main categories of residence Types of Legal Residency in Costa Rica Temporary, Special, or Permanent? Find out what suits you best. Now …
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Part 1 – Guide by Residency Category: General Requirements Which Residency Category Is Right for You? This is the second article in …
What you should know before believing internet promises Work visas for Costa Rica directly from your Country? How to legally arrive in …
in Costa Rica How I Registered a Tourist Activity in Costa Rica for someone from the USA – legally, quickly and without …
San Ramón is not just a canton with green landscapes and clean air, it is a place with a deep soul, also known as the "Ciudad de los Presidentes y Poetas" (City of Presidents and Poets).
What's New?
main categories of residence Types of Legal Residency in Costa Rica Temporary, Special, or Permanent? Find out what suits you best. Now …
Part 1 – Guide by Residency Category: General Requirements Which Residency Category Is Right for You? This is the second article in …
What you should know before believing internet promises Work visas for Costa Rica directly from your Country? How to legally arrive in …
in Costa Rica How I Registered a Tourist Activity in Costa Rica for someone from the USA – legally, quickly and without …
San Ramón is not just a canton with green landscapes and clean air, it is a place with a deep soul, also known as the "Ciudad de los Presidentes y Poetas" (City of Presidents and Poets).
What's New?
main categories of residence Types of Legal Residency in Costa Rica Temporary, Special, or Permanent? Find out what suits you best. Now …
Part 1 – Guide by Residency Category: General Requirements Which Residency Category Is Right for You? This is the second article in …
What you should know before believing internet promises Work visas for Costa Rica directly from your Country? How to legally arrive in …
in Costa Rica How I Registered a Tourist Activity in Costa Rica for someone from the USA – legally, quickly and without …
San Ramón is not just a canton with green landscapes and clean air, it is a place with a deep soul, also known as the "Ciudad de los Presidentes y Poetas" (City of Presidents and Poets).
Warning Signs and Useful Tips
Costa Rica is attracting more and more foreigners with its image of a tropical paradise
Mild climate, spectacular landscapes, a stable political system and the promise of a more relaxed lifestyle. For some, it's the place where they dream of starting a new life. For others, unfortunately, it's the place where they waste money, time and trust, being fooled by "intermediaries" who promise more than the law allows.
What to Know Before Paying for Emigration to Costa Rica
This article is written to prevent such situations . Below you will find clear information about what legally involves emigrating to Costa Rica, the red flags you should pay attention to, and how to avoid traps promoted online or through personal networks.
Beautiful promises, harsh realities
Lately, more and more people have been receiving tempting “offers”: guaranteed jobs, residency visas in a few weeks, or “direct contracts with Costa Rican immigration.”
The reality, however, is different:
- Costa Rica does NOT issue work visas directly to foreigners who apply from outside the country without an actual employer.
- The residency process takes on average between 4 and 12 months , depending on the type of application and how well the documents are prepared.
- There is no agency or private firm that “guarantees” residency approval. Only the General Directorate of Migration has the legal authority to approve or reject applications.
Careful:
Warning Signs and Useful Tips
Even if a company is registered as a legal entity in Costa Rica, only authorized individuals — with an active professional code (lawyer, notary, accountant, etc.) can sign and be legally responsible for certain official documents.
Companies can provide support services, but cannot legally represent clients before state institutions if they do not have an authorized professional on their team .
Examples of alarm signals:
✔ No verifiable physical location or only a superficial online presence.
✔ No clearly identified persons holding a valid professional code (bar, notary, accountant, etc.)
✔ Advance payment requests without a contract and without a tax invoice (FE).
✔ Vague texts and unrealistic promises: “we have direct connections with immigration”, “100% approval guaranteed”.
✔ Companies that constantly change their visual identity, name or contact person , which makes legal prosecution difficult in case of litigation.
How it works
The Legal Process of Emigration to Costa Rica
Legal emigration involves falling into one of the 41 residency categories provided for by law
permanent residence
1. The foreign citizen, together with his/her spouse and first-degree relatives (parents or children), who has benefited from temporary residence for at least three consecutive years.
2. Foreign citizens who have first-degree family ties with a Costa Rican citizen – specifically: parents, minor or adult children with disabilities, as well as brothers/sisters who are minors or adults with disabilities.
