Moving and Living in Costa Rica

If you wonder, what people come to live to Costa Rica you probably will not find a univocal answer. Lots of different people. They come here either to live or to do business, or both. They buy houses and quite a lot. And this is not only upscale luxurious beachfront real estate that is popular. More simple and decent houses are also in favor among numerous retirees whose pension cannot afford excess.

Significant, that property prices, either luxurious or not, are quite reasonable and lower that in the U.S., Canada and Europe. True, that it is mostly American expatriates who come to settle down here, but there are plenty of Canadians, Spanish, German, British, French, Swiss, and Dutch ones; and there are South Americans expatriates and even some Israelis who live in Costa Rica.

For those who have decided to move and spend their lives in this paradise, it is important to remember that this is a foreign country and the knowledge about some facts and pitfalls is vital. Moving and settling down here is fraught with certain problems; but it is the same wherever you decide to go. It is not about only flying here and staying. There are rules to obey and procedures to follow if a person is really decided to settle down and live.

There are various immigration statuses and it is up to you which one will be yours. Your already owned or prospective property can also influence your status as well as some other factors.

• A person who has retired can apply for a status of “pensioner” from the government.
• There is also such a status as “rantier” and it means the person who lives on the income of $1,000 at the very least per month.
• “Investor” is a very broad category but in any way it presupposes that you make investments; investments into government entities are considered a priority.
• And there are also “perpetual tourists” who should leave the country after their visa of 90 days expired. But after three days they can return. However, this is the least advisable status.

Apart from these four there are other statuses and there is also a question whether an expatriate is willing to change the country of citizenship. It is strongly advised to consult an experienced attorney in order to avoid any troubles.

It is also very important to understand what general cost of living in your prospective country is and also how things stand with health care. It is said that in Costa Rica people spend less and can afford more than in the U.S.; but here an individual understanding of what is expensive should be taken into consideration. For those who are used to living in moderation Costa Rica will seem a great place; however, those who are used to having posh cars and other such attributes of luxury are likely to spend as much as at home, and may be even more.

What concerns health care, it is really upscale. The percentage shows 98% of access to health care and it is even more than in the U.S. Costa Rica implemented “public” health care system, which presupposes monthly registration of $100 and full access for any services. The state-provided health insurance cost a bit more but it allows broader choice of facilities and you can decide which doctor will treat you.

So, there are some things a person moving to Costa Rica should keep in mind, but all in all, it is a great option and an opportunity to live your life the way you like for rather less than back in the States or Europe.

The country is gaining popularity more and more among different people both who come to buy and invest and those who stay and live here; especially in the light of already started baby-boomer retirement. There are about 78.2 million of them in the U.S., let alone the ones from other countries – and they show more and more propensity to come and settle down in Costa Rica. And if you keep in mind that they are quite demanding and ask for the best, then the fact that they choose this country shows that it is really worth a try.