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Guía Expatriación: Costa Rica 2026

Costa Rica — Pura Vida — es el favorito histórico de los expatriados norteamericanos y europeos. Democracia estable, sin ejército permanente, excelente sanidad, rica biodiversidad e infraestructura expatriada bien desarrollada la convierten en uno de los países más fáciles para establecerse en América Latina.

Última actualización : Marzo 2026 — Equipo editorial, eVisa-Card.com

Costa Rica de un Vistazo

CapitalSan José
MonedaCosta Rican Colón (CRC) / USD
IdiomaSpanish
Costo mensual~$1,500–2,800/month

📋 Índice

  1. Visa & Residencia
  2. Salud
  3. Seguro de Salud
  4. Cuenta Bancaria
  5. Comprar Propiedad
  6. Fiscalidad & Exilio Fiscal

🛂 Visa & Opciones de Residencia

Tipo de VisaDetalles
Pensionado (Retiree Visa)Requires a guaranteed lifetime pension of $1,000/month from a government or private source. Permanent residency. Must spend 183 days/year en Costa Rica to maintain status. Popular with US and Canadian retirees.
Rentista (Passive Income Visa)For those with passive income (not pension): $2,500/month OR one-time bank deposit of $60,000. 2-year permit, renewable. Must reside 183 days/year.
Inversionista (Investor Visa)Investment of $150,000+ en Costa Rican property, business or government bonds. Permanent residency. No minimum stay requirement.
Digital Nomad VisaFor remote workers. Income $3,000/month (individual) or $4,000/month (family). 1-year permit, renewable once. No local work allowed.
Temporary Resident (Work)Sponsored by a Costa Rican employer. For skilled professionals. 2-year permit.

Proceso Paso a Paso

  1. Hire a Costa Rican immigration lawyer (budget $1,500–3,000)
  2. Reúna los documentos: passport, pension/income proof, police clearance, birth certificate, marriage certificate if applicable
  3. Apostille and notarise all foreign documents; translate to Spanish
  4. Submit to DGME (Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería)
  5. Receive initial conditional residency within 3–12 months
  6. Enrol in the CAJA (public health system) — mandatory for all residents
  7. Obtain your DIMEX card (Documento de Identidad Migratoria para Extranjeros)
  8. After 3 years of temporary residency, apply for permanent residency
💡 Consejo Pro: The Pensionado visa requires $1,000/month — even a modest US Social Security benefit often qualifies. The mandatory CAJA enrolment (~$50–150/month) gives access to Costa Rica's excellent public health system.

🏥 Salud en Costa Rica

Salud Pública

Costa Rica's CAJA (Caja Costoarricense de Seguro Social) is widely regarded as one of the best public healthcare systems in Latin America. All legal residents must enrol and pay monthly contributions (~$50–150/month based on income). Covers doctor visits, hospitalisation, surgery, maternity and prescription medicines.

Salud Privada

Private clinics and hospitals operate alongside the public system. CIMA Hospital (San José), Clínica Bíblica, Clínica Católica and Hospital Clínica Bíblica offer English-speaking doctors and US-comparable standards at 40–60% lower costs.

Costos Típicos

ServicioCosto
CAJA monthly contribution (resident)~$50–150/month (income-based)
CAJA consultation (covered)Free or nominal co-pay
Consulta médico general (privada)$60–100
Especialista privado$80–200
Private hospitalisation (per night)$400–1,200
Limpieza dental (private)$60–100
ℹ️ Recomendado: Enrol in CAJA immediately — it's mandatory and provides comprehensive coverage for a modest monthly fee. Add a private supplementary plan for faster access to specialists and English-speaking doctors.

🛡️ Seguro de Salud Complementario

While the CAJA public system is comprehensive, wait times for non-emergency specialist care and some procedures can be long. Complementario private insurance provides immediate access to private hospitals and is also useful for the period before CAJA enrolment is active.

Mejores Aseguradoras para Expatriados

INS (Instituto Nacional de Seguros)
State insurer. Mandatory for car insurance; also offers health plans. From ~$80/month.
Aseguradora del Istmo (ADISA)
Private supplementary plans. Strong hospital network. From ~$100/month.
Cigna Global
International plan for new arrivals and frequent travellers. From ~$120/month.
AXA Global Salud
Comprehensive worldwide coverage. Good for those splitting time between CR and home country. From ~$130/month.
BUPA International
Premium plan with repatriation coverage. Good for US citizens. From ~$150/month.
💡 Consejo Pro: Combine mandatory CAJA (~$100/month) with a private supplementary plan ($100–150/month) for the best of both worlds — comprehensive public coverage plus fast-track private access for specialist care.

