Costa Rica Blog

In order to work in Costa Rica, you must either be a citizen or have legal permanent residency.  With any other residency type (rentista, pensionado, etc), you are allowed to own a business but you cannot work in that business. You must hire Costa Rican labor and your role is limited to management of the business.  That is why many of our restaurants may have an expat owner but all they do is visit with customers, they don't work the kitchen or wait tables for example.