Costa Rica immigration lawyers: what they do and how to choose

Residency in Costa Rica is applied for at the immigration department (DGME), in Spanish, with documents that have to be apostilled, translated and current on the day they are filed. An immigration attorney manages that process and tells you which category you qualify for before you spend money on documents.

What they do

• Review your income, pension or investment and tell you which category fits: pensionado, rentista, inversionista or another.
• Give you an exact list of the documents to collect and apostille in the US, and the order to do it in so none expire.
• Arrange official translations and your fingerprint appointment.
• File the application, respond to requests from immigration, and follow the file until there is a resolution.
• Guide you through registration with the Caja and the appointment for your resident card (DIMEX).
• Handle renewals, the change to permanent residency after three years, and dependents.

Attorney or residency service

Some firms that advertise residency help are relocation or paperwork services that are not law firms. They can be good at organising documents, but only a licensed attorney can give legal advice and represent you before immigration. If you use a service, find out which attorney signs the filings and check that person’s bar membership.

When to bring one in

Before you order any documents. Background checks and certificates have to be recent when they are filed, generally within six months of issue, so the attorney’s timetable should drive when you request them. A consultation four to six months before the move is about right.

If you have a past arrest or conviction, a previous immigration problem in Costa Rica, a complicated family situation, or a pension that isn’t a standard government or company pension, raise it at the first conversation.

What to ask before hiring

• Are you a member of the bar, and what is your bar number?
• How many residency applications in my category did you file in the last year?
• What is the total fee per person, what does it include, and what is extra?
• When are payments due?
• Who will handle my file day to day, and how will I get updates?
• What processing time are you seeing at the moment for my category?
• What happens, and what do I pay, if immigration asks for more documents or denies the application?

Be cautious of anyone who promises a fixed approval date. Processing times are set by immigration, not by the attorney.

Read the residency overview first so you know which category you are asking about.

Common questions

Do I need a lawyer to get residency in Costa Rica?

It isn't legally required, and you can file an application yourself. Most Americans use an attorney because the process is in Spanish, the document rules are strict, and immigration often asks for follow-up documents within a deadline.

How much does a Costa Rica residency lawyer cost?

Fees vary by firm and by category, and are usually quoted per applicant with a lower rate for dependents. Get a written quote that separates the attorney's fee from government fees, translations and other costs.

How do I check that a Costa Rican attorney is licensed?

Attorneys must be members of the Costa Rican bar association (Colegio de Abogados y Abogadas de Costa Rica), which lets the public check a member's status. Ask for the attorney's bar number.