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Moving to Costa Rica: The Complete 2026 Expat Guide
Visas, residency, real monthly budgets, taxes, safety and the best places to live — for Americans, Canadians and Britons
⏱ Reading time: about 19 minutes · Updated October 2026
Thinking about moving to Costa Rica? You are in good company. The country has no army, a functioning democracy, a public health system that covers every legal resident, and a tax system that leaves foreign income alone. It is also three hours from Miami and keeps Central time all year, which is why so many North Americans pick it over Europe or Asia.
But the brochure version leaves things out. Costa Rica is no longer cheap, the residency queue is long, the homicide rate has roughly doubled since 2019, and a key incentive law for new residents expired in July 2026. This guide gives you the numbers as they stand today, so you can decide whether to move to Costa Rica with your eyes open.
Is Costa Rica right for you? A two-minute self-check
☐ I have a lifetime pension of $1,000+ a month, passive income of $2,500+ a month, remote income of $3,000+ a month, or capital to invest
☐ My income comes from outside Costa Rica (local salaries average about $1,500 a month)
☐ I can live with slow bureaucracy and a residency file that may take a year or more
☐ I am willing to learn Spanish beyond restaurant level
☐ I accept that beach towns cost close to US prices
☐ I am comfortable driving on rough roads, or living somewhere walkable
☐ I have $8,000–$15,000 set aside for the move itself
5–7 ticks: strong fit. 3–4: possible, but rent for six months before you commit. 0–2: visit as a tourist first.
Costa Rica at a Glance
| Fact | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| Population | About 5 million; most live in the Central Valley around San José |
| Currency | Colón (₡), around ₡540 per US dollar in 2026 — a strong colón makes life pricier for dollar earners |
| Inflation | Slightly negative in 2026 (–0.28% in July) |
| Tourist stay | Up to 180 days for US, Canadian and UK passports, at the officer's discretion |
| Tax system | Territorial: only Costa Rican-source income is taxed |
| Healthcare | Public system (the Caja) mandatory for legal residents; strong private hospitals in the Central Valley |
| Language | Spanish; English is common only in tourist zones and private clinics |
| Time zone | Central Time, no daylight saving |
Can You Move to Costa Rica from the USA, Canada or the UK?
Yes. US citizens, Canadians and Britons enter Costa Rica as tourists without a visa and may be stamped in for up to 180 days. That figure is a maximum, not a right: the immigration officer writes the number of days in your passport, and you should carry proof of onward travel. There is no such thing as a formal tourist visa for these nationalities, although many expats use the term for the entry stamp.
A tourist stamp lets you stay in Costa Rica, rent a home, buy property and drive on your home licence for the length of the authorised stay. It does not let you work for Costa Rican companies, join the public health system or build time toward permanent residency. Some people live for years on back-to-back stamps by leaving every few months. It is tolerated, but an officer can shorten or refuse your next entry, so it is a weak base if you want to stay in Costa Rica long-term.
If you want to live in Costa Rica legally and with security, you need one of the residency categories below. Moving to Costa Rica from the US is easier than moving to most of Europe, because the income thresholds are low. The hard part is paperwork and patience.
Visa and Residency Options to Live in Costa Rica
Costa Rica offers four main routes for foreigners with their own income. Three of them are temporary residency categories that lead to permanent residency. The fourth, the digital nomad visa, is a stay permit that does not.
| Route | Money requirement | Length | Leads to permanent residency? | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pensionado | Lifetime retirement income of at least $1,000 a month (Social Security, CPP, UK State Pension, military or company pension) | 2 years, renewable | Yes, after 3 years | Retirees |
| Rentista | Guaranteed income of $2,500 a month for 24 months, or a $60,000 deposit in a Costa Rican bank | 2 years, renewable | Yes, after 3 years | Early retirees, people with savings or passive income |
| Inversionista | $200,000 under the base immigration rules; the reduced $150,000 threshold lapsed in July 2026 (see below) | 2 years, renewable | Yes, after 3 years | Property buyers, business owners |
| Digital nomad visa | Remote income of at least $3,000 a month ($4,000 with family), plus health insurance for the whole stay | 1 year, one renewal | No | Remote employees and freelancers testing the country |
| Family link (vínculo) | None; based on marriage to or parenthood of a Costa Rican citizen | Varies | Yes; parents of a Costa Rican-born child can get permanent residency without first holding temporary status | Families with local ties |
Pensionado and Rentista
These two are the workhorses. A spouse and dependent children can be added to the main applicant's file without raising the income requirement. You must move the qualifying money into a Costa Rican bank account each year and show the receipts at renewal. Neither category allows you to take a job in Costa Rica as an employee, but you may own a business and draw profits from it.
