Moving to Costa Ricaa complete, honest checklist.

The single biggest mistake North Americans make is treating Costa Rica like a long vacation. Begin the paperwork that requires the United States or Canada at least six months before your move. Once you are in Costa Rica, getting documents reissued, apostilled, or shipped back for corrections is slow and expensive.

• Order a clean FBI background check (U.S.) or RCMP certificate (Canada). They are valid for six months from issue and must be apostilled.
• Request long-form birth certificates for every family member relocating. They must be apostilled in the state or province of issue.
• If married, order an apostilled marriage certificate. Add divorce decrees or death certificates if relevant.
• Renew passports for every family member — Costa Rican immigration requires six months of validity beyond your arrival date.
• Decide on a residency path. The Pensionado, Rentista, and Inversionista routes each unlock CAJA enrollment and a path to citizenship after seven years.

A tourist stamp lets you stay up to 180 days, but it is not a path to living legally in Costa Rica. To enroll in CAJA (the public health system), import household goods duty-free, open a local bank account without friction, or qualify for citizenship later, you need temporary residency.

All three paths grant temporary residency for two years, are renewable, and become eligible for permanent residency after three years. Citizenship is available after seven years of legal residency.

Costa Rica runs one of the most respected public healthcare systems in Latin America, called the Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social — CAJA for short. Enrollment is mandatory for every legal resident, including dependents. The monthly contribution is income-based and typically ranges from roughly $60 to $300 USD per household.

CAJA covers nearly everything: primary care, specialists, surgery, hospitalization, maternity, and prescription medication. The trade-off is wait times for non-urgent specialist appointments and elective procedures. Most expats carry CAJA for catastrophic coverage and add a private plan (INS or a regional carrier) for faster access. Private consultations in San José and Escazú typically run $60 to $120 USD out of pocket.

Temporary residents in the Inversionista and Rentista categories may import a household of used goods duty-free, one time, within the first six months of residency approval. Pensionado residents receive a partial exemption on used household goods. Outside these windows, import duties on furniture and electronics can reach 50 to 80% of declared value — high enough that most relocators buy locally instead.

• Get three quotes from international movers experienced with Costa Rica (Crown, Atlas, and local broker Mudanzas Mundiales are common picks).
• Expect 4–8 weeks of transit by sea container from the U.S. East Coast to Puerto Limón or Puerto Caldera.
• Inventory every item with serial numbers and approximate value. Customs reviews the manifest item by item.
• Skip the container if you are renting furnished — most long-term rentals in Escazú, Atenas, Tamarindo, and Nosara come fully equipped.
• Sell or donate appliances. Costa Rica runs on 120V/60Hz like North America, but voltages on dryers and ovens differ and warranties do not transfer.

Costa Rica is one of the easier Latin American countries for importing dogs and cats. There is no quarantine for pets arriving from the United States or Canada provided your paperwork is in order.

• Microchip your pet before its rabies vaccination — the chip must be readable and dated before the vaccine.
• Rabies vaccination must be at least 30 days old and less than one year old at travel.
• Within 14 days of departure, a USDA- or CFIA-accredited veterinarian must complete the international health certificate.
• The certificate is endorsed by USDA APHIS (U.S.) or the CFIA (Canada). Allow 5–10 business days for endorsement.
• Most airlines accept pets in cabin under 20 lb. Larger pets travel as checked cargo — book directly through the airline's live-animal desk, not a general reservation line.

Opening a Costa Rican bank account as a non-resident is possible but slow — typically 4 to 8 weeks. With residency in hand it drops to 1 to 2 weeks. BAC Credomatic, Banco Nacional, and Scotiabank are the most expat-friendly. You will need your DIMEX (residency ID), passport, proof of address, and a reference letter from your home bank.

The U.S. dollar is accepted nearly everywhere alongside the Costa Rican colón. Keep a U.S. or Canadian account open for the first year — you will continue to need it for international transfers, brokerage access, and IRS or CRA filings. Wise and Schwab debit cards waive foreign ATM fees and remain the cleanest way to move money in the early months.

Costa Rica taxes only income earned within the country. Pension income, U.S. Social Security, dividends from a foreign brokerage, rental income from a property abroad, and remote salary from a foreign employer are not taxed by Costa Rica. This is the territorial system, and it is the single largest financial reason North Americans relocate here.

U.S. citizens still file IRS Form 1040 worldwide and may use the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (FEIE) or the Foreign Tax Credit. Canadian citizens who formally sever tax residency by establishing significant ties in Costa Rica generally stop filing in Canada — but this requires a clean break documented by a cross-border accountant before you leave. Do not assume; get advice.

Your home-country driver's license is valid in Costa Rica for as long as your tourist stamp is valid — up to 180 days. Once you receive residency, you have three months to convert to a Costa Rican license at COSEVI. The exchange is straightforward: medical exam, your DIMEX, your foreign license, and a small fee. No road test is required for North American license holders.

You can import one vehicle, but used-car import duties run 30 to 80% of CIF value. Most relocators sell their car at home and buy locally; Toyota, Hyundai, and Suzuki dominate the used market and parts are widely available. A 4×4 is sensible if you live outside the Central Valley.

Costa Rica has a strong network of accredited international schools, most concentrated in the Central Valley around Escazú, Santa Ana, and San José. Country Day School, Lincoln School, European School, and Blue Valley follow U.S. or IB curricula in English. Tuition runs roughly $10,000 to $18,000 USD per year per child — a fraction of comparable U.S. private schooling.

Beach communities (Tamarindo, Nosara, Dominical) have smaller bilingual schools that work well for younger children but thin out at the high-school level. Most relocating families with teenagers choose to live in or near the Central Valley for that reason.

1. Month 6Order apostilled vital records and background checks. Renew passports.
2. Month 5Take the residency assessment and choose your path. Engage counsel.
3. Month 4Compile financial documentation: pension letter, bank statements, or investment proof.
4. Month 3File the residency application with the Dirección General de Migración.
5. Month 2Get pet health certificates endorsed. Lock down housing — rent before you buy.
6. Month 1Sell or ship household. Open your Wise account. Notify the IRS or CRA of your move.
7. ArrivalLand, get fingerprinted at Migración, and begin CAJA enrollment once your file is approved.