Your Complete Moving to Costa Rica Checklist
Moving to Costa Rica is an exciting life change. This checklist ensures you don't miss critical steps.
Before You Leave (3-6 Months Before)
- ☐ Decide on residency path (Pensionado, Rentista, Inversionista, DN)
- ☐ Hire a CR immigration attorney ($1,500-3,000)
- ☐ Get documents apostilled (birth certificate, marriage certificate, police clearance)
- ☐ Start the residency application (takes 6-18 months)
- ☐ Research areas — use SIXPERCENT to browse properties
- ☐ Visit first — spend 2-4 weeks exploring different areas
- ☐ Decide: rent first or buy? (recommend renting 6-12 months first)
- ☐ Downsize and sell — shipping is expensive, buy local in CR
Arriving in Costa Rica
- ☐ Open a bank account (BAC Creamer, Scotiabank — easier with residency)
- ☐ Get a local SIM card (Kolbi, Liberty, or Tigo)
- ☐ Find temporary housing (Airbnb for first month while you explore)
- ☐ Get a Costa Rica driver's license (or use your foreign license for 90 days)
- ☐ Register with CCSS for healthcare (once residency is approved)
- ☐ Find a property — list with SIXPERCENT or search our AI platform
"The best advice I got: rent for 6 months before buying. We thought we wanted Tamarindo. After 3 months we realized Atenas was our perfect fit. SIXPERCENT helped us find our dream home when we were ready."