Inversionista: the rule that changed in July 2026
⚠️ Law 9996 expired on 14 July 2026. For five years this law cut the investor minimum from $200,000 to $150,000 and gave new residents duty-free import of household goods and up to two vehicles, plus a 20% discount on property transfer tax. Lawmakers did not extend it. New applicants no longer get those perks. On the investment amount itself, sources disagree: several Costa Rican law firms state that the minimum is back at $200,000, while the immigration checklist still showed $150,000 in early September 2026. Budget for $200,000 and get the current figure in writing from an immigration lawyer before you buy. Anyone already approved under Law 9996 keeps their benefits.
Digital nomad visa for remote workers
The digital nomad visa is the fastest route. Official processing is about 15 working days, the government fees are $100 plus a $90 document fee, and your foreign earnings are exempt from Costa Rican income tax. You must work only for employers or clients outside Costa Rica, and to renew for a second year you need to have spent at least 180 days in the country. After two years it ends. It cannot be converted, and the time does not count toward permanent residency, so remote workers who want to live in Costa Rica permanently usually switch to Rentista or Inversionista.
From temporary resident to Costa Rican citizen
You can apply for permanent residency after 3 years of temporary residency. Permanent residents hold nearly the same rights as Costa Ricans, including the right to work for any employer; the main exception is voting. After seven years of legal residency you may apply for Costa Rican citizenship, which requires passing Spanish and civics exams. Costa Rica allows dual nationality, and so do the US, Canada and the UK, so you do not need to give up your passport to become a Costa Rican citizen.
Expect a wait. The immigration service had roughly 38,000 pending residency applications in June 2026. Once your file is accepted you may remain in the country while it is processed, but plan on a year or more before you hold your DIMEX residency card. Legal and government costs typically run $2,500–$4,000 per person in the first year.
Cost of Living in Costa Rica: What You Will Really Spend
The cost of living in Costa Rica is lower than living in the US, Canada or the UK, but the gap is narrower than most people expect. Rent, labour, local produce and healthcare are cheap. Cars, fuel, electronics, imported groceries and electricity are expensive. A single person willing to live simply in an inland town can manage on $1,600–$2,200 a month. A couple renting near the beach in Tamarindo or Nosara can spend three times that.
Where you live matters more than anything else. The same lifestyle costs 30–40% more at the beach than in the hills, largely because of rent and air conditioning.
| Area | 1-bed rent | Single budget* | Climate | Feels like |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Escazú / Santa Ana | $700–$1,200 | $2,400–$3,200 | Spring-like, 70s°F | A US suburb: malls, private hospitals, traffic |
| Heredia | $500–$800 | $1,800–$2,400 | Cool and green | University town, the province with the fewest homicides |
| Atenas | $500–$800 | $1,700–$2,300 | Warm and dry, little need for AC | Small town with a large retiree community |
| Grecia / San Ramón | $450–$700 | $1,600–$2,100 | Cooler, misty | Traditional Costa Rican farm towns |
| Tamarindo (Guanacaste) | $900–$1,500 | $2,800–$3,800 | Hot, dry half the year | Surf town, English widely spoken, tourist prices |
| Puerto Viejo (Caribbean) | $400–$700 | $1,600–$2,200 | Hot, humid, rain year-round | Laid-back, Afro-Caribbean culture, fewer services |
*Our estimate for one person renting a one-bedroom, including utilities, food, transport and health cover. Rents are 2026 market ranges.
Typical monthly bills: fibre internet $35–$60, water about $22, electricity $50–$80 in the hills and $150–$300 at the beach if you run air conditioning. Eating at a local soda costs $6–$9 for a full plate. A meal in a tourist restaurant on the Pacific coast costs what it would in Florida.
Four financial scenarios
These are worked examples, not promises. Caja contributions are calculated at about 11% of the income declared in the residency file.
