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Costa Rica's Rentista visa grants two-year temporary residency to people who prove USD 2,500 per month in stable passive income for at least 24 months, or deposit USD 60,000 in an approved Costa Rican bank. Unlike the Digital Nomad visa, the Rentista route leads to permanent residency after three years and citizenship after seven. It is one of several Costa Rica residency routes; investors comparing options can also weigh residency by investment.

What Is the Costa Rica Rentista Visa?

The Rentista is a temporary residency category for people who can show stable, non-salaried income without needing a pension or a local job. It suits investors, business owners, and those living on passive income who want a residency that leads somewhere permanent.

Costa Rica designed the Rentista (person of independent means) for applicants who are not retirees but can prove they can support themselves. The defining requirement is USD 2,500 per month in guaranteed income for at least 24 months, which can be met either by documenting passive income or by depositing USD 60,000 in an approved Costa Rican bank that then disburses the monthly amount. The category is governed by Costa Rica's Immigration Law (Law 8764) and administered by the .

How Much Income Do You Need for the Rentista Visa?

You need USD 2,500 per month, guaranteed for a minimum of 24 months, and that single figure covers the whole family. There are two accepted ways to prove it.

• Guaranteed passive income: a certified letter, usually from a bank or financial institution, confirming stable income of at least USD 2,500 per month for 24 months from sources such as investments, dividends, interest, annuities, or rental income.
• Bank deposit: deposit USD 60,000 (USD 2,500 multiplied by 24 months) in a Costa Rican bank approved by DGME, which then releases USD 2,500 to you each month across the two years.

Two points matter as of 2026. First, salaried or employment income does not qualify: the income must be passive or independent of a job. Second, authorities increasingly scrutinize the source, expecting the deposit or investment to genuinely generate the certified amount rather than simply be drawn down, so structuring the income correctly at the outset avoids problems at renewal.

Rentista vs Pensionado vs Digital Nomad: Which Fits?

The Rentista sits between the Pensionado, which needs a lifetime pension, and the Digital Nomad visa, which is faster but temporary and leads nowhere permanent. The table below compares the three income-based routes.

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What Are the Steps to Apply for the Rentista Visa?

The Rentista is filed with the DGME, either from abroad through a Costa Rican consulate or in-country, and centers on certifying the income and assembling apostilled civil documents. The main steps are consistent.

1. Certify the income: obtain a bank or financial-institution letter confirming USD 2,500 per month for 24 months, or arrange the USD 60,000 deposit with an approved Costa Rican bank.
2. Gather civil documents: passport, birth certificate, marriage certificate if including a spouse, and a police clearance, each apostilled or legalized and translated into Spanish.
3. File the application with the DGME, including the income certification, documents, application forms, and fees.
4. Complete fingerprinting and consular registration once in Costa Rica, then attend the DGME appointment.
5. Receive approval and register for the DIMEX residency card and CCSS health enrollment.

What Does the Rentista Visa Cost?

Beyond the income or deposit itself, the Rentista carries government fees, professional fees, and the ongoing CCSS contribution. The figures below are indicative for 2026.

• Government and change-of-status fees: roughly USD 250 to USD 500 in official charges across the application.
• DIMEX card: about USD 50 per person once approved.
• CCSS health contribution: roughly 9 to 11% of declared income, around USD 200 per month for a USD 2,500 Rentista.
• Legal and document costs: apostilles, certified translations, and professional assistance vary by provider and family size.

What Are the Tax Implications of the Rentista Visa?

Costa Rica taxes only Costa Rican-source income under its territorial system, so the foreign passive income that qualifies you as a Rentista is not taxed locally. This is a core reason the category appeals to investors and independent earners.

Foreign-source income, including the investment returns, dividends, and rental income that typically fund a Rentista, is not subject to Costa Rican income tax. There is no wealth tax and no exit tax. Costa Rican-source business income is taxed, and a 13% value-added tax applies to most goods and services. Residents should still consider their home-country tax obligations, since tax residency rules there may continue to apply.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Much Money Do You Need for the Costa Rica Rentista Visa?

You need guaranteed passive income of USD 2,500 per month for at least 24 months, or a deposit of USD 60,000 in an approved Costa Rican bank that releases USD 2,500 monthly. The USD 2,500 covers the applicant and dependents together, so a family qualifies on one income stream.

Can You Work in Costa Rica on a Rentista Visa?

Not as a local employee. Temporary Rentista holders cannot take salaried local employment, but they may own and run a business in Costa Rica and draw income from it. Once you convert to permanent residency after three years, the work restriction is removed and you can work freely.

Does the Rentista Visa Lead to Permanent Residency?

Yes. After three years of temporary Rentista residency you can apply for permanent residency, which removes the income requirement and the work restriction. After seven years of legal residence you become eligible for citizenship, or five years for Central American, Ibero-American, and Spanish nationals.

What Is the Difference Between the Rentista and Pensionado Visa?

The Pensionado requires a lifetime pension of at least USD 1,000 per month, while the Rentista requires USD 2,500 per month in passive income or a USD 60,000 deposit and needs no pension. The Rentista suits younger applicants living on investments; the Pensionado suits retirees. Both lead to permanent residency after three years.

Does Rentista Income Get Taxed in Costa Rica?

No. Costa Rica uses a territorial tax system, so foreign-source income, including the investment or rental income that qualifies you as a Rentista, is not taxed locally. There is no wealth tax or exit tax. Local business income and a 13% value-added tax on goods and services still apply.

Can Salary or a Job Offer Qualify for the Rentista?

No. Salaried and employment income does not qualify for the Rentista, which is designed for passive or independent means. Acceptable sources include investment returns, dividends, interest, annuities, and rental income, or the USD 60,000 bank deposit route. Applicants with foreign employment income should consider the Digital Nomad visa instead.

How Â鶹ԭ´´ Helps

Â鶹ԭ´´ advisors help Rentista applicants structure their income so it satisfies the passive-income test, choose between the certified-income and USD 60,000 deposit routes, and assemble the apostilled documents the DGME expects. The team also plans the path beyond the initial two years, toward permanent residency and, where relevant, citizenship, so the Rentista is set up as a foundation rather than a one-off permit.