Costa Rica

"Vivan siempre el trabajo y la paz" ("Trabalho e paz para sempre")

overview

Welcome to Costa Rica

Costa Rica, famous for its biodiversity and eco-friendly initiatives, is a haven for nature lovers. With a stable democracy and a strong economy based on tourism and agriculture, it attracts expats seeking sustainability and quality of life.

overview

Costa Rica Essentials

Hino Nacional

Noble patria, tu hermosa bandera

Dia da Independência

15 de setembro de 1821

Haiko

Pura vida / Florestas tropicais repletas de vida selvagem / Vulcões adormecidos

Interesting Tradition

Celebrates Fiesta de los Diablitos a festival reenacting the fight between indigenous people and Spanish conquistadors

Weirdest Local Superstition

Colocar uma vassoura atrás da porta para fazer com que os hóspedes saiam

Strangest Law Still on the Books

É ilegal nomear uma empresa em um idioma estrangeiro

overview

Come for the history, stay for the future

Come for the pura vida, stay for the progress: Costa Rica's commitment to sustainable living has created an extraordinary blend of environmental consciousness and modern development. Life flows between morning surf sessions and afternoon work meetings, while evenings are spent in hilltop cafes overlooking the Pacific. The nation's political stability and growing tech presence, combined with friendly residency policies, make it an ideal destination for those seeking to balance professional ambitions with environmental mindfulness.

overview

Vamos

Embrace a country where 'pura vida' isn't just a greeting, but the essence of daily life. Your journey flows between oceans of opportunity.

overview

Bienvenidos a Costa Rica

Famosa por sua biodiversidade, a Costa Rica é o lugar onde se pode encontrar mais espécies de borboletas do que qualquer outro lugar

Costa Rica isn't just a country—it's a celebration of life's simple pleasures. Here, time moves at the pace of 'pura vida,' and even a simple nature walk can turn into an encounter with extraordinary wildlife. This is a land where happiness and sustainability dance together.

From the cloud forests of Monteverde to the surf breaks of Guanacaste, Costa Rica offers paradise for every nature lover. Whether you're drawn to the volcanic wonders of Arenal, the biodiversity of Corcovado, or the beach life of Manuel Antonio, you'll find a country that has perfected the balance between development and natural preservation.

Estatísticas

Savor the Flavor

Eat

gallo pinto (rice and beans) - chifrijo (rice beans and pork)

Drink

agua dulce (sugar cane drink) - guaro (sugar cane liquor)

overview

Algo de tomar?

Beer

Annual consumption (liters per capita)

38

Wine

Annual consumption (liters per capita)

4

Coffee

Annual consumption (liters per capita)

4.22

Tea

Annual consumption (liters per capita)

0.20

overview

Cultural Tips and Etiquette

#1
Pura Vida' attitude affects all interactions
#2
Environmental consciousness is expected
#3
Coffee farm heritage is respected
#4
Indigenous crafts have deep meaning
#5
Soccer enthusiasm unites communities

overview

Costa Rica Essentials

Representative Novel

The Presidents by Daniel Gallegos (Play capturing Costa Rican political history)

National Animal

The sloth

National Pasttime

Futebol (Soccer)

Souvenir nacional

Grãos de café

Prato nacional

Gallo pinto

Festival Famoso

Festival Envision

Dança dos Famosos

Swing Criollo

Música famosa

Calypso

overview

Did You Know?

A Costa Rica não tem um exército permanente.

‍Desde1949, a Costa Rica aboliu suas forças armadas e alocou esses fundos para educação, saúde e proteção ambiental.

A Costa Rica é líder em energia renovável.

‍Maisde 99% da eletricidade do país vem de fontes renováveis, como energia hidrelétrica, geotérmica e eólica.

A Costa Rica abriga 5% da biodiversidade do mundo.

