Moving to Costa Rica — A Guide For Immigrants, Expats, and Digital Nomads

Moving to Costa Rica means encountering a tropical paradise with no shortage of pristine beaches, exotic wildlife, rich and hearty cuisine, and a vibrant blend of indigenous and immigrant cultures. Combined with the laid-back nature of many Costa Ricans, it’s no wonder that this Central American country has become such a hot spot for foreign visitors, expats, and digital nomads.

Millions of people visit Costa Rica every year, and in 2022, an estimated 120,000 Americans lived there. Roughly 9% of the population is foreign-born.

Whether you’re thinking about moving to Costa Rica permanently or you want to enjoy a shorter stint as a digital nomad or expat, you’ll need to be prepared. This guide covers the main things you should know before moving to Costa Rica so you can make the transition into your new home as easy as possible.

Preparing for Your Move to Costa Rica

Before you book those plane tickets or start saying farewell to your friends and family back home, here’s what you’ll need to prepare for moving to Costa Rica.

Find the right visa

You’ll need a valid passport and the right visa to move to Costa Rica.

Tourist visa

A tourist visa lets foreigners stay in Costa Rica for a set period — generally 30 to 90 days. Depending on your nationality, you might not even need to apply for a visa at all, provided you don’t overstay. Some travelers, like U.S. nationals, can visit for up to six months without a visa.

You can check your visa requirements and duration of stay limitations on the Embassy of Costa Rica website (available in Spanish and English).

Even if you don’t need a tourist visa, you’ll generally still need additional documents to enter the country. This may include an itinerary, the purpose of your stay, a return or exit ticket, and a passport that’s valid for at least one additional day after your date of entry.

You might also need to get certain vaccinations. For example, visitors from some African or South American countries may need to provide proof of a yellow fever vaccination.

If you’re hoping to stay longer in Costa Rica, you might be able to extend your visa without leaving the country. If that’s not an option for you, you may need to leave for a short duration and return later.

Provisional visa

Costa Rica also offers certain provisional visas that allow visitors to stay longer. You could be eligible for one of these if you’re a:

• Student, academic, researcher, or volunteer
• Retiree
• Rentier

You could also get a provisional visa if you have a close family tie with a Costa Rican national. In any case, you’ll need to meet certain conditions to apply, such as:

• Providing a completed application
• Getting an apostilled federal criminal background certificate and birth certificate
• Having a valid passport and several passport-size photographs (in color)
• Paying any visa fees

Certain provisional visas have unique requirements. For example, the retiree option requires you to verify that you earn at least $1,000 a month from a permanent pension.

For any type of visa to Costa Rica, review the conditions and requirements carefully.

Temporary or permanent residency

If you plan to stay longer, you’ll generally need a residence permit. Costa Rica offers two options:

• Temporary residency: These are available for expats who are retirees, students, executives, rentiers, or the spouse of a Costa Rican citizen. You’ll need to complete an application, provide the required documentation, and pay visa fees. Some options require additional information or documents. You can apply at the Immigration Office of Costa Rica.
• Permanent residency: After three years of maintaining a temporary residency, you can apply for permanent status. Review the full list of requirements and fees for U.S. citizens online. You can apply for permanent residency at the Immigration Office of Costa Rica.

Digital nomad visa

For digital nomads, there’s good news: Costa Rica has a digital nomad visa program. Through this program, you can extend your stay to an entire year. You can also renew your visa as long as you’ve remained in the country for the past 80 days or more.

You’ll need to earn a certain amount of money each month to get this visa — at least $3,000. If you have dependents, you’ll need to earn $4,000 a month. You’ll also need to meet the following criteria:

• Work for a foreign-based company, own your own business, or be a freelancer
• Have health insurance with a minimum coverage of $50,000 (as well as coverage for each family member)
• Provide legalized documents like your application form, valid passport, housing contract, employment contract, travel insurance, bank statements, proof of income, and an official declaration indicating your intent to work remotely in the country (all foreign documents must be translated into Spanish)

Learn some Spanish

The official language of Costa Rica is Spanish. And while there are many English-speaking people in the country, you’re most likely going to run across them in more touristy areas.

