How to Apply for Pensionado Residency in Costa Rica: Step by Step Guide

[@joecahill4164]

I have been using Roger Petersen publications for probably 20 years..Thank you again for a fabulous presentation, very informative and well presented.....

[@CostaRicaLaw]

Hi Joe. Good to hear from you and thank you for watching and your feebback is always appreciated.

[@TruthInspector]

Thank you I'm going to start this process today

[@CostaRicaLaw]

Thank you for watching and glad you found the information helpful

[@ManifestMoon]

Thank you for providing the information you do.

[@CostaRicaLaw]

Hi and thank you for taking the time to watch and comment.

[@YourBuddyRob]

Hi, Roger. Thanks for the best CR legal info on the web! My question is: How long is the apostille good for?

[@CostaRicaLaw]

Rob. Thank you for watching and your feedback is much appreciated. The apostille will be accepted by immigration in Costa Rica up to 6 months from the date issued.

[@lornehargis2614]

Roger, your videos are very good. Thx. I obtained my Pensionado Residency in 2022. If I had the chance to do it over, I would not have done it. Resson...the cost of CCSS. Almost in tandem with the Residency types that were being promoted, the government seemed to be working behind the scenes to change the pension and CCSS required contributions. I have heard this is under reconsideration but cannot find any credible information. Do you have any updated information and guidance on this? Thanks

[@CostaRicaLaw]

Hi, and thanks for watching. That is an excellent point that you make about the increased cost of the mandatory CCSS contribution. For years the contribution was limited to the Health Insurance component known as SEM. Then by way of policy changes they modified the criteria and added the IVM (pension) component to the equation which significantly added to the overall cost. For this reason, applicants need to understand these costs. Those who have more than one pension should always apply with the lowest one as the CCSS will be based on a percentage of the pension you used to apply for residency. As to your question about the attempt to change the existing regulation so that Pensionados, Rentistas, and Investors can opt out of the system. A member of Congress had a proposed legislative bill that would amend the General Immigration Law, Law No. 8764, with the purpose of excluding investors, rentistas, and pensionados from the mandatory insurance and contribution to social security. However, that proposal was sent over to the Attorney General's Office of the Republic for legal analysis and opinion of the proposal. Their opinion issued on September 4, 2023 (PGR-OJ-091-2023 was “……, we believe that this bill is legally unfeasible because it violates the constitutional autonomy of the CCSS in matters of social insurance….” Other institutions also weighed in against it and as a result on March 12, 2024 the Legislature voted against it as follows: “Based on the technical and constitutional considerations indicated here, we have decided to issue a negative opinion on File No. 23.494, "REFORM OF ARTICLES 7, SUBSECTION 7 AND 80 OF THE GENERAL IMMIGRATION LAW NO. 8764, OF AUGUST 19, 2009 AND ITS AMENDMENTS, TO PROMOTE THE INCLUSION OF INVESTORS, RENTISTAS, AND PENSIONADOS IN THE COSTA RICAN TERRITORY." and consequently order its immediate archive.” The change must come from the legislature and it appears at the moment that there is no political viability to do so based on what I have discussed above. Thank you for the question.

[@victoriajackson8361]

@@CostaRicaLaw Super information to have...even though it's not what I was hoping for. Thanks for this!

[@CostaRicaLaw]

@@victoriajackson8361 Thank you for your feedback. If they would at least revert back charging just the health care component like they did for many years that would be acceptable and reasonable. Adding the IVM pension component to the equation is what caused the increase in the payment. There are still ongoing efforts to at least get this part modified.

[@j.p.2393]

Can I use my natralization certificate instead of a birth certificate from my birth country?

[@VirtualJohnDoe]

Hi Mr. Peterson ... a little off topic but I have a question on something (in my particular use case) related to deciding how to engage in the "pensionado residency application" process ... question: can a person either bring (import or drive) a car into Costa Rica or buy a car in Costa Rica then own the car "legally (after paying for local license plates, paying all import taxes, other fees, Marchamo, etc.)" and "fully (after paying insurance as an individual - not a corporation)" while visiting the country on a tourist visa? Would the car ownership - after paying all fees and being duly registered as a local car - still be subject to, and tethered to, the duration of the owner's tourist visa? Would it still be forced to leave and re-enter the country every 90/180 days to obtain a a new Temporary Import Permit (TIP)? or having duly registered the car would negate the requirement for border runs?

