Not all persons wishing to travel to Costa Rica need a visa, this will depend on your nationality, purpose of the visit, country of residence and length of your stay.  

If you need to enter the country several times per year and your nationality requires a visa, you can apply for a Multiple Visa.

Visa requirements or exemptions are based on existing agreements or international treaties.

More information:
http://www.costarica-embassy.org/consular/visa/default.htm

Living the 'good life' in Costa Rica, a tropical paradise filled with stunning scenery, sunshine and smiles sounds like a great idea but, to be happy living in Costa Rica and successful with your real estate investments - you really need a plan.

This page offers you tips about getting legal residency in Costa Rica. Below lists ways you can qualify as a legal resident, including work permits, rentista, pensionado and inversionista status. You must hire a lawyer registered with the Costa Rican bar association. A good lawyer will charge from $1000 to $1500 for the process.

Costa Rica retirement: Residency for Retirees (Pensionados)

You may acquire this status if you can prove that you have a guaranteed monthly income of at least $600 per month from a qualified source, such as a government pension. You will be required to exchange this amount each month into Costa Rican currency via the state banking system, to show proof of the exchange, and to live in Costa Rica for at least four months per year.

Costa Rica retirement: Resident with Interest or Dividend Income (Rentistas)

You may acquire this status, if you can prove that you are receiving income from interest or dividends of at least $1,000 US dollars per month from a foreign or national bank. The bank must issue a letter certifying that you will receive such monies and that you will exchange them into Costa Rican currency. The bank must renew its certified letter every five years. You will be required to exchange this amount each month into Costa Rican currency via the state banking system, to show proof of the exchange, and to live in Costa Rica for at least four months per year.