Every expat in Costa Rica has a story about the thing nobody told them. Ours involves a notarized document, a national holiday we didn't know existed, and a very patient clerk. Consider this the checklist we wish someone had handed us — organized by what to do before you fly, in your first month, and by day 90.
Before You Fly: The Paperwork Sprint
Almost everything difficult about moving to Costa Rica is easier to fix while you're still home. Do these first:
- Apostille your documents — birth certificates, marriage certificate, and police background checks. These are the backbone of any residency application, they expire, and getting them re-issued from abroad is misery. Order extras.
- Pick your residency route — pensionado ($1,000/month pension), rentista ($2,500/month income), or investor ($150,000+ in real estate). Deciding early shapes everything else, and 2026's Law 9996 deadline (July 14) rewards early movers on the investor path.
- Talk to your bank and broker — confirm you can log in and move money from abroad; set up a US/Canadian address solution and two-factor methods that work internationally.
- Sort the pets — health certificates have tight timing windows before travel.
- Think twice before shipping a container — many movers conclude that selling up and re-buying beats shipping. If you qualify under the current incentive regime, duty-advantaged household imports are part of the Law 9996 package; get advice before paying for a container either way.
Weeks 1–4: Land, Settle, Register
- Get a local SIM the first week — much of daily life (deliveries, appointments, WhatsApp everything) runs through a Costa Rican number.
- File or advance your residency application with your attorney. If your documents were apostilled at home, this is a handoff, not a scramble.
- Learn your neighborhood systems — where the feria (farmers market) sets up, which pharmacy delivers, how the trash and recycling schedule actually works.
- Rent before you buy if you're undecided — or if you've already bought (welcome, investor-residency crowd), meet your neighbors, who will teach you more in a week than the internet did in a year.
Months 2–3: Become Officially You
- DIMEX card — once residency is approved, this ID unlocks adult life: contracts, better banking, no more carrying your passport to the pharmacy.
- Enroll in the Caja — mandatory for residents (roughly 7–11% of declared income) and your gateway to the public healthcare system. Many expats add private care on top; visits run about $75.
- Open a local bank account — dramatically easier with a DIMEX. Until then, credit cards and ATMs bridge the gap.
- Start Spanish, actually — thirty minutes a day beats a dusty textbook and transforms every interaction, especially in the Caja and government offices.
- Driver's licence, vehicle decisions, and the rest — rules for exchanging foreign licences depend on your immigration status; your attorney will time this with your residency approval.
The Mindset Item Nobody Puts on Lists
Things will take longer than they did back home. The line will close for lunch. The office will want one more copy. And then one Tuesday you'll realize you watched the sunset instead of your inbox, the pharmacist knows your name, and "tramites" (paperwork errands) have become funny stories. That's not the system failing — that's the trade you came here to make. Pura vida is a pace, not a slogan.
Rapid-Fire FAQ
Can I do all this without an attorney?
Residency filings and property closings genuinely need professionals. The rest is you, patience, and WhatsApp.
How long until residency is approved?
Months, not weeks — which is why filing early (with documents prepared before you fly) matters so much.
Should I keep my US/Canadian bank accounts?
Yes. Nearly all expats run finances from home-country accounts for years; Costa Rica taxes only local income under its territorial system anyway.
What surprises people most?
How quickly the community absorbs you. Say yes to the beach cleanup, the language exchange, the neighbor's birthday — 90 days in, you'll have a life, not just an address.
Want the checklist tailored to you? From qualifying property to attorney introductions to which feria has the good mangoes — book a free consultation and we'll get you from "someday" to day one.
General information, not legal advice. Rules and timelines change; confirm current requirements with your immigration attorney.