Government of Canada · 5/17/2026
Exercise Increased Caution
Stable democracy with strong tourism infrastructure; petty theft on beaches is the main risk.
Pura Vida culture and no army. Don't leave valuables in rental cars; tourist beaches see occasional opportunistic theft. Nosara, Atenas and Escazú are particularly calm.
Best city
San José / Tamarindo
Visa route
Investor
Min investment
$150,000
Cost of living
$1700/mo
Tax system
Territorial
Airbnb yield
8-12%
Bureaucracy ease
6/10
Bank account ease
3/5
Pensionado: $1,000/mo lifetime pension → CAJA enrolment + private hospitals at fraction of US prices.
Global benchmark for eco-tourism. CST sustainability cert opens incentive programs.
Estancia for Remote Workers (Law 9996)
Tax perk: 0% income tax on foreign earnings, duty-free import of work gear
$3k/mo single or $4k family. 1 year + 1 year renewal.
Small Lebanese diaspora; one mosque in San José.
~3k in San José (Rohrmoser). Active Centro Israelita, kosher available.
Eco-tourism operator quick checklistOpen
- ›Visit 3+ regions in shoulder season — confirm climate, road access, water source, cell signal.
- ›Verify protected-area status (national park buffer, Ramsar, biosphere) — affects build permits.
- ›Run rough P&L: target 50–60 occupancy nights/month at $80–250 ADR for break-even.
- ›Talk to 2 local eco-lodge owners — ask about staff, suppliers, hidden costs (water, generator).
- ›Buy through SRL / SA, never personal name. Title search at land registry + topographic survey.
- ›Confirm zoning allows hospitality (uso turístico). Get municipal building permit pre-purchase letter.
- ›Environmental impact study (EIA) — required above 10 keys in most countries.
- ›Water rights / well permit + septic / wetland treatment design.
- ›Tourism board registration (ICT in Costa Rica, MINCETUR Peru, Mintur Brazil, Sectur Mexico).
- ›Pursue sustainability cert: CST, Rainforest Alliance, Green Globe — unlocks tax breaks & OTA placement.
- ›Fire safety inspection, food handling permit, alcohol licence (if restaurant).
- ›Register with Bomberos / Sayco for music & emergency compliance.
- ›List on Booking, Airbnb, Expedia + 1 niche eco channel (BookDifferent, EcoHotels.com).
- ›Hire & train local staff (8–10 per 12 keys). Spanish/Portuguese mandatory; 1 English-fluent host.
- ›Tour operator partnerships (G Adventures, Intrepid, local DMCs) for guaranteed shoulder-season fills.
- ›Insurance: liability, fire, guest accident, business interruption.
Living and running a business: the ten things that actually matter, side-by-side.
Cost of living
$2,500–4,000/mo couple
Coastal expat zones expensive; Central Valley cheaper.
Visa & residency
Inversionista $150–200K · Rentista $2,500/mo
3–6 months. Citizenship after 7 years.
Taxes
Territorial · 30% corp
Foreign income exempt; property tax low (~0.25%).
Healthcare
★★★★ Caja public + private
Universal CAJA enrolment; private specialists $50–100.
Safety
Low–Medium
Safest in Central America but petty crime in tourist zones.
English support
★★★★ Strong in expat areas
Tourism towns fully bilingual; rural areas Spanish-only.
Banking
★★★ Workable
BAC, Scotiabank, BCR open to residents with cédula.
Best business fit
Ecotourism · Airbnb · wellness
Global benchmark for ecotourism with state incentive programs.
Climate
12 micro-climates
Central Valley spring-like; Pacific dry; Caribbean wet.
Arab community
Small
Limited Arab presence; growing in San José.
Reality check
Ecotourism gold standard, but expat areas are no longer cheap.
The most established, most predictable expat country on the list — but stability has a price. Property and rental costs in expat zones have risen sharply since 2020. For ecotourism investors this is the best country in the region, period. For Airbnb investors, Guanacaste delivers — but everyone has the same idea.
