helping Prospective Residents Since 2008
CRIE helps people obtain legal residency and immigration status in Costa Rica with help choosing a category, planning documents and organizing an application. If you are planning a move to Costa Rica, immigration preparation can involve document timing, apostilles, translations, and small inconsistencies that trigger requests for clarification.
This page explains what CRIE does, how we support your residency journey from start to finish, and what you can expect when you work with our team. Contact us on WhatsApp to discuss your situation and plan the next steps before ordering documents.
How CRIE started
In the early 2000s, Johanna Álvarez worked alongside a Costa Rican immigration lawyer, and together they handled Glenn Tellier’s own residency application. The lawyer was impressed by her knowledge and invited her to join his team, where she helped the practice grow and guided more and more people through their applications.
When the lawyer retired, Glenn and Johanna decided to build on that experience and start their own company. CRIE was founded in 2008, and the experience behind it goes back to the early 2000s.
Johanna Álvarez
Johanna has been working on Costa Rica residency files since the early 2000s, first alongside a Costa Rican immigration lawyer and then, after he retired, as co-founder of CRIE in 2008. Very few people in this field here have been doing it that long.
She leads CRIE day to day. That means she is the one deciding how a case is built — which residency category actually fits an applicant, what the document plan looks like, what order things have to happen in, and what needs fixing before anything is filed. Most of the problems people run into with residency are preventable, and preventing them is the job she does.
Johanna works with clients in Spanish and English, and she is Costa Rican — she is dealing with the immigration authorities in her own country, in her own language, not interpreting it from the outside.
What CRIE Does
CRIE focuses on Costa Rica immigration and residency only. Our job is to help you choose the correct residency category, prepare a clean document plan, and guide your case through the process in the correct sequence so you avoid preventable delays.
- Eligibility review and category selection based on your goals and documentation.
- Document planning with timing guidance for validity windows, authentication, and translations.
- Application preparation and submission support based on the requirements of your category.
- Guidance through post-approval steps like documentation and renewals.
Who We Help
Most CRIE clients are planning a long-term life in Costa Rica and want the residency process handled correctly. We commonly help:
- Retirees exploring Pensionado residency.
- Applicants exploring Rentista residency based on qualifying stable income.
- Applicants who qualify through Investor residency.
- Families qualifying through Costa Rican family ties.
- Applicants moving from temporary residency toward permanent residency.
- Long-term residents planning future citizenship timelines.
Why People Struggle With Costa Rica Residency
Most residency problems are not caused by big mistakes. They are caused by small mistakes repeated across documents: an apostille done incorrectly, a police record that is outside the validity window, a translation that is not done in the correct format, or a name that does not match exactly across every document.
- Incorrect or incomplete documentation at submission.
- Choosing the wrong residency category for the applicant’s situation.
- Missing apostille or using the wrong authentication method.
- Unclear translations or translations that do not match the authenticated original.
- Underestimating document timing and expiration windows.
How CRIE Approaches the Residency Process
CRIE uses a structured approach to help identify missing information and keep documents organized. We focus on the parts that most often cause delays: category selection, document planning, and consistency across the entire file.
What we do
- Confirm the best category for your goals and situation.
- Create a clear checklist and timing plan for your specific case.
- Flag issues early: name mismatches, missing authentication, and translation needs.
- Keep your case organized and trackable from start to finish.
What you do
- Share your background and goals so category selection is correct.
- Provide the required foreign documents using the timing guidance we give you.
- Respond quickly if a clarification or additional document is requested.
- Attend required appointments as needed during the process.
Our Immigration Team
CRIE is led by a Costa Rica-based team that combines immigration strategy, operations, legal support, and client guidance. Each person below has a defined role in helping clients prepare and move their residency case forward.
Glenn Tellier
Founder and former CEO
Johanna Álvarez
Chief Executive & Operations Officer | Immigration Expert
Jonathan Morales
Chief Executive & Strategy Officer
Fernán Pacheco
Attorney
Fernando Sobrado
Attorney
Alan Parker
Residency & Relocation Advisor
Byron Gomez
Immigration Case Processor
Residency Options We Commonly Support
CRIE works across Costa Rica residency pathways and helps you choose the category that fits your case. If your long-term goal is permanent residency, it is important to start with the correct category and keep your status compliant from the beginning.
- Pensionado residency for applicants with a qualifying pension.
- Rentista residency and the income evidence required for this category.
- Investor residency, with careful review of the investment and applicable documentation.
- Family residency options, depending on the qualifying relationship and category.
Note: The Digital Nomad Visa is not residency and does not count toward permanent residency timelines.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you handle immigration and residency only?
Yes. CRIE focuses on Costa Rica immigration and residency matters only.
What is the first step if I want residency in Costa Rica?
The first step is confirming which category fits and what documents you should order first. That prevents wasted time and document rework.
Do you publish service pricing on the website?
No. We confirm your category and situation first, then explain the next steps and how we can support you.
Can you help if I already started the process and ran into problems?
Often yes. The key is understanding what was submitted, what is missing, and how to correct the file without creating new delays.
Does the Digital Nomad Visa lead to permanent residency?
No. Digital Nomad is not residency and does not count toward permanent residency timelines.
Message CRIE on WhatsApp
If you want residency in Costa Rica, start with clarity. Contact us on WhatsApp to discuss your situation and the next steps.
WhatsApp: +506 8706 3888
Email: info@crie.cr
Professional Disclaimer
This page is provided for general informational purposes only. Immigration rules, internal criteria, and required documentation can change. Information on this page is based on, and checked against, Costa Rica’s official immigration authority (Migración/DGME): https://migracion.go.cr/.