Staying in Costa Rica for Ukrainians in 2025: rules for entry and obtaining a residence permit

In 2025, Ukrainians will be able to travel to Costa Rica visa-free for up to 90 days, and various types of permits will be available for longer stays. In this article, you will find document requirements, conditions for obtaining a permit, and practical advice. Learn how to legally stay in Costa Rica for longer

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Costa Rica remains an open and welcoming country for Ukrainians planning to travel or stay for a long period in 2025. Ukrainian citizens can take advantage of the visa-free regime for short trips and have the opportunity to obtain various types of residence permits if they plan to stay longer.

Entry for Ukrainians

Since December 2016, a visa-free regime has been in effect between Ukraine and Costa Rica. Ukrainians can stay in the country for up to 90 days without a visa, regardless of the type of passport.

Basic conditions:

- the passport must be valid for at least 90 days from the date of departure from Costa Rica;

- a fee of USD 29 must be paid upon departure.

👉 If you have difficulties with documents or procedures, Visit Ukraine lawyers will help you prepare the necessary applications, check the accuracy of translations, apostilles, and accompanying documents. Consulting with a specialist will help you avoid rejection due to formal errors and significantly reduce the time it takes to process your case.

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Types of residence permits in Costa Rica

According to the Law on Migration and Foreigners (Ley General de Migración y Extranjería No. 8764), Ukrainians can apply for a temporary or permanent residence permit.

Permanent permit

Granted if you have close relatives who are Costa Rican citizens, or after three years of residence with a temporary permit.

Temporary permits

This category includes various programs:

1. Pensionado (for retirees)

minimum monthly pension income — $1,000;

the permit is issued for 2 years with the possibility of renewal.

2. Rentista (for persons with passive income)

confirmed income of USD 2,500/month for 2 years or a deposit of USD 60,000 in a Costa Rican bank;

the permit is valid for 2 years.

3. Inversionista (investor permit)

investment of at least USD 150,000 in a business or real estate;

the permit is issued for 2 years.

4. Vínculo (family ties)

for spouses, children, or parents of Costa Rican citizens.

5. Trabajador (work permit)

requires a contract from a local employer proving that it is impossible to hire a Costa Rican;

the permit is valid for the duration of the contract.

6. Digital Nomad (for remote workers)

minimum income of $3,000/month (or $4,000 for a family);

mandatory health insurance;

work must be performed for companies/clients outside Costa Rica.

Submission of documents

To obtain a residence permit, you must submit a package of documents to the General Directorate of Migration and Foreigners (Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería).

The following are required:

- application form (Formulario de Filiación);

- passport and notarized copies of all pages;

- certificate of no criminal record;

- 3 photos;

- proof of financial solvency;

- documents for the selected category (pension, investment, contract, etc.);

- receipt of payment of fees (USD 50 per permit);

- fingerprinting in San José;

- apostille and translation of documents into Spanish.

All residents are required to register with the public health system (CCSS). After submission, an expediente document is issued, which allows you to legally stay in the country even after the 90-day visa-free period has expired.

Planning to stay in Costa Rica for longer? Visit Ukraine lawyers will help you quickly and safely obtain a residence permit. Contact us for a consultation today!

We remind you! Obtaining a visa without returning to Ukraine is possible, but certain conditions must be met. We will explain all the nuances, requirements for obtaining a visa, and types of visas for Ukrainian citizens abroad. Read how to apply and obtain a visa in a third country without unnecessary difficulties in our previous article.

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