3. The person to whom the Commission on Restricted Visas and Refugees has granted this status.
temporary residence
1. Temporary residency through marriage to a Costa Rican citizen .
2. Temporary residence for religiously consecrated persons and their dependents.
3. Temporary residence for directors, legal representatives, managers, specialized technical personnel and their dependents.
4. Temporary residence for self-employed professionals and their dependents.
5. Temporary residence for specialized employees in a dependent employment relationship, as well as for their dependents.
6. Temporary residence for investors and their dependents.
7. Temporary residence for scientists, professionals, interns and their dependents.
8. Temporary residence for specialized technicians and their dependents.
9. Temporary residence for athletes officially accredited by the National Council for Sports and Recreation (ICODER) or UNAFUT, and for their dependents.
10. Correspondents and staff of news agencies and their dependents.
11. Renter and his/her dependents.
12. Retired person and their dependents
Special category
1. Cross-border workers
2. Temporary workers
3. Workers for specific occupations employed by legal entities
4. Workers for specific occupations employed by individuals
5. Workers for specific occupations, independent (self-employed)
6. Workers for specific occupations , on a business visit
7. Workers for specific occupations, internally transferred ( transfer personnel )
8. Workers for specific occupations , involved in after-sales services
9. Pupils, students, researchers, teachers and volunteers , as well as dependents of students
10. Foreign citizens dependent on students
11. Special guests of the state or its institutions , as well as persons whose presence is justified for reasons of public safety, as assessed by the Ministry of Security, including whistleblowers or witnesses in judicial or administrative proceedings
12. Artists, athletes and members of public performances, renowned professionals and technicians, or persons invited to carry out activities of interest to the country
13. Workers involved in specific projects or in projects of public interest
14. Stateless person
15. Asylum seeker
16. Special category for humanitarian reasons
17. Special category through connection with a Costa Rican citizen.
18. Special category through connection with a permanent resident .
19. Special category by connection with a temporary resident.
20. Special category by connection with a legal guardian or curator.
21. Special category through connection with a researcher, teacher, professional or volunteer.
22. Special category for children of diplomatic agents, consular officials, government officials, representatives and delegates of permanent missions or delegations accredited to international organizations in Costa Rica.
23. Special category for minors under the legal guardianship of the National Children’s Patronage (PANI).
24. Special category for residents of border areas who have permanent residence near the border.
25. Special category for officials designated by other states or partner international organizations, involved in the implementation of international cooperation projects or programs, as well as for their dependents and a member of the domestic or service staff.
26. Nomad Digital
Who can provide Legal Assistance?
There are two types of Entities that can provide Legal Services
Brokerage firms without lawyers/notaries on their team are NOT allowed to file applications on behalf of clients. They may provide administrative support (translations, scheduling, etc.), but not legal guarantees.
Licensed professionals
- Lawyers, notaries or accountants — authorized individuals with an active professional code , registered with the relevant institution (Bar, Notarial College, etc.).
- They are the only ones who can sign official documents, powers of attorney, or legal declarations on behalf of the client.
- They can issue a tax invoice (electronic invoice – FE) and assume legal responsibility for the service provided.
- They have a headquarters, a verifiable address, and contracts in Spanish, with legal clauses.
Individuals registered as professional service providers (self-employed)
- I can provide consulting, prepare files, arrange meetings with institutions or authorized professionals (e.g. notary, lawyer).
- I cannot sign official documents on behalf of the client , but I can ensure logistics, communication, and document verification.
- They must be registered with the Hacienda (Ministry of Finance) with declared activity and issue FE.
Our advice
Before You Pay… Check!
Take a few simple steps to avoid risks:
Check the name of the firm or lawyer
Always ask for a written contract
with clear details about the services offered, deadlines and costs.
Ask for references from other clients
not just social media reviews, but real contacts.
Request a tax invoice
in Costa Rica this is mandatory and electronic.
Ask anything you don't understand.
If you are not given clear answers, take a break and reevaluate.
Conclusion
Emigrating to Costa Rica is possible and, for some, can be an excellent choice.
But it’s not an easy road, and it’s certainly not one you enter with your eyes closed and your card ready.
Get informed, look for reliable sources, ask for opinions, double check before signing or paying. Better slow but fair than fast and bad.