Scenario 1: Retired couple in Atenas
Pensionado · Social Security income $3,400
Rent, 2-bed house: $900
Utilities and internet: $160
Groceries: $600
Caja (on $2,000 declared): $220
Private top-up insurance: $200
Car running costs: $250
Eating out and leisure: $350
Other: $200
Total: $2,880 · Left over: $520 a month ($6,240 a year)
Scenario 2: Remote worker in Tamarindo
Digital nomad visa · income $5,500
Rent, furnished 1-bed: $1,400
Electricity with AC: $220
Internet: $50
Groceries: $500
Private health insurance: $180
Transport: $200
Eating out, surf, gym: $550
Coworking: $150
Other: $200
Total: $3,450 · Left over: $2,050 a month ($24,600 a year), with no Costa Rican income tax
Scenario 3: Family of four in Santa Ana
Rentista · household income $9,000
Rent, 3-bed in a gated community: $2,400
Utilities and internet: $300
Groceries: $1,100
Private school, two children: $3,000
Caja (on $2,500 declared): $275
Private family insurance: $450
Car: $500
Leisure and travel: $600
Other: $300
Total: $8,925 · Left over: $75 a month. Private schooling is what makes Costa Rica with kids expensive.
Scenario 4: Single retiree in Grecia
Pensionado · pension $1,900
Rent, small house: $550
Utilities and internet: $100
Groceries, farmers' market: $380
Caja (on $1,900 declared): $209
Bus and taxi: $80
Eating out: $150
Other: $150
Total: $1,619 · Left over: $281 a month ($3,372 a year). Works without a car and with public healthcare only.
Can you live on $1,500, $2,000 or $5,000 a month?
$1,500: only just, as a single person in an inland town, without a car and relying on the Caja. One large dental or car bill breaks the budget. $2,000: yes for a single person in the Central Valley, and tight but possible for a frugal couple away from the coast. $5,000: a couple lives very comfortably almost anywhere, including the popular expat beach towns, with a car, private insurance and regular travel back to the US.
Finding a Place to Live in Costa Rica
Most expats living in Costa Rica settle in one of four regions, and each one is a different country in practice.
Central Valley. San José and the towns around it sit at 3,000–4,500 feet, so temperatures stay in the 70s°F all year. This is where you find the best hospitals, international schools, shopping and the main airport. Escazú and Santa Ana have the most amenities and the largest expat communities. Atenas, Grecia and San Ramón are quieter and cheaper.
Guanacaste and the North Pacific. Tamarindo, Playas del Coco, Flamingo and Nosara line Costa Rica's Pacific coast in the driest part of the country. There is a second international airport in Liberia. Expect heat, dust in the dry season, high rents and a social life that runs in English.
Central and South Pacific. Jacó, Manuel Antonio, Dominical and Uvita are greener and wetter. Jacó is the closest beach to San José. Further south, the jungle meets the sea, roads get rougher and services thin out.
Caribbean and Arenal. Puerto Viejo offers the lowest beach rents and a distinct culture, with year-round rain and fewer medical services. Around Lake Arenal, a small community of foreigners enjoys cool breezes and lake views at Central Valley prices.
Rent first. It is the one piece of advice every Costa Rica expat forum agrees on. Take a six-month rental through both the dry season (December–April) and the rainy season before you decide on a place to live. A town that is perfect in February can be cut off by mud in October. Furnished rentals are easy to find through local Facebook groups and agents, and month-to-month deals are common outside high season.
Buying a house in Costa Rica
Foreigners can own titled property with the same rights as citizens, even on a tourist stamp. The exception is the maritime zone: the first 50 metres from the high-tide line are public, and the next 150 metres are held under government concession, with limits on foreign ownership. Always hire your own lawyer, not the seller's, and have the title checked in the National Registry. Annual property tax is 0.25% of the registered value. Buying a house in Costa Rica is far easier than selling one, so do not buy during your first year in Costa Rica.
Is Costa Rica Safe for Expats?
This is the part most guides gloss over. Costa Rica recorded 873 homicides in 2025, a rate of about 16.7 per 100,000 people and the third-worst year on record. In 2019 the count was 564. Most of the violence is tied to drug trafficking and involves young local men. It is also concentrated: San José, Limón and Puntarenas provinces accounted for 68% of the 2025 total, while Heredia recorded 35 killings all year.
