11/08/2026
Can You Lose Temporary or Permanent Residency in Costa Rica?
The answer is yes. Lawful residency in Costa Rica does not create an irrevocable or vested legal position. Under Costa Rica’s General Immigration and Expatriates Law No. 8764, temporary and permanent residency, as well as other immigration statuses, may be cancelled when specific statutory grounds are established, subject to the corresponding administrative proceeding and the foreign national’s right to a defense. The Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice has expressly recognized the revocable nature of a foreign national’s immigration status, including permanent residency.
The grounds for cancellation are not unlimited. They include, among others, failure to comply with the conditions under which residency was granted, certain failures to meet tax or social security obligations, qualifying criminal convictions, prolonged absences from Costa Rica, the use of false or altered documents, failure to timely renew the document evidencing lawful status, and circumstances involving public safety or public order. Residency obtained through a marriage entered into solely for immigration purposes may also be subject to cancellation. The specific requirements and legal consequences depend on the applicable provision and immigration category.
Residency should therefore not be understood as a status that, once granted, requires no further attention. It is a legal position accompanied by continuing obligations. Understanding those obligations is essential to preserving lawful status and, when a cancellation proceeding is initiated, obtaining appropriate legal counsel to protect the rights afforded under Costa Rican law.
Source: Costa Rica’s General Immigration and Expatriates Law No. 8764; Immigration Regulations; Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice, 1999.
