Can Foreigners Buy Property in Costa Rica?

It is one of the first questions people ask before moving or investing here. Can foreigners buy property in Costa Rica? Yes. Foreigners can buy and own titled property on the same basis as Costa Ricans, and you do not need residency to do it. There is one important exception on the coast, and a few practical points worth knowing before you buy.

Can foreigners buy property in Costa Rica? The short answer

Article 19 of Costa Rica’s Constitution gives foreigners the same individual and social rights and duties as Costa Ricans, with the exceptions and limitations set by the Constitution and the laws. In practice, a foreigner can buy a house, a condo, a commercial building or a lot, and have it registered in the National Registry in their name.

At GAP, buyers, sellers, borrowers and lenders of any nationality are welcome, and Costa Rican residency is not required for any of them.

The exception: the maritime-terrestrial zone

Law 6043 governs the 200-metre strip along the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, measured from the ordinary high-tide line (article 9). That zone belongs to the State and cannot be sold (article 1). The first 50 metres are public zone, and the remaining 150 metres are the restricted zone (article 10), where the only rights available are municipal concessions (article 39).

Concessions come with their own limits for foreigners. Article 47 says concessions are not granted to foreigners who have not lived in Costa Rica for at least five years, to companies domiciled abroad, to companies formed in Costa Rica by foreigners, or to entities more than 50% owned by foreigners, among others.

That does not mean foreigners cannot own property near the beach. Titled land outside the zone can be bought normally. The key is to confirm, before you buy, whether a coastal property is titled or a concession. Concession property in Costa Rica explains the difference further.

Owning property does not give you residency

Buying and residency are separate processes. You can own property without living here, and owning property does not by itself decide your immigration status. If you plan to live in Costa Rica, CRIE handles immigration and residency questions at info@crie.cr.

Practical points for foreign buyers

• Use a Costa Rican attorney and notary who handles property purchases regularly. They confirm the title, liens and documents and prepare the closing.
• Check the registry record and the survey plan before you commit; see due diligence before buying property.
• Ask your attorney how to hold the property, in your own name or otherwise, and what that means for you.
• Protect the title after you buy by checking the registry from time to time; see guarding against title theft.
• Budget for closing costs, which are as your attorney confirms.

Buying before you move? Buying property in Costa Rica from abroad walks through the process step by step.

Financing as a foreign buyer

Banks set their own requirements, which can make bank loans harder for newcomers, and they can take many months, if not longer, to close. If you already own titled property in Costa Rica, GAP Equity Loans can lend against it from US$50,000, with no credit score and no residency required, and close within 10 business days once the required documents are complete.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can foreigners buy property in Costa Rica without residency?

Yes. Foreigners can buy titled property without Costa Rican residency, and GAP works with buyers of any nationality.

Can a foreigner buy beachfront property?

Titled property outside the maritime-terrestrial zone can be bought normally. Land inside the zone is State property held under concessions, which have their own restrictions for foreigners under Law 6043.

Does buying property give me residency?

Buying property and residency are separate processes. CRIE can answer residency questions.

Can a foreigner get financing to buy?

GAP Equity Loans can lend against titled Costa Rica property you already own, reviewed case by case, whatever your nationality.

This article is general information only and is not legal, financial, tax or immigration advice. Legal references summarize Costa Rican law as published in SCIJ; confirm how they apply to your purchase with a licensed Costa Rica attorney or notary.

See properties with GAP Real Estate → · WhatsApp us at +506 4001 6413 to get started, call or email info@gap.cr