Rentista residency: income, deposits and proof

What the income requirement means

CRIE’s September 2026 review of the DGME checklist reports a requirement for stable income of at least US$2,500 monthly for a minimum of two years. The practical question is how an acceptable authority will document that income. A salary, investment statement and bank certification are not interchangeable pieces of evidence.

The often-repeated US$60,000 figure is US$2,500 multiplied by 24 months. Treat a proposed deposit arrangement as a documentation method to confirm, not as a universal fee that everyone must pay to the government.

Before moving or locking up savings

Ask the adviser and bank for written details: who holds the funds, whether withdrawals are restricted, what document will be issued, and how the arrangement can be renewed. Understand fees and currency exposure. Do not wire money to an intermediary simply because a website describes a standard package.

For variable investment income, prepare a monthly history and identify the source of each payment. Ask whether the arrangement meets the official evidence standard before restructuring a portfolio. If your income is payment for remote work, also compare the digital-nomad category.

Prepare the household application

Use the current category checklist for each person. Identity documents, birth records, marriage evidence and criminal records may each follow different issuance and authentication processes. Start a tracker with the issuing agency, order date, apostille route and translation status.

Keep financial eligibility separate from employment permission, future permanent residence and tax treatment. The label on your immigration card is not an answer to all three. Ask specifically about the work you intend to perform while physically in Costa Rica.

Budget for the full two years

Model living expenses and funds you cannot readily access as separate amounts. Add healthcare, travel, professional fees and renewal preparation. A sensible application plan still needs an emergency reserve that is available if a family member must return to the United States.