Rentista Costa Rica — independent income

Two verification methods — not two different thresholds

It’s easy to assume the $60,000 deposit is a separate, cheaper route — in reality it’s the same sum, just in a different form.

VERIFICATION METHOD

AMOUNT

FORM

Monthly income

AMOUNT$2,500/month × 24 months = $60,000

certified by the bank month by month

One-time deposit

AMOUNT$60,000 upfront

in an approved Costa Rican bank, disbursed in installments

What the process consists of

The mandatory Caja (social security) contribution is often omitted from marketing materials — it’s a recurring cost item, not a one-time payment.

COST ITEM

RATE

NOTE

Income/deposit

RATEfrom $2,500/month or $60,000 upfront

per main applicant

Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social contribution

RATE≈9-10% of stated income

mandatory, recurring

Temporary residence, then PR

RATEresidence for 2 years → PR after 3 years

—

How the process runs

Choosing a verification method — income or deposit

$2,500/month for 24 months, or a one-time $60,000 deposit.

Arranging bank certification of income/deposit

Through an approved Costa Rican bank.

Registering with the Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social

Voluntary insurance, contribution ≈9-10% of income.

Receiving temporary residence for 2 years

With the right to run your own business, but not to be employed.

Transitioning to PR after 3 years

While continuously meeting the visa’s conditions.

A good fit if

You have bank-confirmed income from $2,500/month over 24 months — from non-employment sources (dividends, interest, annuities).

Or you have $60,000 for a one-time deposit at an approved Costa Rican bank.

You plan to run your own business or be self-employed, not work for an employer.

You’re prepared for the mandatory Caja contribution (≈9-10% of income) as a recurring cost.

A poor fit if

You think the $60,000 deposit is a cheaper route than the $2,500/month income — it’s mathematically the same sum, just a different form.

You plan to work as an employee in Costa Rica — the Rentista visa doesn’t permit this.

You haven’t budgeted the mandatory Caja contribution as a recurring cost — it’s an ongoing obligation, not a one-time payment.

Your income is below $2,500/month and you don’t have $60,000 for the deposit — no threshold below these exists.

Who runs this programme

Your request goes to two or three firms from this list. You see exactly which ones before it is sent, and you can exclude any of them.

La Vida Golden Visas

Лондон, Великобритания · since 2002

Over 20 years of experience, clients from 160+ countries; specialises in Portugal’s Golden Visa and other EU programmes.

Global Citizen Solutions

Лондон, Великобритания / Лиссабон, Португалия · since 2016

Global mobility consultancy with a Lisbon office; specialises in Portugal’s Golden Visa and Spain’s Non-Lucrative Visa.

This is an independent list of firms in the market, not our partners — we do not forward requests to them or receive payment for referrals. Contact them directly via the link.

Frequent questions

Is the $60,000 deposit cheaper than $2,500/month income?

No — per the available data, it’s the same total sum ($2,500 × 24 months = $60,000), just in a different verification form: monthly income vs a one-time deposit.

Can I work as an employee with this visa?

No — per the available data, the holder can run their own business or be self-employed, but may not take up employee positions.

How much is the Caja contribution?

Per the available data, ≈9-10% of the stated income through voluntary insurance (seguro voluntario) — a recurring, not one-time, cost item.

When is permanent residency available?

Per the available data, after 3 years following the grant of 2-year temporary residence.

How does this differ from the Pensionado visa?

Pensionado (a separate programme on the site) requires a lifetime pension from $1,000/month; Rentista accepts a broader range of non-employment income (dividends, interest, annuities) at a higher threshold ($2,500/month).

Does this visa lead to citizenship?

The sources used for this page don’t detail a path to citizenship for this specific visa — confirming directly with Costa Rica’s immigration authority is recommended.

Sources

CRIE — overview of Rentista visa requirements: the income/deposit threshold, the 24-month certification, common documentation pitfalls↗

Figures are for reference only. Verified against official sources on 27 August 2026. A precise quote is issued by the appointed firm after document review. This material is not legal advice, a public offer or investment advice.