Can a foreigner buy property in Costa Rica?
Yes. Foreigners have the same property rights as Costa Rican nationals and can own titled (fee-simple) land outright — in their own name or through a company — with no residency or citizenship required. The one exception is the coastal Maritime Terrestrial Zone (the first 200 meters from the tide line), where the first 50 meters are public and beachfront is generally held by concession rather than ownership.
Are there restrictions on foreigners buying property?
Almost none. Costa Rica gives foreign nationals the same property rights as its own citizens. A foreigner can buy, own, mortgage, rent out, will and sell titled land freely, and can hold it personally or through a Costa Rican company. There is no special permit, no minimum investment and no local-partner requirement for ordinary titled property. The one meaningful exception is coastal land inside the Maritime Terrestrial Zone, covered below.
Do I need residency to buy property in Costa Rica?
No. Owning titled property is completely separate from your immigration status. You do not need to be a resident, and you do not need to be a citizen — a visitor on a tourist entry can legally purchase and register property in their own name. Residency governs how long you may stay in the country and some tax questions; it is never a condition of ownership. Buying property can support a later residency application, but the two are decided independently.
Can foreigners own beachfront property in Costa Rica?
This is where most buyers get caught. The Maritime Terrestrial Zone (Zona Marítimo Terrestre) runs 200 meters inland from the ordinary high-tide line along nearly the entire coast. The first 50 meters is public land that no one — Costa Rican or foreigner — can own or build on. The next 150 meters (the “restricted zone”) is generally not owned at all: it is held under a concession granted by the local municipality, not registered title. Some older coastal lots are genuinely titled and can be owned outright — but you must verify which regime applies to the exact parcel before you commit a cent.
Concessions carry their own foreigner rules, renewal risk and a separate registry. If a listing is described as “beachfront,” treat “titled” versus “concession” as the first question, not a footnote. The maritime-zone concession guide explains the caps and the fideicomiso (trust) option in full.
Fee-simple title and coastal concession are two different things.
The single most expensive mistake a foreign buyer makes is paying a titled-land price for a concession right. Confirm the regime in writing before you sign anything.
| Titled (fee simple / propiedad) | Concession (concesión — ZMT) | |
|---|---|---|
| What you get | Full, permanent ownership | A time-limited right to use the land |
| Where | Anywhere titled — inland or coast | The 50–200 m restricted maritime zone |
| Recorded in | National Registry (Registro Nacional) | Separate concession registry |
| Duration | Permanent | Fixed term, subject to renewal |
| Foreigner rules | Same rights as nationals; own name or company | Extra caps on foreign holders — verify per lot |
| Held as | Personal name, S.A. or S.R.L. | Concession holder / fideicomiso |
The single most expensive mistake a foreign buyer makes is paying a titled-land price for a concession right. Confirm the regime in writing before you sign anything.
Should I buy in my own name or through a company?
Both are legal and common. Titled property can be held in your personal name or through a Costa Rican Sociedad Anónima (S.A.) or S.R.L. A company can make succession, liability separation and shared ownership cleaner; personal ownership is simpler and cheaper to maintain. Contrary to a lot of online advice, the choice does not change your ownership rights as a foreigner — it is a planning decision about how you hold and pass on the asset. Decide it before closing, because changing it later means a second transfer and second set of costs. The holding-structure guide walks through when each option makes sense.
How does a foreigner actually complete a purchase?
The legal steps are the same as for a Costa Rican buyer, with extra care around bilingual counsel and the source of funds:
- 01
Confirm what you are buying
Verify whether the parcel is titled or a maritime-zone concession, and match the registry record to the survey plan (plano catastrado).
- 02
Run the title study
An independent lawyer studies the National Registry for liens, mortgages, annotations and overlapping claims before any money moves.
- 03
Sign a purchase agreement
The option/purchase contract fixes price, conditions and deadlines, and defines what happens to your deposit if title is not clean.
- 04
Fund an escrow account
Money is held by a regulated escrow agent, released only at closing — with anti-money-laundering checks on the source of funds.
- 05
Execute and register the escritura
A notary drafts and signs the deed transferring title, then registers your ownership in the National Registry. You can do this remotely by power of attorney.
Do you even need a lawyer?
Why your attorney must be independent — not the one the seller or realtor recommends.
Title due diligence
What I check in the Registro Nacional before you wire a single dollar.
Beachfront & the maritime zone
The concession rules for oceanfront land and the fideicomiso option.
Company or personal name?
How to hold your property — and the residency rule most advice gets wrong.
Back to the Costa Rica attorney for foreign investors hub.
Can a foreigner buy property in Costa Rica?
Yes. Foreigners have the same property rights as Costa Rican nationals and may own titled (fee-simple) land outright — in their own name or through a company — with no residency or citizenship required. The only significant exception is beachfront inside the coastal Maritime Terrestrial Zone, which is generally held by concession, not ownership.
Do I need to be a resident or citizen to buy property in Costa Rica?
No. Ownership of titled property does not depend on your immigration status. A tourist entering on a visa waiver can legally buy, own and register titled land in Costa Rica. Residency affects how long you can stay and certain tax matters, but it is not a condition of owning property.
Can foreigners own beachfront property in Costa Rica?
Usually not as full ownership. Most beachfront falls inside the Maritime Terrestrial Zone, where the first 50 meters are public and the next 150 meters are held by municipal concession rather than title. Some older coastal parcels are titled and can be owned outright — which reading applies to a specific lot must be verified before you commit.
Should I buy in my own name or through a Costa Rican company?
Both are valid. Titled property can be held personally or through a Sociedad Anónima (S.A.) or S.R.L. A company can simplify succession, liability and multiple owners, while personal ownership is simpler and cheaper. The right structure depends on your goals, so decide it before closing, not after.
Is the buying process different for foreigners?
The legal mechanics are the same: a title study at the National Registry, a purchase agreement, escrow and a notarial deed (escritura) transferring and registering title. What changes for foreign buyers is the need for independent bilingual counsel, remote signing options and careful anti-money-laundering compliance on the funds.
Ready to buy in Costa Rica with confidence?
We start with a Strategic Valuation Session — a focused, paid US$350 consultation (there is no free call) to review your specific property, the real risks and the path forward, in English. It is credited toward your engagement if we proceed.
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