[@CostaRicaLaw]

Hi and thank you for watching and your comment. Let me address your question in two parts. The ownership and the Temporary Import Permit. 1. Ownership. Yes. You can import or drive your car into Costa Rica or you can buy a vehicle in Costa Rica as well. You will own the vehicle with Costa Rica registration in the case of an imported vehicle once you pay all import taxes, have the vehicle inspected and then titled into your name. If you buy a local car then it would already have the registration and tags and then it would just be a transfer of title from Seller to Buyer. In both cases you can own a vehicle in your personal name if that is your preference and a company is not required. You can title a vehicle or purchase a vehicle using your passport. 2. Tourist and Temporary Import. If you import or drive your car to Costa Rica and wish to apply for a temporary import permit then it will be tied to your tourist visa status. The regulations indicate that the length of the permit for the vehicle is tied directly to the number of days you were granted in your tourist visa. In the past that visa was issued for 90 days and it only allowed a single additional renewal of 90 days for a total of 180 days. Since then the visa was expanded now to 180 days and I am not sure how Customs is interpreting that today regarding the extension. I would recommend you check that with a Costa Rica customs broker since they work directly with Customs on imports and will have more specific knowledge about the process.

[@s.zamir5680]

Thanks for the informative video, with regards for applying for retirement visa for United States citizens…as a naturalized citizen I was born in another country and I don’t have my birth certificate! What do I need to do? Thank you

[@motadum007]

for rentista , your video was 3 year ago, any change since ?

[@CostaRicaLaw]

Hi. Thanks for watching the video and you comment. There are no changes in RENTISTA category so the information in that video is up to date. You can also download our Free 2024 Immigration Guide here as well. costaricalaw.com/costa-rica-immigration-guide/

[@jonnyTree]

Can the needed documentation be apostilled while in Costa Ruca? Or must it be done in the United States?

[@CostaRicaLaw]

Hi. If you want to do all the apostille process yourself then it is best to get it done while you are in the US for logistical purposes in sending and receiving documents. On the other hand if you hire a third party company to handle the apostille process for you then it can be done while you are in Costa Rica.

[@jonnyTree]

@@CostaRicaLaw I feel like I’m not going to have enough time with all the mailing documents back and forth? My flight to Central America is November 6 . If I used 3rd party company how would I get the needed documents to apply? I guess I also need to have them officially translated .

[@CostaRicaLaw]

@@jonnyTree You are going to need at least (1) Certified birth certificate apostilled (2) FBI background report apostilled (3) Income letter apostilled. What category are you applying for ?

[@jonnyTree]

@@CostaRicaLaw retirement residency

[@BoxofMemoriesTravel700]

Have a question. If I go through the process to get residency does my wife have to go through the same steps, with fingerprint and birth certificate, and the rest?

[@CostaRicaLaw]

Hi. Yes sir. One will be a primary applicant and the other will be a dependent applicant and both need to provide exactly the same documentation since Immigration treats each one as a separate application. To qualify a spouse you would need the marriage certificate.

[@billgalli5991]

Also will charge you Caja of 18% for medical.

[@CostaRicaLaw]

We have an article on the website where anybody can estimate their Caja payments based on the amount of the pension that they are applying with. Here is the link for those interested in doing their calculation based on their circumstances. Thank you for watching and commenting. costaricalaw.com/costa-rica-legal-topics/immigration-and-residency/how-to-calculate-your-monthly-caja-fee-for-residency-in-costa-rica/

[@ParisianThinker]

Sadly, I don’t qualify. Social Security and IRA’s are not counted and neither is savings.

