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The 6 Most Important Factors to Consider When Moving To Costa Rica

by Matt Lloyd in Costa Rica

After spending some time in Costa Rica, a lot of people end up falling in love with its breathtaking beaches, incredible biodiversity, and laid-back lifestyle. No wonder many of them ask the same question: How about moving to Costa Rica?

Although exciting, moving to a different country can be a huge undertaking. What factors should you consider before taking the decision? And when you finally do decide to move to the land of Pura Vida, what are some of the requirements? In this article, we’ll explain everything you need to know before moving to Costa Rica.

Do I Need to Speak Spanish?

Although many Ticos speak English, knowing at least basic Spanish is recommended. Plus it’s a great opportunity to interact with the locals!

Tourist Visa

As an American, you can enter Costa Rica as a tourist with a 90-day tourist visa. After that period you have to leave the country. Many tourists either drive to the Panama or Nicaragua border, cross, and come back the same day.

If you can’t get enough of the Pura Vida lifestyle and want to live permanently in Costa Rica, it’s probably best to apply for residency.

How to Become a Resident?

There are a few ways to get Costa Rican residency. Below is a brief overview of the residencies most frequently applied to by US citizens.

- Pensionado

Should receive at least $1000 a month from a retirement fund or permanent pension
Must visit Costa Rica at least once a year
Cannot work as an employee
Is allowed to own a company and receive dividends

- Rentista

Receives $2500 a month income for a minimum of 2 years
A deposit of $60,000 in a Costa Rican bank
Must visit Costa Rica once a year
Cannot work as an employee
Is allowed to own a company and receive dividends

- Investor

Investment of $200,000 in a property or business
Must visit Costa Rica once a year
Income is allowed from the project
Is allowed to own a company and receive dividends

- Representante Residency Program

Must be director of a company meeting certain requirements, such as hiring a minimum number of locals as established by law, with financial statements certified by a Public Accountant.

Must visit Costa Rica once a year
Is allowed to earn income from the company

Which category applies to you, depends on your personal situation. The whole process may take a while and not knowing all the steps can sometimes lead to frustrating situations. If you prepare everything in advance, it might save you a lot of time and effort, which you can instead spend on the beach!

Photo by Palmsrealtycr.com

Applying for the Permit

So, you’ve established which category best applies to your situation. Now you can start the application.

1. Find out what documents you need

A birth certificate, marriage certificate, certificate of good conduct, income certificate are almost always needed for any type of residency. Make sure you check any additional requirements.

The whole process costs money, make sure you pay the fees beforehand.

2. Make an appointment

You can make an appointment by calling the migration office on 1311. Recently, they have begun digitalizing the application, however, the process is still very slow.

3. Bring all of your documents and receipts to the appointment

Keep in mind that all documents must be authenticated, notarized, and apostilled. This may take a while, so it’s best to start well in advance.

4. Wait for a confirmation from the migration office.

After you’ve handed in all the documents, you just wait for an email with a confirmation that you can pick up your DIMEX (residency permit) at your local post office.

Getting approval from the Costa Rican government may take somewhere between 8 and 14 months.

Hiring a lawyer

Of course, you can also hire a law firm to take all the work out of your hands. They know exactly how the system works and will guide you from day one until you have your DIMEX in your hand. The ARCR is an association that can help you obtain residency easily.

Health Care

All citizens and residents get access to the state-run health system, the Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social, or CCSS. It’s commonly known as just “Caja.” It includes medical care in any of the 30 hospitals and 250 clinics throughout Costa Rica. Every resident is required to pay a monthly fee to the Caja based on their individual income.

Driving in Costa Rica

To get around comfortably in Costa Rica, it’s recommended to have a car. All you need is a valid US driver’s license and your passport or a copy, just in case you get pulled over.

For car owners, it’s mandatory to have your Marchamo and RTV up to date. In this post, you can read all about it.

Where are most of the US expats located?

Towns like Jacó, Tamarindo, Dominical, Uvita, Ojochal, Escazu, Atenas, Grecia, and Puerto Viejo are most popular with expats.

So there you go! Now you have a better idea of what’s needed when you want to move to Costa Rica. If this information was helpful for your own situation, make sure to leave a comment!

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