Resident Guide

Laura Fernández took office on May 8, 2026, succeeding Rodrigo Chaves as President of Costa Rica. Her administration has signaled continuity in immigration enforcement, including maintaining the bilateral cooperation agreement with the United States.

Key points for expats and residents:

• Program continuity: The new government confirmed it will maintain the Costa Rica–US deportation cooperation program.
• Policy direction: Analysts anticipate the new administration may adopt more restrictive immigration policies than its predecessor.
• No changes yet: As of May 2026, no changes to residency categories, fees, or requirements have been announced.

Monitor migracion.go.cr for any official announcements from the new administration.

As of May 2026, fewer than 70 days remain before Law 9996 tax benefits expire. This affects Pensionado, Rentista, Investor, and Digital Nomad categories.

What expires on July 14, 2026:

• Vehicle import exemption: 100% tax-free on up to 2 vehicles (air, sea, or land). One-time benefit.
• Household goods import: duty-free, one-time.
• Real estate transfer tax: 20% exemption on property purchase.

Action required: Your residency application must be submitted and in process before July 14. Consult a licensed Costa Rican immigration attorney if you have not started yet.

The Costa Rican government is actively evaluating an increase to the Pensionado visa's minimum monthly income requirement, currently set at $1,000/month.

What you need to know:

• No official amount or implementation date has been confirmed as of May 2026.
• If approved, existing pensionados would NOT be grandfathered. They would need to meet the new requirement at renewal.
• Those considering applying should do so under the current $1,000 threshold before any change is enacted.

Monitor migracion.go.cr and La Gaceta Oficial for official announcements.

The DGME issued Resolution DJUR-0198-04-2026-JM notifying that individuals who did not comply with instructions from an official telegram sent 6 months ago and whose names appear on a published list have had their migratory category cancelled.

What this means depending on your residency type:

• Temporary Residency or Special Category (CET) on the list: You can no longer renew, request a duplicate, or process your DIMEX for the first time. You must file a new application from scratch — presenting all requirements again, except those already on file that have not expired.
• Permanent Residency on the list: You CAN continue your documentation process (renewal, duplicate, or first-time DIMEX) normally.

Action required: Check the official list immediately at migracion.go.cr. If your name appears, consult a licensed Costa Rican immigration attorney as soon as possible.

Costa Rica signed a bilateral cooperation agreement with the United States to receive weekly deportation flights of up to 25 people of various nationalities. These are not exclusively Costa Rican citizens — they include nationals of third countries being deported by the US.

What has happened so far:

• First flight (April 12, 2026): 25 people — nationals from Albania, Cameroon, China, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Kenya, and Morocco.
• Second flight (April 19, 2026): 22 people — nationals from Brazil, Romania, Uzbekistan, China, Azerbaijan, Ireland, India, Vietnam, and Belarus.
• Each group receives primary medical care, translators, and Red Cross coordination upon arrival.
• President Laura Fernández confirmed she will maintain the program after taking office on May 8, 2026.

Why this matters for expats: This agreement reflects increased coordination between Costa Rica and US immigration authorities, signaling a stricter enforcement environment overall. It does not directly affect legal residents or those with valid residency applications in process.

As of February 2026, the Digital DIMEX issued through the EDUS app has the same full legal validity as the physical card.

• Use it to open bank accounts, sign contracts, and complete government procedures.
• CCSS physical cards are no longer issued — access your healthcare record exclusively through the EDUS app.
• Download EDUS from the App Store or Google Play.

• Initial approval (all categories except Digital Nomad): 18–24 months due to high demand.
• Digital Nomad initial approval: 15 calendar days (official target).
• DIMEX issuance (all categories): 3–4 months after approval (backlog of 20,000+).
• Temporary residency renewal: approx. 4 months from appointment.
• Most rejected documents: criminal background checks older than 3 months, missing apostille, bank letters that don't explicitly guarantee $2,500/month for 24 months.
• Recommendation: use electronic apostilles (e-Apostille) for faster processing.

• The Digital Nomad Visa (Law N° 10.008) remains active in 2026 with no announced changes.
• Income requirement: $3,000/month individual, $4,000/month with dependents (unchanged from 2025).
• If already in Costa Rica as tourist: you CAN apply from within the country through “Trámite Ya” without leaving.
• Once approved from abroad: 90 days to enter and complete in-person accreditation.
• Renewal: must have spent at least 180 days in Costa Rica during year one.

Simple Decision Guide:

• Government pension $1,000+/month → Pensioner visa. Fastest to document.
• Rental income, dividends, investment returns $2,500+/month → Rentista visa. Requires CPA certification.
• Investing $150,000+ → Investor visa. Only 1 annual visit required.
• Working remotely for foreign employers → Digital Nomad visa. Fastest approval (15 days), limited to 2 years.
• Married to or close relative of a Costa Rican citizen → Family Tie residency. Strong path to citizenship.
• From Cuba, Nicaragua, or Venezuela → Ask about CET with automatic work permit.

The DGME confirmed on February 24, 2026 that over 20,000 DIMEX are pending, with applications from October 2025 still in process.

How to avoid being left without a valid document:

1. Schedule your renewal appointment at least 4 months before your DIMEX expires.
2. Keep your CCSS payments current — the DGME checks this directly.
3. Save the appointment confirmation receipt as proof of pending renewal.
4. Expired passports without physical damage ARE accepted under Feb 2026 simplification.

To schedule a Migración appointment: visit migracion.go.cr or use the Trámite Ya platform.

A bill introduced in Costa Rica's Legislative Assembly on February 25, 2025 (by the Frente Amplio party) proposes to regulate tourist re-entry and effectively end the practice of perpetual tourism — where foreigners repeatedly leave and re-enter Costa Rica as tourists to avoid applying for legal residency.

Main provisions proposed:

• 90-day re-entry ban: Tourists could not re-enter Costa Rica for 90 days after reaching their maximum allowed stay.
• Increased fines: $300/month for tourists who overstay their authorized period.
• Entry bans: Up to 5 years for serious violations.

Who would be exempt if the bill passes:

• Temporary residents and those with a residency application in process.
• Digital Nomad visa holders.
• Business travelers, journalists, and foreign professionals on official invitations.
• Foreigners receiving medical treatment in Costa Rica.

Current status (May 2026):

• The bill is in the early stages of the legislative process — it has NOT been approved and is not currently in effect.
• Frente Amplio holds only 6 seats in the Legislative Assembly, making passage difficult without broad coalition support.
• US and Canadian citizens currently retain their 180-day tourist entry and can begin residency applications from within Costa Rica — this has NOT changed.

Monitor the Legislative Assembly and migracion.go.cr for updates on this bill.