LGBTQ Relocation: Costa Rica Immigration FAQ

There are many reasons people are currently looking into LGBTQ relocation. Whatever your reason for leaving the US may be, you can rest easy knowing that you can have a great quality of life in Costa Rica. From stunning beaches to lush rainforests, Costa Rica offers a simple life full of adventure and community. Check out our FAQ to learn more about the Costa Rica immigration process.

What are the Steps Involved in LGBTQ Relocation to Costa Rica?

There are only a few steps you need to take to relocate to Costa Rica, but they can be challenging and time consuming. First, you need to determine whether you want to come into the country with a tourist visa, digital nomad visa, or residency application.

Then, it's time to start collecting your documents. You don't need anything other than a passport and a return ticket for a tourist visa. But for residency, you need a variety of documents, one of which is an FBI background check. To do that, you need to give your fingerprints (instructions are available here). Once you obtain the documents, you have six months from the date of the first document to apply for residency.

After the documents are in hand, you need to apostille them and then translate them with a certified translator. Then, you're ready to go to a fingerprint appointment at the police station in San Jose, Costa Rica. They do not speak English there.

Next, you need to make bank deposits for all the immigration fees. Those fees vary over time, but you can expect to make several small deposits for each applicant.

Finally, you're ready for your immigration appointment in San Jose. You can't schedule appointments ahead of time, but there are only a few select hours during which you can get help. Keep in mind that they speak little if any English at the office. Bring all of your documents, along with two passport sized photos of yourself and photocopies of EVERY page of your passport.

After the appointment, the employee will either deny you or move your application forward. If they push it through, you can (but don't have to) remain in Costa Rica until they fully approve your temporary residency. This could take up to a year.

What Documents Do I Need?

While the documentation depends on the type of residency you're seeking, you can expect to need at least the following:

• FBI background check

• Birth certificate

• Marriage license

• Letter explaining your desire to relocate

• Proof of income (Pension, Social Security, etc)

All documents need to then be recent copies, and they need to be apostilled.

What is an Apostille?

An apostille is a certificate that validates the authenticity of your document for use on an international scale. Essentially, it confirms that the signature, seal, and stamp on a document are genuine. Federal documents need a federal apostille and state documents need a state apostille.

You can pay a service to do the apostille for you, or you can mail the documents in yourself. Either way, this is where the process can get expensive. You may need to pay high expedited shipping fees for your documents.

What are my Options for Living in Costa Rica?

There are several ways to legally remain in Costa Rica. Perhaps the most common method is the Tourist Visa. This allows you to stay in the country for up to six months. However, you need to show proof of a return ticket out of the country.

You can leave the country and return immediately for another six months, but the government has been talking of cracking down on the border jumpers. At any time, they could vote to make it more difficult to be a perpetual tourist.

If you truly want to stay in Costa Rica, here are a few other more stable options:

Pensionado (Retirement) Residency: If you receive $1,000 a month in social security or retirement benefits, you can apply for a pensionado visa.

Digital Nomad Visa: This is not a residency program. However, it does grant you permission to live and work remotely in Costa Rica for up to a year. After the year, you have the option to extend. You do need to work remotely and have proof of income to qualify for this.

Rentista Residency: Anyone with $2500 of monthly stable income can qualify for this type of residency. But the income needs to be considered stable and guaranteed.

Inversionista (Investor) Residency: If you have enough money to invest in a property or business in Costa Rica, you may qualify for this program. You need $150k to invest, and you need to make sure the investment is a type that would qualify you for this category of residency.

How Long Does It Take?

Obtaining the documents could take about a month, but sometimes there are long wait times for things like social security letters. Once you bring your documents into the immigration office, the process takes between six months and a year. However, you can legally remain in the country during that time.

Can I do it from the US?

You can collect your documents while you're in the US. However, you need to go to Costa Rica for the fingerprints. You could do the bank deposits, and the immigration appointment with a Power of Attorney, but you may as well do it while you're here!

Why Shouldn't I Come in on a Tourist Visa?

The government frowns upon "perpetual tourists," or those who border jump every six months only to return to Costa Rica. They could change visa requirements and limit your time here in Costa Rica to less than six months. Alternatively, they could also make it so that you need to wait an extended period of time to return to the country after leaving.

Do I need to speak Spanish?

Although you can apply for residency without speaking Spanish, doing so is very difficult. Most people in Costa Rica speak very limited English, and the process is challenging enough for a native speaker. For the best results, you should hire an immigration specialist who can accompany you to your appointments.

Generally, it's a great idea to learn some Spanish before moving to Costa Rica. Ticos are so happy just to see you try to speak the language, and knowing the basics will get you better prices on things. More importantly, it'll help you become part of the beautiful community that they have here.

How Can I Get help?

Come by and chat with us about LGBTQ relocation, or hire Jon for all of your immigration needs. All of the requirements, costs, and timelines can change at any point in time. Before you apply, verify the current requirements.