[@CostaRicaLaw]

Hi. Thank you for watching and commenting. Yes for Pensionado it does require a lifetime pension and you are correct they don't accept IRA it has to be a government, disability or private type of lifetime pension for this category. The other options are Rentista or Investor

[@michaelmiller2277]

Question sir. What if I get a disability Pension from the government, that's more than a 1,000 dollars a month, but it does not say that the Pension is for a life time. Would this Disqualify me from the Penisonado visa sir?

[@CostaRicaLaw]

Here is the exact wording from the Department of Immigration. "Provide a document issued by a competent authority demonstrating that you receive a lifetime pension with an amount not less than one thousand dollars per month (US$1000). If the certification is issued abroad, it must be properly legalized and authenticated or apostilled" If you can't show that the pension is a lifetime pension then they have the discretion of rejecting it.

[@algerianinsingapore2023]

I want immigration to Costa Rica can help me

[@richardwilkinson72]

Does the spouse of the applicant require all the same documents?

[@CostaRicaLaw]

Hi Richard. Thank you for the question. Yes. The spouse needs the same documents with the exception of the pension document if your spouse is applying as a dependent on your application.

[@richardwilkinson72]

My wife was born in Germany of a German mother, adopted by Americans and naturalized in the United States at the age of three. Which if any of these documents would be appropriate? I’m not even sure how we would obtain them.

[@CostaRicaLaw]

@@richardwilkinson72 if she can get her German birth certificate then that is the easiest since she complies with the law. If not then she can provide an affadvit setting forth the reason and provide her naturalization certificate instead.

[@myinspirationalgoods]

How do I reinstate my Costa Rica Pensionado status? I obtained my status in 2007. Had Total Knee Replacement at Biblica in 2012. Replacement required Revision Surgery. Came to San Antonio, Texas in September 2013. Surgery was performed in 2014. Had 2 infections requiring multiple surgeries and treatment. Had surgery #7 in 2023 and Surgeon says I can return in late 2024. Have retained a Surgical Record History. Is reinstating Pensionado Status possible?

[@CostaRicaLaw]

You have a few considerations. If you are absent for two consecutive years then it can be cancelled. However you have a medical justification that you can claim. The other issue is that you will need to prove that you are up to date with your CCSS caja payment when you request a renewal

[@myinspirationalgoods]

@@CostaRicaLaw Wasn’t aware of Medical Justification. Thanks! My wife is a Lawyer in Costa Rica. We were aware of having to pay CCSS for the time it hadn’t been paid. Hope to return later this year with my Surgeon’s blessings. But returning with a bottle of Oral Antibiotics. Thanks again for your very rapid reply.

[@YouGotOptions2]

How long is the residency good for??

[@CostaRicaLaw]

Hi and thank you for watching. The initial residency card that you will receive is good for two years. You will then have to file for a renewal of your card which will be granted for an additional two years. At the three mark you can also apply to switch to permanent residency if you wish. As a permanent resident you no longer have to prove the pension income requirement.

[@MrVader282]

Visiting CR is fine but the entire country is geared toward taking as much money as they can, not a bad place to visit but moving there is another story. The fleecing is everywhere in CR, not worth the effort, too many living in CR without legal status, much easier in other countries.

[@CostaRicaLaw]

Hi. Thank you for your feedback and opinion. Costa Rica is certainly not for everybody and as you indicate there are other options all over the world.

[@PhoenixwayNet]

The CAPTCHA on your website is RIDICULOUS. Guess you don't mind losing potential customers...

[@eduardodiaz5877]

I am 67yrs old, and I have a great problem, I'm an American citizen, I came from Cuba verey young, 1960, my wife is a Tica, 28+yrs merry , the Costa Rican office told that i need my Cuban Birth certificate, but is in possible to get it , because my parents past away and my father died in the Bay of pigs in Cuba, the Cuban SOCIALIST PARTY Wont let me get it i can't go to cuba to get it , I love ❤COSTA RICA LOVE TO RETIRE IN COSTA RICA, BUT I CAN'T, because the C,R, office they DON'T UNDERSTAND this problem , they don't understand what is GOING on with socialist Cuba or are a sleep, thank you , PURA VIDA