Costa Rica Immigration Government Fees

Fees at a Glance

  • Category matters: the applicable government payment depends on the immigration procedure and its stage.
  • Keep costs separate: government payments, document work, translations, authentication and professional services are different expenses.
  • Use current instructions: confirm the account, currency, reference and timing with the official authority before paying.
  • Save the record: retain a readable receipt and the payment details for every applicant.
Mixed couple reviewing Costa Rica immigration payment records at home

Costa Rica immigration government fees depend on the category, procedure and stage. An application payment is not the total cost of residence, and a renewal charge should not be reused as the price of a first application.

Payment guidance checked on 18 September 2026 against DGME Regularización and DGME DIMEX instructions.

Application and change-of-status payments

DGME’s Pensionado and Rentista checklists specify a US$50 application payment. Its permanent-residency checklist also lists US$50. Confirm the complete instructions for your category rather than treating that amount as a complete package price.

The general requirements describe a US$200 payment for a change from nonresident status to a category established by the law. Have DGME confirm its applicability to your procedure and any exemption before paying. Copy the current official account, currency and reference instructions directly from the authority, not from an old receipt or an intermediary’s message.

Separate the stages in your budget

  • Filing: the application payment and any other charges listed for your submission.
  • Platform or service: check whether the chosen channel charges separately.
  • After approval: follow the resolution for documentation and any deposit it requires.
  • Renewal or replacement: use the applicable DIMEX procedure and current amount.
  • Other expenses: document issuance, authentication, translation and professional assistance are separate.

The guarantee deposit (the “deportation deposit”)

Residency applicants are generally also required to make a guarantee deposit (depósito de garantía). The money is held in case the person is ever deported, to cover the cost of sending them back to their home country. Because it is based on the price of an open one-year ticket to your country of origin, the amount depends on where you are from. Migración states your exact amount in the resolution that approves your residency, so there is no single figure that applies to everyone.

The deposit is not a processing fee. It can be returned later, for example when you leave Costa Rica for good or become a citizen, but the refund must be requested and is not automatic. Read our full guide to the guarantee deposit.

Mixed couple receiving guidance about Costa Rica immigration payment steps

Permanent residency and DIMEX fees

A permanent-residency application and renewing an existing permanent-resident DIMEX are different requests. Tell the office which one you need. The application fee does not establish the renewal total.

DGME says renewal payments vary by case. For the BCR renewal procedures described on its page, payment is made when the photograph is taken; do not pay the immigration renewal amount in advance against those instructions. Check the additional service charge when booking. See our DIMEX renewal payment guide.

Keep a payment checklist for each applicant

Record the procedure, amount, currency, account or payment channel, applicant name, deadline and receipt reference. Check the name and transaction details before leaving the bank or closing a payment session. Retain readable copies and the original where required.

For a family, confirm which charges apply separately to each person. A friend’s payment total may involve a different category or date. Ask for an itemized written estimate when purchasing professional services so government payments and service charges remain clear.

Mixed couple completing an immigration payment at a Costa Rica bank counter

Income requirements and healthcare are separate

A qualifying pension or investment is not money paid to DGME as an application fee. CCSS enrollment and contributions are also a separate assessment. Keep ongoing healthcare and household expenses in your wider budget.

If a payment was made incorrectly, ask the authority about correction or refund instructions before paying again. Neither payment nor a complete-looking file guarantees approval. Contact CRIE for help organizing the costs and documents for your case.

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