‍Apesarde seu pequeno tamanho, a Costa Rica abriga uma grande variedade de espécies de plantas e animais, o que a torna um paraíso para os entusiastas da natureza.

overview

Costa Rica’s Key Historical Events

1,821

Abril de 2014

Costa Rica declares independence from Spain and joins the Mexican Empire.

1838

Julho de 2014

Costa Rica becomes a fully independent country.

1948

Fevereiro de 2015

More than 2,000 people are killed in a 44-day civil war after former president Calderon refuses to accept an election loss.

1987

Março de 2015

President Oscar Arias Sanchez wins the Nobel Peace Prize for his role in ending civil wars in El Salvador and Nicaragua.

2015

Outubro de 2016

Costa Rica wins a long-standing territorial dispute with Nicaragua over sovereignty of Isla Portillo.

MOBILITY

Access Costa Rica Residency Rights on the GlobalPassport™ Platform 

NO. OF Mobility Assets

3

MOBILITY

Citizenship Pathways and
Residency Requirements

Citizenship by Birth
Sim
Citizenship by DESCENT
Sim
Citizenship by MARRIAGE
2 years
DUAL Citizenship
Sim
RESIDENCY BY Naturalization
7
PASSPORT VALIDITY
10 years

MOBILITY

Passport Power

Visa Free Countries

129

Performance Class

Global Contender

Grau do passaporte

B

Rank

62

Score

138.0

This visa grants access to:

• 33% of the world's population 

• 72% of UNESCO sites 

• 42% of global GDP 

• 43% of the world's land area 

MOBILITY

Acesso sem visto a:

MOBILITY

Number of American Emigrants to Costa Rica by Year 

Year
1990
1995
2000
2005
2010
2015
2020
Costa Rica
1,187
1,068
835
1,221
1,606
1,616
1,519

MOBILITY

Compare My Passport

Select up to 3 Mobility Assets
Mobility Asset
Approval Time (est.)
Appointment Availability
Term (i.e. duration)
Minimum Investment
Requisito de presença física
Custo de vida
English Usage
Quality of Life
Healthcare Ranking
Passport Power
Visa-free Country Access
Number of American Expats
More Details

Rankings

Costa Rica's Global Rankings 

Costa Rica shines with exceptional climate quality (#7) and very high happiness (#12). Our analysis highlights its attractive combination of moderate living costs (#33) and strong healthcare access (#30).

Exceptional performance
Standard performance
Needs Improvement
Rankings are based on 2023-2024 Global Indices and Assessments from recognized international organizations. Updated quarterly to reflect the most recent available data
33
Custo de vida
2024
Moderate
50
Quality of Life
2024
Comfortable
58
Safety
2024
Médio
12
Happiness
2024
Very High
90
Tax Burden
2024
Light Load
38
English Proficiency
2023
Moderate Proficiency
29
Rule of Law
2024
Strong
30
Healthcare System
2024
Well-Accessible
7
Pleasant Climate
2024
Very Pleasant

Healthcare

Healthcare Overview

Key Health Indicators

Idade média

34.1

years

Life Expectancy

80.2

years

Obesity Rate

28.60%

Tobacco Use

14.30%

Sources

Health care Indicators

Health Expenditure

7.57%

of GDP

Hospital Beds

1.14

per 1000 people

Doctors

2.718

per 1000 people

Out-of-pocket

20.74%

of total expenditure

Sources

Healthcare

Did you Know?

Universal Healthcare System

Costa Rica offers a universal healthcare system known as 'Caja,' providing low-cost healthcare to citizens, residents, and expatriates.

Private Healthcare Options

In addition to its public system, Costa Rica has an advanced private healthcare sector with hospitals offering world-class medical services.

Medical Tourism Leader

Costa Rica is a global leader in medical tourism, attracting thousands of international patients each year for affordable and high-quality care.

Preventive Care Focus

Costa Rica places a strong emphasis on preventive healthcare, ensuring regular check-ups and vaccinations are available to all residents.

