Costa Rica residency by investment is the fastest path for global investors who want a base in a stable, pro-business country.
Who this guide is for: entrepreneurs, investors, and families who want speed and certainty
You want clear steps.
You want predictable timelines.
You want a structure that protects assets and reduces risk.
You want a local team that owns the outcome.
We’re BGA Abogados in Costa Rica.
We’ve handled cross-border legal work for 27+ years with a 96% success rate.
We combine legal expertise with AI-powered predictive analysis to de-risk your process.
If you’re serious about relocating or investing, this guide is for you.
Quick snapshot: the investment-based routes that actually work
Costa Rica offers several legal bases to build your case.
The right choice depends on capital, timing, and your plan for business or property.
Below is a simple, decision-driven view.
- Investor (Inversionista).
Invest a qualifying amount in approved assets such as real estate, productive projects, or securities tied to national development.
Best for buyers who want to acquire property or fund an operating business. - Business-led residency.
Set up or acquire a Costa Rican company and invest into operations, equipment, payroll, or expansion.
Best for founders or buyers who want to grow a local operation and demonstrate economic impact.
See how to start and register your company in our guides: start a business in Costa Rica and register business in Costa Rica. - Property-anchored strategy.
Acquire property that qualifies and connect it to a compliant investment plan and company structure.
Best for families who want a lifestyle asset that also supports their file.
Deepen your research with our resource on title strategy: buying under a company vs personal name. - Hybrid plan.
Combine company formation + property + operating spend to diversify proof of investment and strengthen compliance.
Best for higher-net-worth clients seeking resilience.
What the government wants to see (and how we show it)
Immigration reviews three realities. Capital is real. Investment benefits Costa Rica. You follow the rules.
Our job is to prove those three points with clean documents and zero drama.
We do it by building an evidence stack:
- Verified capital flows tied to the qualifying threshold.
- Corporate records and shareholder structure that match your affidavit.
- Contracts, invoices, and bank proofs that link spend to the local economy.
- Property records or business assets aligned with your category.
- Tax and compliance confirmations to remove doubt early.
Read more about governance in our page on compliance in Costa Rica.
Our playbook: simple, sequential, fast
We keep you out of rework.
We kill ambiguity.
We front-load evidence.
Here’s the sequence we run:
- Case mapping.
We define your target category, capital sources, and timeline.
We flag risk items and set the document list. - Entity and bank rails.
If you need a company, we form it and align bylaws with your investment plan.
We set clean rails for incoming funds. - Investment execution.
We coordinate purchases, contracts, and registrations so each dollar is traceable.
We prepare sworn statements that match the proof trail. - Application assembly.
We compile criminal records, translations, apostilles, and financials.
We attach the investment proof stack.
We file with the correct category. - Follow-through.
We manage clarifications, schedule appointments, and track approvals.
We finalize DIMEX and local registrations.
We hand you a ready-to-operate status.
If you’re a U.S. citizen, read our practical overview for Americans at Residency in Costa Rica for US citizens, and meet the team that will run your file at Immigration Law.
Why do some investors get stuck?
They invest first and ask legal questions second.
They buy property without a structure.
They assume any spend will qualify.
They mismatch bank transfers with the names in their file.
They under-document.
They answer requests piecemeal.
We prevent all that with checklists, templates, and proactive filings.
The clean-file standard we hold you to
We run a “no surprises” policy.
That means complete facts, documented sources, and consistent numbers.
Here’s what that looks like:
- Identity + criminal records ready, recent, and apostilled.
- Corporate kit aligned with shareholders and investment purpose.
- Proof of funds sourced and traced into Costa Rica with bank letters.
- Investment evidence that ties every invoice and contract to your entity.
- Tax and social security basics configured if you will hire staff.
When you follow this standard, approvals get faster and communications stay short.
Property route: do it right, not twice
If you anchor your file with real estate, structure it first.
Use the correct company type.
Register the deed cleanly.
Align escrow confirmations with your corporate name.
Cross-check permits and zoning if you plan construction.
For build-outs, secure tight contracts that pass scrutiny.
Use our template discipline and review pages on property purchase process and construction agreements.