🏦 Abrir una Cuenta Bancaria en Costa Rica

A Costa Rican bank account is needed to pay rent, utilities and CAJA contributions, and to receive local salary or pension transfers. The process has become more regulated but remains manageable.

Bancos Recomendados

Banco de Costa Rica (BCR) — State bank. Most expat-friendly, good English service in Escazú/San José. Accepts tourist visas for basic accounts.
Banco Nacional de Costa Rica — Largest state bank. Lowest fees. Extensive branch network throughout the country.
BAC San José (BAC Credomatic) — Best digital banking. Popular with younger expats and digital nomads. Requires DIMEX card.
Scotiabank Costa Rica — Canadian bank, familiar to North American expats. International wire capabilities.
Prival Bank — Good for higher-net-worth expats and investors. English-speaking staff.

Documentos Requeridos

  • Pasaporte válido
  • DIMEX card (for residents) — OR tourist entry for basic account at state banks
  • Comprobante de domicilio (contrato de alquiler or factura de servicios)
  • Proof of income (pension letter, employment contract, bank statements)
  • Costa Rican phone number

Proceso Paso a Paso

  1. Visit bank branch in person
  2. For state banks: some accept tourist status for a basic account
  3. Presente todos los documentos and complete KYC form
  4. Account typically opened within 1–5 business days
  5. Reciba su tarjeta de débito and online banking access
💡 Consejo Pro: Banco de Costa Rica in Escazú and Los Yoses (San José) have dedicated expat advisors with strong English skills. State banks (BCR, Banco Nacional) are the most accessible for new arrivals without a DIMEX card.

🏠 Comprar Propiedad en Costa Rica

Costa Rica has no restrictions on foreign property ownership — foreigners have the same rights as citizens. The property market is well-established, with a large inventory of expat-friendly properties particularly in the Central Valley, Guanacaste, Manuel Antonio and the Southern Zone.

Opciones de Propiedad para Extranjeros

Titled (Freehold) Property
Full ownership registered at the National Registry. Standard for most urban and suburban properties. Most secure form of ownership.
Concession Land (Maritime Zone)
Land within 200m of the ocean. The first 50m from the high tide line is public and inalienable. The next 150m requires a concession from the municipality. Foreigners can hold concessions but must have 5 years legal residency or go through a Costa Rican company.
Rights of Way / Possession Rights
Untitled land. Very risky for foreigners — avoid unless you have expert legal advice.

Proceso de Compra

  1. Hire a Costa Rican real estate lawyer (not optional)
  2. Obtain an RNPN (National Property Registry) title search
  3. Check for liens, easements, back taxes, survey maps
  4. Sign a Purchase Option contract (Opción de Compra) — pay $5,000–20,000 deposit
  5. Complete due diligence: survey, environmental restrictions, zoning
  6. Sign Escritura de Compraventa (Purchase Deed) before a Notary Public
  7. Register at the National Registry (Registro Nacional)
  8. Pay transfer taxes and notary fees at closing

Costos Típicos

ConceptoCosto
Property transfer tax1.5% of registered value
Notary fees1.25–1.5% of sale price
National Registry recording fee~0.5%
Honorarios del abogado1–2% of purchase price
Impuesto anual sobre bienes inmuebles (Impuesto sobre Bienes Inmuebles)0.25% of appraised value
Annual municipality luxury tax (if applicable)0.25–0.55% on values over ¢133M (~$245,000)
💡 Consejo Pro: Always verify the title at the National Registry (Registro Nacional) yourself or via your lawyer before signing anything. Maritime zone properties near the beach require special legal expertise — do not purchase without understanding the concession terms.

Acerca de esta Guía

Esta guía es investigada y mantenida por el equipo editorial de eVisa-Card.com. Última actualización : Marzo 2026. Verifique siempre los requisitos actuales con fuentes gubernamentales oficiales y consulte a un profesional autorizado antes de tomar decisiones importantes.

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💰 Fiscalidad & Exilio Fiscal

Impuesto sobre ganancias
0%
Régimen fiscal
Territorial
Cripto-compatibilidad
7/10
Exit Tax
No

Impuesto sobre ganancias: 0% on foreign-source income (territorial)

Puntos clave

  • Territorial tax: no tax on income earned outside Costa Rica
  • Crypto gains from foreign platforms are tax-free
  • No exit tax
  • Stable democracy with strong rule of law

Simule sus ahorros fiscales

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Información fiscal proporcionada solo como orientación general. Consulte a un asesor fiscal cualificado.

📚 Fuentes Oficiales & Referencias

Equipo Editorial — eVisa-Card.com

Guías escritas por expertos en viajes, especialistas en inmigración y expatriados con experiencia directa en Costa Rica.

✔ Información verificada ✔ Actualizado Marzo 2026 ✔ Fuentes oficiales citadas