There is some good news. By late August 2026 the count stood at 520, against 570 a year earlier, and the judicial police project the year will end near 800.
What foreigners actually face is property crime: break-ins, car theft and theft from rental cars and beaches. The worst rates are in Garabito (which includes Jacó), San José and Quepos. The US Embassy issued a country-wide security alert in November 2025 noting armed robberies and burglaries at rental properties. Sensible precautions go a long way: live in a home with bars or a guard, never leave anything in a parked car, and avoid driving at night on rural roads.
The sea deserves equal respect. The Red Cross counted 128 drownings in 2025. Rip currents on the Pacific coast kill more visitors than crime does.
Healthcare for Expats in Costa Rica
Every legal resident of Costa Rica must join the public system, the Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social (CCSS, or simply "the Caja"). You pay a monthly contribution based on the income declared in your residency file, generally 7–12% and around 11% for most pensionado and rentista residents. In return you get doctor visits, hospital care, surgery and prescriptions with no deductibles and no exclusions for pre-existing conditions.
The Caja's weakness is waiting time. Non-urgent specialist appointments and elective surgery can take months. For that reason many expats pay for the Caja and also use private care. A private GP visit costs roughly $60–$100, and private insurance runs about $100–$300 a month depending on age. The main private hospitals, including CIMA, Clínica Bíblica and Hospital Metropolitano, are in the Central Valley, so if you have a chronic condition, think carefully before settling four hours away on the coast.
Digital nomads and tourists cannot join the Caja and must carry private insurance. US Medicare does not cover you outside the United States.
Taxes When You Move to Costa Rica
Costa Rica taxes only income earned inside the country. Your pension, remote salary from a foreign employer, dividends and rental income from back home are not taxed locally, whatever your residency status.
| Tax | Rate (2026) | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Foreign-source income | 0% | Pensions, remote work for clients outside Costa Rica, foreign investments |
| Salary tax | 0% up to ₡918,000 a month (about $1,700), then progressive bands to 25% | Local employment |
| Corporate tax | 30% standard; 5–20% for small companies | Local business profits |
| Capital gains and rental income | 15% | Costa Rican assets |
| VAT (IVA) | 13% | Most goods and services |
| Property tax | 0.25% a year | Registered property value |
🇺🇸 Americans living in Costa Rica. You still file a US return every year. The Foreign Earned Income Exclusion shelters up to $132,900 of earned income for 2026, but it does not cover pensions, Social Security or investment income. Because Costa Rica does not tax that income, there is no foreign tax to credit, so retirees usually owe the IRS the same as before. Report any Costa Rican bank account on an FBAR once your foreign balances pass $10,000 in total. There is no US–Costa Rica totalization agreement, so self-employed Americans keep paying US self-employment tax. Most states stop taxing you once you break residency, but California, Virginia, South Carolina and New Mexico make that hard.
🇨🇦 Canadians. Canada has no tax treaty with Costa Rica. If you cut residential ties you may face departure tax on unrealised gains, and CPP, OAS and RRSP withdrawals will carry 25% non-resident withholding. Many snowbirds keep Canadian residency and use the 180-day tourist stay instead; check how long your province lets you be away before you lose health coverage.
🇬🇧 Britons. Moving to Costa Rica from the UK means leaving the NHS behind, and there is no reciprocal healthcare deal. Costa Rica is not among the countries where the UK State Pension is uprated each year, so expect yours to be frozen at the rate it is first paid; confirm with the International Pension Centre. Use the Statutory Residence Test to establish when you stop being UK tax resident.
Finding a Job in Costa Rica
Do not move expecting to find local work. Work permits are granted only where no Costa Rican can fill the role, and the average local salary is about $1,500 a month. Pensionado, rentista and digital nomad status all forbid local employment. Realistic options are to work remotely for clients outside Costa Rica, open your own business (you may own it and take profits, though not staff it yourself until you hold permanent residency), teach English at a private institute, or transfer with a multinational. The Central Valley hosts large shared-service and tech operations that hire bilingual staff, and those employers handle the permit.
Banking, Driving and Daily Life in Costa Rica as an Expat
Banking. The state banks are Banco Nacional and Banco de Costa Rica; BAC is the largest private bank. Without a residency card you can usually open only a limited account, and opening a Costa Rican bank account in full requires your DIMEX. Rentista and pensionado applicants need one to show their monthly deposits, so your lawyer will normally help you open a Costa Rican bank account early in the process. Keep a US, Canadian or UK account open as well.