Given this, your best bet is to learn some Spanish before you go. You don’t need to be fluent, but it helps to be at least conversational. That way, you can immerse yourself more fully in the country and make the transition much easier.

Get prepared financially

The cost of living in Costa Rica is relatively low, ranked 42nd worldwide. Excluding rent, a single person can comfortably afford to live there for around $853 a month.

While this is much less than what you can expect to pay in many Western countries — like the U.S., Canada, or the U.K. — it’s still good to be prepared. After all, the cost of moving to Costa Rica from another country can still be high.

Some of the main costs to budget for include:

• Round-trip airfare from your country to Costa Rica
• Travel for any pets (check the vaccination, microchip, and paperwork requirements on your country’s Costa Rica consulate website)
• Passport and visa fees
• Ground transportation
• Short-term accommodation like hotels or hostels
• Long-term accommodation like an apartment or house
• Food
• Health care and/or travel insurance

You’ll also need to consider the financial requirements for some visas. Even if you don’t spend a lot of money each month, you might need to prove you earn enough or have enough money to cover the duration of your stay. This could be in the form of bank statements, pay stubs, high savings balances, or other assets.

Also, it never hurts to have some extra cash set aside for emergencies. Try to have between three and six months’ worth of anticipated living expenses saved up — just in case. This can be a lifesaver if you suddenly find yourself needing to book a return flight back home or dealing with an unexpected medical expense.

If you find yourself short on funds while living abroad, don’t worry. With an international remittance service like Ria, your loved ones back home can send you money.

Steps to Take When You Arrive

Here are some key things you should do once you arrive in Costa Rica.

Find a place to stay in Costa Rica

Even if you enter Costa Rica on a tourist visa, you can still buy property in the country — without applying for residency or citizenship. But that might not be your highest priority, especially if you’re just starting out.

Fortunately, there are many rental options available in Costa Rica. Look for apartments or houses for rent on sites like Encuentra 24 or Properties in Costa Rica. Be aware that many of these rental sites are in Spanish.

If you’re having trouble finding a place on your own, you can always go through a local real estate agent or join a Facebook group and connect with other expats who might be interested in rooming with you.

Find a job in Costa Rica

In most cases, you’ll need a residence permit to work in Costa Rica. Even then, not all permits allow you to work for a national company. You’ll also need to find an employer willing to sponsor you.

If you can’t or don’t want to obtain a work visa, you have a couple of options:

• Work remotely online for a non-Costa Rican company or as a freelancer. A digital nomad visa is great for this.
• Invest in a business or real estate if you have $100,000 or more. This would give you a temporary residency in Costa Rica, but it won’t allow you to work for a Costa Rican company as an employee.

Review the legal requirements carefully before starting the job search. If you meet the requirements, start with sites like Buscojobs and Indeed.

Set up your finances in Costa Rica

It’s possible to open a bank account in Costa Rica as a foreign national. However, some institutions require you to have proof of residency.

Banks that don’t require residency still generally require your passport, a visa, and an apartment lease or utility bill with your local address. They may request additional documents, too.

Choose a bank that’s insured so your money’s safe. Also, keep an eye out for things like minimum deposits and other bank fees. If you open an account with a minimum balance requirement, transfer money to your Costa Rica bank as soon as possible to avoid excess fees.

And if you need access to your money sooner, services like Ria make it easy to transfer money from over 190 countries. The process is quick, secure, and convenient.

Connect with other expats, digital nomads, and immigrants

Costa Rica has a lot to offer, but that doesn’t mean you’ll never miss home. If you want to connect with other immigrants, expats, or digital nomads like yourself, you’ve got options.

