Top Mistakes Expats Make When Applying for Residency — and How to Avoid Them
If not handled properly, applying for residency in Costa Rica can be a bureaucratic nightmare. While the country welcomes foreign residents, navigating the immigration system without proper preparation often leads to unnecessary delays, frustration, or even denial. Here are some of the most common mistakes expats make — and how to avoid them.
1. Submitting Incomplete or Incorrect Documentation
One of the biggest reasons residency applications are delayed or denied is missing or improperly certified documents. Many applicants don't realize that foreign documents like birth certificates, marriage certificates, or income statements must be apostilled (or legalized) and translated by an official translator in Costa Rica.
Also, as clarified by Jordan Arias, Director of our Immigration Law department, these documents must also be issued within a six-month time frame prior to being submitted with the Immigration Department. That means that a birth certificate or marriage license granted years ago cannot be used to obtain residency. New certified copies must be ordered and apostilled or legalized.
2. Choosing the Wrong Residency Category
Costa Rica offers several paths to residency, including retired, rentier, and investor categories — but each has its own financial and legal requirements. Many times, applicants without proper advising have chosen the wrong category, which can lead to a denial of the application, simply for not having selected the proper category.
3. Failing to Follow Up with Immigration
Once your application is submitted, your responsibilities don’t end there. Immigration often requests additional documentation or clarification, and failing to respond on time can result in your file being closed. According to Jordan Arias, it is important to constantly review the email account that has been designated with the Immigration Department to receive notifications, as often only 10 days are granted to make corrections to files or to submit additional documentation. Missing an email could mean having an application denied.
4. Making Payments in an Incorrect Manner
Throughout the process, the Immigration Department will require several payments. The instructions given must be closely followed to ensure that payments are made in the correct currency and to the designated bank account. Also, the description of the deposit must accurately indicate the applicant´s full name as listed on the residency application. If these steps are not adhered to, the Immigration Department may refuse to apply the payments to the applicant´s file, and the process to obtain a refund is long and frustrating.