According to the Costa Rican Immigration Law (law number 7033) there are a number of migratory categories that could be requested to the Costa Rican immigration Council depending on the applicant conditions:

• Permanent residency.
• Temporary residency.
• Renter Class Residents

      A) PERMANENT RESIDENTS

This residence status is only offered for person with specific conditions applicable in the country:

• Marriage person with a Costa Rican citizen
• Foreign person with children borne in Costa Rica

      B) RENTER CLASS RESIDENTS:

The Renter Class Resident status can be applied to foreigners that want to reside in Costa Rica and have a minimum monthly income of US $1000 guaranteed.  The purpose of this status is to encourage investments or activities in Costa Rica is acknowledges as beneficial to the national economy by the local authorities.

The procedure must be renewed every year and will remain effective in as long as the conditions remains.

Even if the company or person has been granted the ability to bring foreign personnel into Costa Rica under these status, this migratory status does not guarantee that foreign employees will indeed receive a residence permit. Qualifications for the applicants are strictly scrutinized and only managers and very qualified personnel which could not be found in the country would promptly be granted a permit.

Under this category of residence there is also the “Retiring Renters Residents” this status applies to a foreign retire person with a guaranteed life annuity of US $600. The person under this status is prohibited to be an employee.

      C.) TEMPORARY RESIDENCE FOR COMPANIES

These permits are not always granted and are more likely given to personnel working with International Organizations or local Government who come to support, to teach or to help in activities being developed in the country which are considered a priority or of any importance by the Government.

Foreign employees to be working for Costa Rican companies could also request a temporary residence due to the nature of their work. The investments of the company applying for this status must be over US$ 300,000.in order to have a representative importance for the government.

      D) TOURIST STATUS RESIDENCE

This category includes permits for tourists and other special permits granted for people for shorts periods of time such as scientists, teachers, students, seasonal workers, domestic servants, etc.