RSSCosta Rican Investment Residency Program
Costa Rica, an isthmus located in Central America surrounded by the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, enjoys a very large number of tourists every year. The impressive scenic beauty of this nation hosts an amazing biodiversity with the majority of the terrain dedicated as protected area. The ecological variety encompasses a range of high, rugged mountains of volcanic origin, a swampy coast, grassland savannah, and mangroves. Rivers meander through the mountains and the lowlands to empty into the Caribbean and Pacific...
Costa Rica is characterized by impressive scenic beauty, a consolidated system of protected areas, social and political stability, high educational levels, and efficient infrastructure and services.
The country's strategic position, in the heart of the western hemisphere, the Government's positive attitude towards foreign investment, its infrastructure, access to international markets, and the quality and cost of labor, make Costa Rica an ideal place to establish commercial operations.
Coffee has historically been the country´s most important crop, and Costa Rica continues to produce some of the finest coffee in the world. However in recent years less traditional crops have been playing an increasingly important economic role. Bananas are the second most important export crop, with vast plantations covering parts of the Caribbean lowlands, there is also significant land dedicated to the cultivation of pineapples, sugar, oranges, rice, hardwoods and ornamental plants, as well as raising cattle for beef and dairy products.
C O S T A R I C A S E C O N D C I T I Z E N S H I P P R O G R A M
Costa Rica offers many options for foreigners to become residents of the country. The Pensionado, rentista and inversionista schemes allow them residency in Costa Rica. Pensionados, Rentistas and Inversionistas can claim their spouses and children under 18 as dependants. A child between the age of 18 - 25 can be a resident if he/she is enrolled in a university.
After two years of availing the schemes- pensionado, rentista or inversionista, you can apply for a permanent residency of the country. This is usually unrestricted and working is permitted. Citizens of Spain can straightaway apply for a permanent residency in the country.
I N V E S T M E N T S C H E M E S
The 3 special investment schemes are Pensionados, Rentistas and Resident Investors.
• Resident Investors
• Pensionados
• Rentistas
R E S I D E N T I N V E S T O R S
The Resident Investor Status offered is what is considered a pre-approved and non-restrictive status by the government of Costa Rica. The applicant can work in any type of endeavours in Costa Rica, except where there are licenses required. The project itself has been pre-approved by the Government as an appropriate vehicle for obtaining "Resident Investor Status". The investment made as a resident investor could be of 3 types.
• US$50,000 with an approved organization in a field such as tourism or export businesses.
• US$100,000 in an approved reforestation project.
• US$200,000 in another type of business, i.e. factories, investments, real estate, etc.
Requirements
• Commit himself to reside within the country for at least 6 consecutive or alternate months per year.
• Submit photocopies of all pages of the passport.
• Submit Birth certificate and Marriage certificate (if married).
• Police Certificate of good conduct, valid for 6 months, from the last place of residence is required for applicant, spouse and any children age 15 through 25.
• Birth Certificate required for spouse and all dependent children 9 through 18 years old or through 25 if a University student.
• If the applicant has changed citizenship, a certificate of naturalization must be presented duly authenticated by the nearest Costa Rican Consulate.
• Eight front and four-side passport size (2.4cm X 3cm) photographs of the applicant taken recently.
• Children who do not bear the last name of the resident investor (i.e. children who have not been legally adopted by the husband) will not be accepted as his dependents. It is possible for the mother to become a resident investor in her own right and claim the children as her dependents.
• All the above documents (other than those obtained in Costa Rica) must be notarized by a local notary of public if they do not have an official government seal, and authenticated by the Costa Rican consul in the country where the document was issued. The signature of the applicant must not appear in the notarization of the document.
• The above mentioned documents must be submitted for the Resident Investor and each of its dependents individually. The Costa Rican office will handle all other legal requirements.