Check out social media groups on sites like Facebook (Meta) or online forums where other expats gather. Some organizations, like InterNations Costa Rica, also exist specifically to connect people through local events and activities.

You might also end up running into other expats while abroad. If that happens, or if you catch someone speaking your language at a local cafe, don’t be afraid to speak up. They might be looking for a new friend, too.

Getting Health Care in Costa Rica

In 2023, the CEOWORLD Health Care Index gave Costa Rica a health care rating of 50.88, while U.S. News ranked it 69th in the world. For comparison, the countries with the best health care all had a score of 57.38 or above.

Since Costa Rica has a large expat population, there are quite a few English-speaking doctors in the country, especially in more internationally diverse cities. This is good news for Americans moving to Costa Rica — as well as those coming from other English-speaking countries.

Costa Rica offers universal health care, which is called the Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social (CCSS). It covers preventive care, hospitalization, emergency care, and other services. It’s mandatory for citizens and permanent residents. The cost depends on your income.

As an immigrant or expat moving to Costa Rica, you’ll need to get international health coverage. Some options include GeoBlue Xplorer and Pan-American Insurance. Each plan comes with its own limits and premiums, so review them carefully.

Best cities for expats and digital nomads in Costa Rica

Choosing where to live in Costa Rica is a big decision, but it’s also a personal one. Here are some popular destinations for newcomers:

• San José: Located centrally, this large city is home to many popular sites, landmarks, and attractions. It also boasts modern amenities and a thriving expat community.
• Playa Hermosa: This beautiful beach destination is located in the Guanacaste Province of Costa Rica. It has plenty of parks, local restaurants, and shops to enjoy. For the outdoorsy type, there’s also scuba diving, sailing, and other recreational activities.
• Puerto Viejo: Another coastal town is Puerto Viejo. Located in the southeastern part of the country, it offers a Caribbean paradise experience filled with outdoor adventures. It also has a thriving nightlife.
• Alajuela: Located in the north-central part of the country is Alajuela, a mid-sized city with plenty to do. It’s not far from San Jose and boasts ornate architecture, diverse cuisines, and local heritage and historical sites.

Starting your new life in Costa Rica

Whether you’re moving to Costa Rica from the U.S. or from further away, you won’t be disappointed. Just make sure you’re prepared before you go. From getting your financials in order to finding the right visa to budgeting for the move, ensure you have a smooth transition to start living your dream that much sooner.

And remember, even if things get complicated at times, you don’t have to do everything alone. From international remittance services like Ria — which makes it easy to send and receive money while abroad — to expat communities, there are many resources available to help you out.

FAQs

How much does it cost to move to Costa Rica?

This depends on where you’re coming from and your day-to-day needs and expectations. You’ll need to budget for things like airfare, short- and long-term accommodations, health insurance, and visa fees. Once you’re on the ground, costs drop significantly.

The cost of living index in Costa Rica is 53.6, which is lower than in many other countries. You can also get by on around $853 a month — plus rent.

What is Costa Rica’s currency?

Costa Rica uses the Costa Rican colón (CRC) — shown as ₡.

What are taxes like in Costa Rica?

You’ll need to pay individual income taxes even if you’re not a Costa Rican resident or citizen. You’ll only pay taxes on income you earn from within the country. If you have to pay taxes, the tax rate ranges from 0% to 25%. There’s no local income tax. The standard VAT (sales tax) rate is 13%.

How can I become a Costa Rican citizen?

You can apply for citizenship after residing in the country on a temporary or permanent resident visa for at least seven years — five if you’re originally from another Central American country. You’ll need to complete a citizenship test, have sufficient financial means, have a clean record, and be proficient in Spanish. Reach out to your local consulate or embassy for more information.

How safe is Costa Rica?

According to the World Population Review, Costa Rica’s crime rate is 53.7 per 100,000 residents. Its overall criminality score (GOCI) is 5.53, a little higher than the U.S. and many European countries, but not excessively high for Central America.