Strong English in expat areas (Tamarindo, Nosara, Atenas, Escazú). Spanish needed for bureaucracy and most of the country.
Healthcare
World-class for the price. Public Caja system available to residents (~$60–150/mo). Top private hospitals: CIMA, Clínica Bíblica, Hospital Metropolitano.
Safety
Generally safe; petty theft in tourist areas. Avoid certain San José barrios. Drug-related crime rising on Caribbean coast.
Tap a city to open it in Google Maps.
Global benchmark. Government incentive programs for sustainable tourism.
Guanacaste/Tamarindo yields 8–12%. Saturation rising — pick location carefully.
Territorial tax. Excellent fiber in Central Valley.
Best for
- ✓Ecotourism investors
- ✓Beach-zone Airbnb
- ✓Families wanting stability
Watch-outs
- !Property prices among the highest in C. America
- !Maritime Zone Law restricts ownership within 50m of the coast
Inversionista ($150k real estate/business) or Rentista ($2,500/mo for 2 yrs).
- 1
Gather Canadian documents
Passport (6+ months validity), RCMP criminal background check (apostilled), birth & marriage certificates (apostilled by Global Affairs Canada), bank statements (last 6 months).
- 2
Translate & legalize
Official Spanish/Portuguese translation of all apostilled documents by a sworn translator in-country.
- 3
Open exploratory trip
Spend 2–4 weeks in San José / Tamarindo to vet neighborhoods, lawyers, and accountants before committing.
- 4
Hire local immigration lawyer
Budget USD 2,500–6,000. Required for filing; do not DIY a ${c.visaType} visa.
- 5
Transfer investment capital (≥ $150,000)
Wire from a Canadian bank to a local escrow or company account. Keep SWIFT records — required as proof of funds.
- 6
Incorporate or buy qualifying asset
Set up local SA/SRL or close real-estate purchase that meets visa floor.
- 7
File investor visa application
Submit dossier to immigration authority; receive provisional residency card (typically 3–9 months).
- 8
Get local tax ID & open bank account
Bank account ease: 3/5. Bring residency card, utility proof, and reference letter from your Canadian bank.
- 9
Register for healthcare & enroll dependents
Private international plan (~USD 100–250/mo) recommended in addition to public system.
- 10
File NR73 with CRA
Declare non-resident status to Canada Revenue Agency to stop worldwide taxation; settle departure tax on unrealized gains.
Single person, mid-range lifestyle
| Rent (1BR mid-range) | $765 |
| Groceries & dining | $374 |
| Transport | $136 |
| Utilities & internet | $170 |
| Private health insurance | $170 |
| Leisure & misc | $85 |
| Monthly total | $1,700 |
| Immigration lawyer fees | $4,500 |
| Government visa fees & apostilles | $1,500 |
| Document translation | $800 |
| Exploratory trip (2 wks) | $3,500 |
| Shipping household goods | $6,000 |
| Visa investment / qualifying capital | $150,000 |
| First/last month rent + deposit | $2,295 |
| Company incorporation & accountant (yr 1) | $3,500 |
| One-time total | $172,095 |
Estimated all-in Year 1 cost
$192,495
One-time relocation + 12 months of living costs. Excludes business operating expenses.
Concrete starting points with rough startup capital, monthly run-rate, and the licences you'll actually need to file. Estimates are USD, ballpark — confirm with a local attorney before committing capital.
Guanacaste/Tamarindo beach STR villa
3BR villa near Tamarindo or Nosara. Mature Pacific market, 8–12% gross yields, peak season Dec–Apr.
- ›ICT tourism declaration
- ›Municipal patente comercial
- ›Maritime Zone concession review if within 200m of high tide
- ›STR registration & 13% IVA collection
Sustainable eco-lodge with CST certification
6–10 cabins on titled land near a national park (Manuel Antonio, Corcovado, Monteverde). CST cert unlocks marketing premium.