Driving. Your home licence is valid for the length of your authorised stay, up to 180 days. Once you hold legal residency you must get a Costa Rican driver's license through a process called homologation, with a medical certificate but no written or road test. The first licence is valid for three years.
Cars. Vehicles are costly. Import duty runs from about 52% of the assessed value for a car up to three years old to about 79% for one six years or older, and the duty-free import that new residents enjoyed under Law 9996 is gone. Most people now sell at home and buy locally.
Internet. Fibre is widespread in the Central Valley and in most beach towns. In remote areas, satellite internet fills the gap.
Language and culture. Costa Ricans, who call themselves Ticos, are polite, indirect and unhurried. "Pura vida" is a real attitude, and it applies to plumbers and government offices too. Life in Costa Rica gets much easier, and much cheaper, once you can negotiate in Spanish.
Moving to Costa Rica with Kids
Public schools teach in Spanish and vary widely in quality, so most foreign families choose private or international schools. Tuition at the top schools in Escazú, Santa Ana and Guanacaste runs roughly $14,000–$22,000 a year, plus one-off enrolment fees. Smaller bilingual schools cost far less. Children are added to a parent's residency file, and the Caja covers them. If you are moving to Costa Rica with kids, pick the school before the house: commutes in the Central Valley are slow.
Moving to Costa Rica with Pets
Costa Rica does not quarantine dogs or cats and does not ban any breed. You need an international health certificate issued by an accredited vet within 14 days of travel and endorsed by the national authority: USDA APHIS in the US, the CFIA in Canada, or APHA in the UK. Rabies vaccination must be current, and dogs also need distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus and leptospirosis shots plus recent parasite treatment. An animal-health officer checks the paperwork at the airport. The airline's rules on heat, crates and snub-nosed breeds are often the bigger obstacle, so book the pet's place before your own.
What Does It Cost to Move to Costa Rica?
| Item | Typical cost (couple) |
|---|---|
| Residency: lawyer, government fees, apostilles, translations | $5,000–$8,000 |
| Flights and extra baggage | $800–$2,000 |
| First month's rent plus deposit | $1,500–$3,500 |
| Used car bought locally | $10,000–$20,000 |
| Setting up a home (most rentals come furnished) | $500–$2,000 |
Shipping a container is rarely worth it now that household goods are no longer duty-free for new residents. Many expats arrive with suitcases and buy the rest locally. A sensible reserve is six months of living costs on top of the figures above.
Pros and Cons of Living in Costa Rica
Pros
Low income thresholds for residency
No local tax on foreign income
Public healthcare with no exclusions
Stable democracy, no army since 1948
Short flights back to the US and Canada
Climate for every taste within two hours' drive
Established expat communities
A lower cost of living than North America, if you choose your town well
Cons
The most expensive country in Central America
Homicide rate far above its own historical norm
Frequent burglary in tourist areas
Long residency backlog
Slow bureaucracy and long Caja waiting lists
Costly cars, fuel and imported goods
Rough roads and heavy Central Valley traffic
Almost no local job market for foreigners
Do people move back? Many do. Long-term residents often say a large share of newcomers leave within a few years, usually because they underestimated costs, missed family, or never learned Spanish. Those who stay tend to be the ones who rented first, chose a town for daily life over holiday scenery, and kept their standard of living modest.
8 Common Mistakes When You Move to Costa Rica
1. Buying property in the first year. Selling can take years. Fix: rent through a full dry and rainy season first.
2. Relying on pre-July 2026 advice. Older articles still promise a $150,000 investor route and duty-free imports. Fix: ask your lawyer what applies to applications filed today.
3. Treating the digital nomad visa as a path to residency. It ends after two years and does not lead to permanent residency. Fix: if you plan to stay, start a rentista or investor file instead.
4. Budgeting with beach prices from 2019. The colón has strengthened and coastal rents have jumped. Fix: build your budget from current listings in the exact town.
5. Arriving without apostilled documents. Birth certificates, marriage certificates and police checks must be apostilled at home and are valid for only a few months. Fix: order them shortly before you file and bring originals.
