Temporary residency is the first real step to living in Costa Rica without the 180-day tourist shuffle. This guide covers the pensionado, rentista, investor, and marriage categories, the apostilled paperwork, and the 2026 DIMEX shift that routes your card through a BCR branch, with issuance still running a few months behind the 30-day target.
After three years as a temporary resident, you can upgrade to permanent residency and stay in Costa Rica for good. This guide covers the request letter, the US$50 and US$200 government fees, the caja rule, and the 2026 DIMEX shift that routes your card through a BCR branch, with issuance still running a few months behind the 30-day target.
In this article, we will discuss important things to consider and do if you are thinking of retiring abroad, including deciding where to live, vital documents, finances, family and social communication, healthcare, housing and property decisions, legal issues, and legal residency questions.
Costa Rica has expat communities in every corner, from the Central Valley’s spring-like climate to Guanacaste’s sun-drenched beaches. This guide covers the most popular regions and what to expect in each.
CAJA, Costa Rica’s public health system, gives retirees access to doctors, specialists, surgery, and free prescriptions for a monthly fee of 7 to 11% of declared income, with no copays and full coverage of pre-existing conditions.
Getting a Costa Rican driver’s license through homologation is easier than most expect, but appointment slots at COSEVI and Banco de Costa Rica fill fast, so start the process as soon as you have residency.
Making friends and building community in Costa Rica takes some intentional effort, but between expat groups, volunteer opportunities, local events, and language classes, the social scene is more welcoming than most newcomers expect.
My wife and I have lived in Costa Rica for around 20 years. The first eleven years were in San Jose, where we raised our … Read more
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