Permanent Residency

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  • #196079
    wefish88
    Member

    I am looking for clarification on Permanent (Rentista) Residency laws. The confusion is whether someone holding permanent residency has to:
    a) only be in Costa Rica for 72 hours, once a year to keep the residency active.
    or
    b) you must stay in Costa Rica for 6 months per year
    or
    c) you have to be in Costa Rica every 6 months for 72 hours per year (which is entering Costa Rica twice a year for 72 hours).

    Perhaps someone with some absolute, legal knowledge of this can answer….I am not looking for guesses, or anyone with their interpretation of the law. There has to be someone who knows the exact law.
    We are looking to apply for Permanent Residency, after already going through almost 4 years of Temporary Residency (Rentista). We presently reside in Costa Rica for approx. 5 months, but have to return to Canada for employment because we can’t afford to retire right now and were hoping to actually retire by the end of this year, but with the state of the economy and our investments, that is now postponed, but we would like to get our Permanent Residency if we are eligible….depending on which answer a, b, or c, is correct.
    We would be soooo thankful if anyone can help!
    Deb & Don

    #196080
    costaricafinca
    Participant

    This is posted on a residency website:
    How do you get Permanent Residency?

    “1. Live in the country for a few years (currently maybe 5) as a rentista or as a pensionado (See below). Then apply to be a PM.

    2. Marry a Costa Rican (NOT recommended as a way to obtain Permanent Residency). While judged legal, immigration is watching these like a hawk and pretty much ignoring the court order on this.

    3. Have a baby in Costa Rica, though this is also iffy as Costa Rica does not require the father’s name be placed on the birth certificate, and if it is not, you may need to do expensive DNA testing to establish the child is yours. If you DO have a baby here, make sure the father’s name is on the birth certificate. If you are married and your baby is born here, the baby is a citizen of CR instantly, and parents, brothers and sisters can apply for PM immediately. After PM is granted, you have full rights to work here.

    Rights:

    You have the exact same rights as a Costa Rica citizen but you will not have the right to vote. You can work at any job and can even run for some political offices.

    Restrictions:

    You must visit Costa Rica at least once per year. “

    Note, there is no time limit.

    #196081
    wefish88
    Member

    Thanks for the answer. The restrictions are good news, unless these get changed too!

    #196082
    grb1063
    Member

    Wait until th full text of the new immigration law is passed and published (6 month lag from publish date). No change in the “anchor baby” caveat that I know of.

    #196083
    Pauldthomas
    Member

    Could you please stop the “Anchor baby”phrase! Babies are not anchors they are blessing!
    Please rephrase to “Blessing Baby.”
    Thanks

    #196084
    Imxploring
    Participant

    Children are a blessing… however some folks look at them as a blessing in ways that you and I may not… How about “Shortcut Baby”?

    #196085
    wefish88
    Member

    Does this also apply to adopting a Costa Rican child? Not that I would be doing this.
    I think there is just something not right about using this avenue just to gain residency.

    #196086
    Imxploring
    Participant

    Agreed!

    #196087
    Marcia
    Member

    My son and his girlfriend had a son born in Costa Rica last year and the child bears my son’s last name on his birth certificate. My son now has his permanent residency. As his mother do I also qualify without having to apply for another status?

    #196088
    jreeves
    Member

    I think you have to be a first-degree relative of a Costa Rican citizen to gain this type of residency, so only the parents of your grandchild would qualify for permanent residency. You would have to apply under a different status (pensionado, rentista, investor).

    #196089
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