Rentista is a Costa Rican temporary-residency category based on documented income. DGME’s published checklist requires evidence of stable and permanent income of at least US$2,500 per month for at least two years. Meeting that financial requirement is one part of the application; you also need the general and category-specific documents.
This guide follows the official DGME checklist under Residencia Temporal → Rentista y sus Dependientes, reviewed September 7, 2026.
Start with the income requirement
For the Rentista category, DGME requires documentation issued by a competent authority showing stable and permanent income of at least US$2,500 per month for at least two years. If the income comes from abroad, the supporting documentation must be legalized and authenticated, or apostilled, by the corresponding authorities.
The published checklist does not require every applicant to deposit US$60,000 in a Costa Rican bank. It also does not promise that a particular bank statement, investment account or accountant’s letter is automatically sufficient. Read our Rentista income-proof guide for the distinction between the requirement and a documentation method.
Documents listed by DGME
Review the complete official checklist before ordering documents. Its Rentista section lists:
- A signed application identifying the applicant, the request, current address and a means of receiving notifications. DGME specifies the required signing or lawyer-authentication formalities.
- Proof of the US$50 government application payment, or the applicable colón equivalent.
- Two recent passport-size photographs.
- A birth certificate from the country of origin, legalized and authenticated or apostilled.
- A criminal-record certificate from the country of origin or the country where the applicant has legally resided during the last three years, with the required authentication or apostille. When using the latter country, DGME also calls for evidence of that legal residence.
- Copies of the relevant passport pages, including identity details, entry stamp and entry visa where applicable, certified or checked against the original as specified.
- The income documentation described above.
The US$50 item is an application fee in the checklist, not a quote for the total cost of residency. Document issuance, authentication, translations and other applicable stages should be budgeted separately.
Applying with family members
DGME’s Rentista checklist addresses spouses, minor children and adult children with disabilities. It specifies marriage evidence for a spouse, a parental application for minors, and medical evidence for an adult child’s disability, with a judicial guardianship certification where applicable. Check the evidence required for each family member rather than assuming one applicant’s documents cover the entire family.
A practical preparation sequence
- Review your circumstances: identify the income and family situation relevant to the category.
- Confirm the evidence: establish which competent authority can document the income and what supporting records are needed.
- Gather personal records: check names and details against your passport before ordering certifications.
- Check document formalities: review the general and specific DGME instructions for authentication, apostille, translations and document validity.
- Review the complete file: confirm the current submission arrangements and keep copies of what you submit.
A well-organised file helps you respond to questions, but no checklist or private adviser can guarantee approval or a particular processing date.
How long does Rentista residency take?
The DGME Rentista checklist reviewed on 7 September 2026 does not give an individual approval date. Do not plan around a guaranteed processing time from an old article or an informal estimate. Preparing documents, submitting the application, responding to requests and completing documentation after approval are separate stages.
Keep the submission receipt and expediente number, check the notification method recorded in the application, and respond to any official request within its stated deadline. DGME provides an official expediente consultation service. A status check is not a promise of when a decision will be issued.
If you need to travel or your current permission is nearing its end, obtain guidance on that specific situation. A pending Rentista application should not be treated as a general answer to travel, work or immigration-status questions.
Plan beyond the initial application
Keep the initial application separate from later questions about renewal, employment permissions or permanent residency. Review the official rules applicable to the status you receive and the activity you intend to undertake. An income requirement is not, by itself, permission to work or a complete renewal checklist.
Help preparing your application
CRIE can help you organise the process and discuss what information is needed for your circumstances. To request personalised guidance and pricing, contact Johanna Alvarez through CRIE at info@crie.cr or WhatsApp +506 8706 3888.
Source: DGME Regularización Migratoria, Rentista y sus Dependientes. Checklist reviewed September 7, 2026. Consult the current official checklist before submission.