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Costa Rica → Spain

Migration corridor · visas, permits and flows

From
Costa Rica
To
Spain
Inflow 2023—OECD
Year by year
Data as at 2025
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CR5<ES2<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<4

Migration from Costa Rica to Spain

Inflows of nationals of Costa Rica recorded by Spain; stock of nationals of Costa Rica living there; and acquisitions of Spain's nationality (OECD).

Inflows by year

40581020002003200620092012201520182019
405810200020042008201220162019
Data table
200088
200197
2002164
2003140
2004279
2005297
2006446
2007562
2008415
2009297
2010285
2011404
2012350
2013354
2014408
2015425
2016601
2017728
2018767
2019810
YearInflowStockAcquired nationality
2023——296
2022——164
2021——142
2020—3,602126
20198103,258106
20187672,80267
20177282,39138
20166012,05185
20154251,84161
20144081,74399
20133531,862104
20123501,78066
20114041,74950
20102851,82345
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Spain's consulates in Costa Rica

Short-stay Schengen (C) visa applications at Spain's consulates located in Costa Rica.

YearApplicationsIssuedNot issuedRefusal rate
202429227210.3%
202320419010.5%
202217916542.2%
2021363025.6%
2020453636.7%
20191441350—
20181029522.0%
201715013474.7%
20161109454.5%
201526524810.4%
201420620510.5%
20131901740—
201221319241.9%
201119117621.0%
20101521342415.8%
2009939033.2%

Applications by year

1462922009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
146292200920122015201820212024
Data table
200993
2010152
2011191
2012213
2013190
2014206
2015265
2016110
2017150
2018102
2019144
202045
202136
2022179
2023204
2024292
Source: European Commission, DG Migration and Home Affairs, visa statistics for consulates (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2024

Residence permits in Spain

First residence permits issued by Spain to citizens of Costa Rica (Eurostat).

First permits by reason, 2025
  1. Family419
  2. Education414
  3. Work214
  4. Other reasons122
YearFirst permitsEU Blue CardsCitizenships acquiredStudents
20251,1692100
20241,01511327789
20239211296667
20228020164635
20217210142565
20205401126597
20196692106526
2018621067500
2017657038417
2016591085294
20154410610
20143960990
20133544104168
20123552380
20114860500
20103780450
Work permits by type, 2025
  1. Other paid activities146
  2. Highly skilled workers (national schemes)46
  3. EU Blue Card11
  4. Researchers11
Valid residence permits, 31 Dec 2025
3,540
Long-term residence permits issued, 2025
763
Changed status into work, 2025
87
Intra-corporate transferee permits, 2025
7
Source: Eurostat (migr_resfirst, migr_resbc11, migr_acq, educ_uoe_mobs02, migr_eirfs, migr_pop1ctz), CC BY 4.0Data as at 2025

Embassy and consulates

Missions of Spain in Costa Rica, as recorded in Wikidata. Details change; the mission's official website is authoritative.

MissionCityOfficial website
EmbassySan Joséexteriores.gob.es
Source: Wikidata (CC0)Data as at Oct 2026

Compared with other corridors

Nationalities with the most arrivals in Spain, 2023; Costa Rica ranks 111.

Inflows to Spain, 2023
  1. Colombia170,722
  2. Morocco123,468
  3. Venezuela88,361
  4. Peru66,933
  5. Italy48,089
  6. Romania45,663
  7. Argentina35,041
  8. Ukraine34,385
  9. Honduras32,357
  10. Paraguay24,324
  11. Ecuador21,762
  12. Russia21,617
Other destinations for people from Costa Rica, 2023
  1. United States2,570
  2. Germany376
  3. Mexico337
  4. Canada265
  5. Chile117
  6. Netherlands108
  7. Italy78
  8. Switzerland75
  9. Japan67
  10. France59
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Official data, not advice. Visa Atlas publishes figures from government registers and statistics. It does not assess eligibility or give immigration advice; for advice, consult a regulated adviser. Read more