If you apply for residency in Costa Rica, you will hear about the guarantee deposit (depósito de garantía), sometimes called the “deportation deposit.” Many people are surprised by it, and many never ask for it back. This guide explains in plain English what the Costa Rica guarantee deposit is, why the amount depends on your country, and how to get your money back.
Legal provisions checked 8 September 2026 against the current official regulation, including the 2023 amendment. Rules can change, so always confirm with Migración (DGME).
What is the Costa Rica guarantee deposit?
The guarantee deposit is money you place with Costa Rica’s immigration authority, the Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería (DGME), when you are granted residency. It is held in a special fund created by the General Law of Migration (Law 8764). If a foreign resident is ever deported or expelled, the state can use that money to pay for the trip back to their home country.
It is not an application fee, it is not the Pensionado or Rentista income requirement, and it is not a charge you lose. In most cases it is your money, held on your behalf, and it can be returned.
How much is the guarantee deposit?
There is no single amount for everyone. Since a 2023 change to the regulation, the deposit equals the full price of an open, one-year travel ticket to your country of origin. That is why someone from a neighbouring country pays much less than someone from North America or Europe.
DGME states your exact amount in the resolution that approves your residency, together with the payment instructions. Use that figure. Do not rely on an amount quoted for another person, another country or an old table, and do not work it out yourself from a discounted airfare.
Who has to pay it?
The regulation covers permanent residents, temporary residents and some other authorized categories. Certain groups have special rules or may be exempt, such as refugees, asylum seekers, stateless persons and victims of trafficking. If you change category later, the obligation can change too. Ask DGME, or ask us, which rule applies to your case.
Yes, you can get your guarantee deposit back
“People are always surprised to hear this, but you really can get your guarantee deposit back. The money doesn’t come back on its own, though. You have to ask for it, and you have to do it the right way.”
— Glenn Tellier
The regulation lets the depositor, or an authorized representative, ask for the deposit back in these situations:
- You leave Costa Rica for good and cancel or give up your residency
- You become a Costa Rican citizen (naturalization)
- You change to a different immigration category
- A visa holder leaves the country or never enters
- The person the deposit was made for passes away
How to get your guarantee deposit back, step by step
- Know your reason. The documents you need depend on why you are asking: leaving the country, naturalization, a category change, or a death.
- Get the right DGME resolution. In most cases your residency must first be cancelled or released, or your naturalization confirmed, by an official resolution. Do not cancel your residency until you understand what that means for you.
- Find your payment record. Keep the deposit receipt with the deposit number, date and amount, the depositor’s and resident’s names, and your identity documents.
- Prepare your request. Use DGME’s current form, sign it as required, and include the bank account where you want the money sent. If someone is acting for you, they will need a proper power of attorney.
- Submit it and keep proof. File through DGME’s current official channel, keep your receipt, and answer any request for more information quickly.
- Wait for the payment. Once DGME issues the resolution ordering the refund, its finance office has up to 90 calendar days to pay, as long as everything is in order. Bank transfer costs may be deducted.
Asking from outside Costa Rica
You can request your deposit back after you have left the country, either yourself or through a representative. Documents signed abroad usually need to be authenticated or apostilled. Check the current requirements before sending originals, and use our embassy and consulate contact guide to find the right office.
When a refund can be refused
A refund can be refused if the person was deported or expelled, overstayed, or left the deposit unclaimed for too long. Your departure also needs to appear correctly in Migración’s records; a flight booking alone is not proof. If something is missing, ask DGME how to correct it before you apply. Do not assume the deposit can be claimed forever: read your resolution and act promptly.
How CRIE can help
CRIE has helped clients with Costa Rica residency since 2008. We can help with your guarantee deposit, check which rules apply to you, prepare your documents and follow your request with DGME. Contact us to get started.
Official sources
- Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería (DGME), for current forms and instructions
- Guarantee Deposit Fund Regulation, Executive Decree 36539, as amended in 2023 (Articles 10, 16 bis, 19–22, 26–35, 43–54 and 60)
- General Law of Migration and Foreigners, Law 8764 (Articles 133–137)
This article is general information only and is not legal advice. Immigration rules and procedures can change; confirm the current requirements with DGME or a qualified professional.