Investor Residency: Buy Your Own Home in Costa Rica for US$150,000

Is There an “Investment Visa” in Costa Rica?

Not under that name, and the difference matters when you start searching for requirements.

People arrive looking for a Costa Rica investment visa. What exists is Investor residency — inversionista — a temporary residency category based on a qualifying investment in the country. It is residency, not a visa, and it is granted by the immigration authority rather than issued at a border or a consulate.

That matters for two practical reasons. Checklists written for “investment visas” in other countries do not apply here. And the requirements you need are the ones published for this category, not a general visa page.

Hold It in Your Own Name, Not a Company — Ask First

This is the single most expensive mistake we see on the investor route, and it is made before anyone talks to us.

Holding Costa Rican property through a company is perfectly normal and there are sound reasons to do it — it can simplify a later sale or transfer. But if you intend to use that property to qualify for investor residency, corporate ownership can complicate the application. Personal ownership is the straightforward position for this particular purpose.

The two goals genuinely pull in different directions, so the order matters: decide whether residency is part of the plan before you decide how to hold the property. Unwinding it afterwards costs real money and real time.

We have written this up in full — see investor residency with property in a corporation. If you are buying through GAP Real Estate or financing with GAP, raise it with us at the offer stage, not at closing.

Investor Residency at a Glance

• Published minimum: US$150,000 in a qualifying investment.
• Best fit: applicants who can document both the investment and how it was acquired.
• First step: confirm that the ownership structure and evidence fit the current DGME category before committing funds.
• Important: this is temporary residency, renewed with proof the investment remains in place.

Buying your home in Costa Rica: how it works for residency

1

Your home can be your investment.A home worth US$150,000 or more can qualify you for Investor residency. You can also reach the amount by combining the home with other qualifying investments.

2

Put the home in your own name.The property must be registered in the National Registry in your personal name. A home owned through a corporation does not count for Investor residency.

3

Buying with a mortgage?Then your down payment must be at least US$150,000.

4

Your family can come with you.Your spouse, your children under 18, adult children with a disability and single children under 25 who depend on you can apply as your dependents.

5

Keep the home to keep your residency.Investor residency is granted for two years and can be renewed. At renewal you show that you still own the investment.

“Many people think the Investor category means putting money into a business in a country they know nothing about. That’s not true. You can simply buy the home you probably intended to buy anyway, and if it’s worth US$150,000 or more, you can qualify. But be careful: some clients were told by their lawyers to put the house in a corporation. That may be fine for other reasons, but it won’t help for residency, and it happens all the time when people buy without talking to someone who understands how it works.”

Glenn Tellier, founder of CRIE

What proves the purchase: Migración checks your ownership in the National Registry, and you provide a recent certificate from the local municipality showing the property’s value and that property taxes are paid up.

Buying a home? Ask us before you sign

Investor residency depends on a qualifying investment and a complete immigration application. A purchase contract or asset price alone does not establish approval. Confirm the investment structure before transferring funds or changing ownership.

The published investment rule

DGME’s investor requirements set a US$150,000 minimum for the investment types they list, including real estate, registrable movable assets, shares, securities, and specified projects or funds. The category is granted for two-year periods and may be renewed when the applicant proves the investment has been maintained continuously.

The same provision addresses trusts and identifies the settlor as the person who may apply because that person makes the investment. It would be inaccurate to say that all trusts are excluded or that every qualifying investment must be property held personally.

Evidence to prepare

Ask DGME and an appropriately qualified adviser which evidence applies to the particular investment. Direct property ownership, company shares, and other investments can require different records.

• Investment description: a clear explanation of what was acquired and why it fits the category.
• Ownership records: documents showing the applicant’s relationship to the investment.
• Value evidence: records supporting the required investment amount.
• Source and transaction records: evidence of how the investment was acquired or funded.
• Personal immigration documents: the signed application, passport records, civil certificates, background evidence, and required authentication and translations.

Family members

DGME lists a spouse, a minor child, an adult child with a duly declared disability, or an unmarried child under 25 who is economically dependent as possible dependents. Each person must establish the relationship and provide the applicable records; one investment document does not replace each person’s application documents.

Process and renewal

1. Confirm category fit: check the investment type, ownership structure, and evidence before filing.
2. Prepare the investment records: obtain the certifications and supporting documents appropriate to that investment.
3. Prepare personal documents: verify current DGME general requirements, authentication, and Spanish translation needs.
4. File and monitor: submit a consistent package and respond to any official requests.
5. Protect renewal eligibility: keep evidence that the investment has been maintained continuously before the renewal period.

Use DGME’s current regularization page, then open Residencia Temporal, Inversionista y sus Dependientes, and Requisitos Generales before filing. Requirements and checklists can change.

Frequently asked questions

Before You Commit Funds

These cover the questions that come up once someone is seriously considering this route:

• Proof of investment requirements — what the authority expects to see and in what form.
• Property held in a corporation — why it complicates this particular application.
• How long residency takes — the realistic timeline rather than the hopeful one.
• Permanent residency — where the investor route can eventually lead.
• Choosing immigration help — who does what, and what to ask before you pay anyone.

The order that saves money: confirm the category fits you, confirm how the asset should be held, then commit the funds. Doing it the other way round is how people end up owning the right property in the wrong structure.

Get an early review before you commit funds

Send CRIE a short outline of the proposed investment and the records you have. We can identify the immigration documents to prepare and flag issues for further legal or financial review before you file.

WhatsApp: +506 8373 2085
Email: info@crie.cr

Not sure this is the right category for you? Compare all the routes side by side in our guide to Costa Rica residency options, which sets out what each one needs and how the process runs.

Professional disclaimer

This page is general information only. Immigration rules, internal criteria, and required documentation can change. Reviewed 8 September 2026 against the published provisions linked above and DGME’s current category and general requirements. Confirm the applicable checklist before filing.