Healthcare for Expats

Expatriates in Costa Rica are eligible for both the public Caja system and private healthcare, ensuring comprehensive coverage options.

Healthcare

United Healthcare Coverage Service Index (2000 - 2021)

Healthcare

Healthcare Cost Calculator

cost of living

Visão geral do custo de vida

Costa Rica presents a moderate cost of living, attractive to retirees and digital nomads. San José and popular tourist areas are more expensive than other regions. Housing costs can be high in expat-favorite locations. Food is generally affordable, especially local produce. Utilities can be expensive, particularly electricity. Public transportation is inexpensive but can be unreliable in some areas. Education costs are moderate.

Cost of Gasoline

$1.48

per liter

Cost of Meal

$9.61

(Inexpensive Restaurant)

Monthly Rent

$717.56

(1 bedroom, City Center)

Monthly Utilities

$83.69

(85m² Apartment)

Domestic Beer

$2.88

(0.5 liter draught)

Taxa de IVA

13%

cost of living

Cost of Living plus Rent Map

cost of living

Cost of Living Calculator

cost of living

Rent Calculator

Tributação

Visão geral da tributação

Antes de considerar uma mudança para a Costa Rica, é importante entender seu sistema tributário territorial, que tributa apenas a renda proveniente do país.+As alíquotas de imposto de renda para pessoas físicas empregadas variam de 10% a 25%, dependendo dos ganhos. As contribuições para a seguridade social são obrigatórias e os impostos sobre a propriedade também se aplicam na Costa Rica. As pessoas físicas usam a Cédula de Identidade ou o DIMEX como números de identificação, dependendo de seu status de residência.+A Costa Rica não tem um tratado de dupla tributação com os Estados Unidos.

Tax Residency Requirement

183 days

Worldwide Income Taxation

No (Territorial system)

Higher Rates for Foreign Assets

Não

US Double Taxation Treaty

Não

Renda pessoal

Progressive tax rate based on income levels

0%-25%

Personal Capital Gains

Flat rate on investment gains

0%-15%

Herança

Based on inherited amount and relationship

0%

Renda corporativa

Standard corporate tax rate applied to business profits

30%

Ganhos de capital corporativos

Tax rate applied to capital gains from corporate investments

15%

Dividendos

Withholding tax rate applied to dividend distributions

15%

Interesse

Withholding rate interest payment to non-residens

5.5%-15%

Royalties

Withholding tax rate for royalty payments

25%

Work Assignment

Foreign individuals are considered tax residents if they stay in Costa Rica for more than 183 days, continuously or discontinuously, during the fiscal period.

Overall Ranking

Global position in PWC’c Ease of Paying Taxes ranking

66

Ease of Paying Taxes Score

Overall score based on multiple factors

78

Total Tax and Cotribution Rate

TTCR percentage including all mandatory contributtions

58.3
%

Time to Comply

Annual hours required to comply with tax regulations

151
HOURS

Number of Payments

Total number of tax payments required annually

10

Post-filing Index

Score measuring the ease of processes after filing taxes

87.2
%

taxation

Tax Burden Map

taxation

Income Tax Calculator

CLIMATE

Climate Type

Tropical and subtropical; dry season (December to April); rainy season (May to November)

Average Temperature

24.83 °C

Humidity

80

%

Average Annual Precipitation

2,926

mm

Rainless Days per Year

244

Best Time to Travel

December-April

Dúvidas?

Perguntas frequentes sobre a obtenção de residência ou cidadania na Costa Rica

Encontre respostas para perguntas comuns sobre o GlobalPassport™ e nossas ferramentas que o orientam para a residência ou cidadania na Costa Rica.

Quais ativos de mobilidade estão disponíveis para mim na Costa Rica?

Ícone de adição

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Os membros da minha família podem solicitar residência ou cidadania na Costa Rica comigo?

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Como o GlobalPassport™ me ajudará a me mudar para a Costa Rica?

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