- ›SETENA environmental viability
- ›ICT lodging declaration
- ›CST (Certificate of Sustainable Tourism)
- ›MINAE permits for any forested land
- ›Municipal operating permit
Coffee farm + agritourism day tours
Small finca in Central Valley (5–15 ha). Combine specialty coffee export with $40–80/pp farm tours.
- ›ICAFÉ producer registration
- ›MAG (Ministry of Agriculture) registration
- ›ICT tour operator if guiding
- ›Sanitary permit for tasting room
Costs reflect a Canadian operator buying turnkey or near-turnkey assets. Land-from-scratch builds typically run 30–60% higher.
Tailored for English- and Arabic-speaking investors moving to Costa Rica. Toggle the language, then download a print-ready bilingual PDF.
Business type — tailors steps & licences
Official government links · روابط رسمية
- Dirección General de Migración y ExtranjeríaNational immigration authoritywww.migracion.go.cr/
- Categorías migratorias / InversionistaInvestor & rentista visa categorieswww.migracion.go.cr/Paginas/Categorias%20Migratorias.aspx
- Ministerio de Relaciones ExterioresEmbassies & consular serviceswww.rree.go.cr/
Always verify on the official site before paying any fees. Government URLs and forms change.
Phase 1 — Before you fly
- ▢Passport valid for 12+ months with 4+ blank pages.
- ▢Police clearance / criminal record certificate, apostilled or legalized.
- ▢Birth certificate (and marriage certificate if applicable), apostilled.
- ▢Bank statements last 6 months + proof of source of funds.
- ▢Certified translation of every document into Spanish/Portuguese.
- ▢Engage a local immigration lawyer (budget USD 2,500–6,000 for the Investor route).
- ▢International health insurance covering first 6 months.
Phase 2 — Visa filing (Investor)
- ▢Wire qualifying capital (≥ $150,000) from your home bank to in-country escrow; keep SWIFT proof.
- ▢Open initial bank visit in San José / Tamarindo (account often takes 30–90 days).
- ▢File full visa dossier with the immigration authority.
- ▢Receive provisional residency card; register at the Arab/Lebanese embassy or consulate if applicable.
- ▢Apply for local tax ID (RUC / CURP / RNC / DNI depending on country).
Phase 3 — Settle in & convert to permanent
- ▢Sign 12-month lease only after living 4–8 weeks in the city.
- ▢Renew residency before expiry; track day-counts to avoid losing status.
- ▢After 2–5 years, file for permanent residency / passport eligibility.
- ▢Settle exit-tax obligations with your home country (declare non-residency).
Phase 1 — Validate before you incorporate
- ▢Spend 2–4 weeks scouting suppliers, competitors, and customer demand in San José / Tamarindo.
- ▢Validate price points in USD and local currency; account for FX risk.
- ▢Interview 5+ Arab/expat business owners already operating locally.
Phase 2 — Incorporation & banking
- ▢Choose entity type: SA / SRL / LLC equivalent — confirm with local lawyer + accountant.
- ▢Reserve company name and register articles of incorporation.
- ▢Obtain commercial registry number and tax ID for the company.
- ▢Open corporate bank account (ease in Costa Rica: 3/5 — bring residency, lease, reference letter).
- ▢Set up bookkeeping software + monthly accountant retainer (mandatory in most LATAM countries).
Phase 3 — Licences, hiring & launch · General / Not sure yet
- ▢Apply for the sector licence(s) that match your activity (tourism, food, import/export, real estate, fintech…).
- ▢Register with social security / IGSS / IMSS to legally hire staff.
- ▢Sign written employment contracts; never pay staff in cash without payroll.
- ▢Buy commercial liability insurance before opening doors.
- ▢Confirm tax regime: Territorial — file monthly VAT/IVA returns even if zero.
- ▢Set up a separate USD account abroad for retained earnings (FX hedge).
Tailored for a Canadian entrepreneur. Progress saves to this browser.
Before leaving Canada
First 30 days in-country
First 90 days
Ongoing compliance
| English | Arabic community | Bureaucracy | Banking | Tax | Visa min |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4/5 | 2/5 | 6/10 | 3/5 | Territorial | $150,000 |