We close the loop so immigration, registries, and banking all match.
Business route: from incorporation to payroll
If your plan is operating a company, we connect legal, tax, and HR from day one.
We set bylaws for investor control and capital calls.
We register before you spend a cent.
We link invoices and supplier contracts to the right entity.
We keep your compliance calendar live.
This turns your spend into qualifying investment instead of random receipts.
Timelines and expectations: what smart investors plan for
Government processing changes.
Holidays slow calendars.
Background checks can add steps.
Smart investors plan buffers.
We’ll give you an honest, current view before filing.
We’ll also tell you what can be accelerated and what cannot.
Our rule is simple.
Under-promise.
Over-deliver.
Stay transparent.
Taxes, banking, and ongoing obligations
Residency is not the finish line.
You still have obligations.
We help you register for tax numbers, municipal permits, and social security if you hire.
We coordinate with your accountant and banker.
We keep your file consistent so future renewals are smooth.
If you plan to license IP or run brands, consider trademark coverage early via trademark registration.
Clean IP today avoids settlement tomorrow.
Who runs your case at BGA
You never get a “black box” law firm.
You get named lawyers and a direct WhatsApp line.
You speak with our immigration and corporate teams, not a call center.
You see task lists, docs needed, and next dates.
You get replies fast.
You get accountability.
If your matter touches litigation, corporate, or family law, our teams coordinate internally so you don’t repeat facts.
Meet our people and practice areas here: Practice Areas and Contact.
Why BGA for investors
We think like owners.
We build defensible structures, not just paperwork. We operate cross-border.
We speak business, tax, and immigration. We use AI for speed and consistency.
Our predictive protocol flags missing pieces before the government does. We communicate clearly.
Short messages.
Fast answers.
Clear next steps.
When stakes are high, clarity wins.
Realistic next steps you can do this week
Pick one track and move.
Motion beats indecision.
- Book a 20-minute scoping call.
Tell us your capital plan and target dates.
We’ll map the category and evidence stack.
Message us on WhatsApp. - Gather identity and police records.
We’ll check validity and apostille timelines for your country. - Choose structure.
Company vs personal.
If company, we draft and file.
If personal, we align the deed and payments. - Plan the transfer schedule.
We’ll set bank rails and memos so funds arrive clean. - Set your property or business targets.
We’ll pre-review contracts so they qualify.
If you want a deeper dive on legal categories, see our pages immigration lawyers in Costa Rica and Costa Rica residency lawyer.
If you’re building a broader life plan, our corporate and family teams can structure marriages, prenups, and estates to protect assets while you relocate.
Tone check: direct, simple, no fluff
This process rewards clarity and punishes assumptions.
Your money must be traceable.
Your story must be consistent.
Your documents must be current.
Our job is to keep you inside those lines and move your file to approval with minimal friction.
If that’s what you want, we’re the right partner.
Talk to us now on WhatsApp.
Final word from our managing partner
Act before a conflict exists.
That single decision saves you months.
We’ve resolved legal crises in more than 20 countries because we prepare early, file clean, and defend every number we submit.
If your goal is Costa Rica residency by investment, starting early gives you a smoother path and faster approval.
You bring the vision.
We bring the structure.
Together we make Costa Rica your legal home base through costa rica residency by investment.
FAQs: Costa Rica Residency By Investment
What qualifies as a valid investment for residency?
Qualifying investments typically include real estate purchases, capital in productive projects, or company assets and operating spend that meet the legal threshold.
We align your plan with current regulations and document every transfer and contract.
Can my family be included in the same application?
Yes.
Spouse and dependents can be included if we provide the correct civil records and translations.
We map everyone’s documents at the start to avoid delays.
How long does the process usually take?
Timelines vary with government workload and your document readiness.
We set honest estimates, create buffers, and accelerate what is controllable.
Clean files move faster.
Do I need a company to qualify?
Not always.
Some investors qualify through property alone.
If a company supports your strategy or tax planning, we form it and integrate it with your investment proof.
What happens after approval?
We complete DIMEX, register tax and municipal duties if needed, and set your compliance calendar for renewals.
You operate legally and confidently from day one.