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Costa Rica → United States

Migration corridor · visas, permits and flows

From
Costa Rica
To
United States
Inflow, 2023 (OECD)
2,570
Change since 2018
+17.4%
Share of all arrivals in the United States, 2023
0.22%
Inflow 20232,570OECD
Year by year
Data as at 2025
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Migration from Costa Rica to the United States

Inflows of nationals of Costa Rica recorded by the United States; stock of nationals of Costa Rica living there; and acquisitions of the United States' nationality (OECD).

Inflows by year

1,5553,109200020032006200920122015201820212023
1,5553,1092000200420082012201620202023
Data table
20001,310
20011,733
20021,591
20031,246
20041,755
20052,278
20063,109
20072,540
20082,086
20092,374
20102,182
20112,138
20122,018
20132,156
20141,987
20152,054
20162,236
20172,190
20182,190
20192,360
20201,663
20211,988
20222,174
20232,570
YearInflowStockAcquired nationality
2024—27,007—
20232,57030,1311,850
20222,17429,4702,167
20211,98842,4721,981
20201,66340,1671,407
20192,36027,2941,881
20182,19031,5211,886
20172,19022,8831,749
20162,23627,5601,898
20152,05434,2301,652
20141,98752,1531,486
20132,15638,7671,713
20122,01838,9771,629
20112,13842,2001,533
20102,18248,4581,135
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

U.S. visas

Visas issued to citizens of Costa Rica (fiscal years) and certified PERM labor certifications.

Non-immigrant visas by class, FY2025
  1. B1/B2100,491
  2. J11,049
  3. H2B711
  4. H2A501
  5. F1495
  6. L1412
  7. L2309
  8. H1B163
  9. C1/D160
  10. H4102
  11. A2101
  12. G484

Non-immigrant visas by fiscal year

53k105k201720182019202020212022202320242025
53k105k20172019202120232025
Data table
201742,641
201874,247
201969,396
202039,403
202127,045
202252,698
202380,714
202483,148
2025105,024
Immigrant visas by class, FY2025
  1. IR1271
  2. IR5193
  3. IR2193
  4. CR169
  5. F140
  6. F2B31
  7. FX26
  8. E224

Certified PERM cases by fiscal year (citizenship published to FY2024)

5611220082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
561122008201120142017202020232024
Data table
200871
200953
2010100
201152
201238
201329
201432
201540
2016112
201774
201893
201983
202088
202188
202286
202387
202490
Source: U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs, monthly visa issuances (public domain); U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC PERM disclosure data (public domain)Data as at FY2025

Green cards, citizenship and admissions

Green cards and naturalizations of people born in Costa Rica, and I-94 admissions of citizens of Costa Rica, by fiscal year (DHS).

Fiscal yearGreen cardsNaturalizationsI-94 admissions
20242,7401,920375,130
20232,4901,970310,270
20222,1702,030277,280
20211,9901,930208,070
20201,6601,390190,020
20192,3501,860363,880
20182,1701,860335,960
20172,1801,720319,830
20162,2201,860306,550
20152,0301,630241,740
I-94 admissions by class of admission, FY2024
  1. B689,030
  2. WT8,150
  3. F7,620
  4. L4,760
  5. J3,210
  6. H1B1,820
  7. G1,800
  8. L2S1,590
  9. C1,350
  10. H2B, H2R1,260
  11. H2A1,100
  12. E850
Green cards by class of admission, FY2024
  1. Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens2,180
  2. Employment-based preferences320
  3. Family-sponsored preferences170
  4. Refugees and asylees40
  5. Diversity visa lottery20
  6. Other classes10
Temporary worker admissions (I-94), FY2024
  1. Intracompany transferees (L-1)2,620
  2. Spouses and children1,780
  3. Specialty occupations (H-1B)1,020
  4. Seasonal non-agricultural workers (H-2B)630
  5. Seasonal agricultural workers (H-2A)550
  6. Extraordinary ability (O-1, O-2)280
  7. Other temporary workers130
  8. Athletes, artists and entertainers (P)80
Green cards, FY2024 (born in Costa Rica)
2,740
Naturalizations, FY2024 (born in Costa Rica)
1,920
I-94 admissions, FY2024 (citizenship)
375,130
Source: U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Office of Homeland Security Statistics, Yearbook of Immigration Statistics 2024 (public domain)Data as at FY2024

Compared with other corridors

Nationalities with the most arrivals in the United States, 2023; Costa Rica ranks 64.

Inflows to the United States, 2023
  1. Mexico190,560
  2. Cuba88,480
  3. India68,420
  4. Dominican Republic67,700
  5. China57,240
  6. Philippines48,690
  7. Vietnam37,040
  8. Afghanistan35,630
  9. Brazil27,440
  10. El Salvador27,280
  11. Colombia26,150
  12. Jamaica22,120
Other destinations for people from Costa Rica, 2023
  1. Germany376
  2. Mexico337
  3. Canada265
  4. Chile117
  5. Netherlands108
  6. Italy78
  7. Switzerland75
  8. Japan67
  9. 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