6. Forgetting the Caja in the budget. The contribution is mandatory and renewal depends on being paid up. Fix: budget about 11% of your declared income from the day your residency is approved.
7. Shipping a car. Duties of 52–79% apply to the government's valuation, not what you paid. Fix: sell at home and buy a model with local parts support.
8. Assuming zero tax. No Costa Rican tax on foreign income does not end your US filing duty or Canadian departure tax. Fix: speak to a cross-border accountant before you leave.
Planning Your Move: Four-Phase Checklist
Phase 1: Research (12–6 months before)
☐ Visit for at least three weeks, including one inland town and one beach town
☐ Choose a residency category and confirm you meet the income requirement
☐ Speak to an immigration lawyer about the post-Law 9996 rules
☐ Speak to a tax adviser in your home country
☐ Start Spanish lessons
Phase 2: Paperwork (6–2 months before)
☐ Order birth and marriage certificates and a police background check
☐ Have each document apostilled
☐ Get a pension or income letter from your provider or bank
☐ Renew passports with less than a year of validity
☐ Book a six-month furnished rental
☐ Arrange international health insurance for the gap before the Caja
Phase 3: The move (final 8 weeks)
☐ Book pet health certificate and endorsement within 14 days of the flight
☐ Sell or store your car and furniture
☐ Tell your bank, pension provider and tax office your new address
☐ Set up mail forwarding and a way to receive two-factor codes abroad
☐ Buy a ticket with proof of onward travel
Phase 4: First 90 days in Costa Rica
☐ File your residency application and keep the receipt with your passport
☐ Register fingerprints with the Ministry of Public Security
☐ Open a bank account
☐ Enrol in the Caja as soon as residency is approved
☐ Convert your driving licence once you hold your DIMEX
☐ Register with your embassy
Glossary
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Caja (CCSS) | The public health and pension system, mandatory for residents |
| DGME | Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería, the immigration service |
| DIMEX | The residency ID card for foreigners |
| Pensionado | Residency for people with a lifetime pension |
| Rentista | Residency for people with guaranteed passive income or a bank deposit |
| Inversionista | Residency based on a qualifying investment |
| Estancia | A stay permit, such as the digital nomad category; not residency |
| Vínculo | Residency through a family tie to a Costa Rican |
| Law 9996 | The 2021 incentive law for investors, rentistas and pensionados that expired on 14 July 2026 |
| Homologation | Converting a foreign driving licence to a local one |
| Marchamo | Annual vehicle circulation fee and mandatory insurance, paid each December |
| Soda | A small family restaurant serving cheap local meals |
| Tico / Tica | What Costa Ricans call themselves |
| FEIE | US Foreign Earned Income Exclusion, $132,900 for 2026 |
| FBAR | US report of foreign bank accounts above $10,000 in total |
Moving to Costa Rica: Quick Answers
Is it difficult for an American to move to Costa Rica?
No, not by international standards. If you have a pension of $1,000 a month or other income of at least $2,500 a month, you qualify for residency. The difficulty is administrative: apostilled documents, Spanish-language filings and a long wait. You can live in the country legally while your file is pending.
Can Americans live in Costa Rica permanently?
Yes. After three years as a temporary resident you can apply for permanent residency, which has no income requirement and lets you work. After seven years you can apply for citizenship and keep your US passport.
How long can I stay in Costa Rica without a visa?
Up to 180 days per entry for US, Canadian and UK citizens, depending on what the officer stamps.
How much money should I save before moving?
Plan on $8,000–$15,000 for a couple to cover residency and set-up costs without a car, plus six months of living expenses.
What is the hardest part of living in Costa Rica?
For most newcomers it is the pace of bureaucracy and the cost of everyday goods, followed by distance from family. Those who want to live in Costa Rica for the long run say Spanish is what makes the difference.
Should I move to Costa Rica or Panama?
Panama is cheaper, uses the US dollar and has stronger retiree discounts. Costa Rica offers better public healthcare, more nature and larger English-speaking communities outside the capital. If cost is your first concern, look at Panama; if lifestyle and environment come first, Costa Rica usually wins.
If you're moving within the next year, start with two things: a scouting trip in the rainy season and a conversation with an immigration lawyer about the rules that apply after July 2026. Everything else in your move to Costa Rica follows from where you choose to live and which residency route you take.
