Moving to Costa Rica from the US: What You Need to Know

Moving to Costa Rica from the US is straightforward once you know the order. You choose a legal way to stay, which for most Americans is Pensionado, Rentista or Investor residency, or the Digital Nomad visa for remote workers. You prepare your U.S. documents with apostilles, rent before you buy, and file your residency application with Costa Rica’s immigration authority (the DGME). Once you are approved, you join the national health system and collect your residency card.

Here is what to know at each stage, from the first paperwork to your first weeks in the country. For the legal steps in detail, see our guide on how to immigrate to Costa Rica.

Why Americans Move to Costa Rica

Costa Rica is a stable democracy close to home, with two international airports, Juan Santamaría near San José and Guanacaste airport in Liberia. Most Americans settle in the cooler Central Valley around San José, or on the coast in Guanacaste, the Central Pacific, the South Pacific or the Caribbean. Healthcare, the pace of life and the outdoors are what bring most people, and many come to retire.

Your Legal Options as a U.S. Citizen

A tourist stay is limited, and the officer at the airport decides how many days you get. To live here you need one of these:

• Pensionado: a lifetime pension of at least US$1,000 a month. Social Security retirement benefits are a lifetime pension.
• Rentista: stable, permanent income of at least US$2,500 a month for at least two years.
• Investor: at least US$150,000 invested in Costa Rica, such as a home in your own name.
• Digital Nomad visa: remote income of at least US$3,000 a month (US$4,000 with family), for up to two years.
• Family routes: marriage to a Costa Rican, or a Costa Rican child, opens the spouse and parent categories.

Getting Your U.S. Documents Ready

Most of the paperwork for an American applicant comes from the United States, and the details trip people up:

• FBI background check. Costa Rica wants a national-level police record, which for Americans means the FBI Identity History Summary, not a local or state police letter. Because it is a federal document, it is apostilled by the U.S. Department of State.
• Birth and marriage certificates. These are state documents, so they are apostilled by the Secretary of State of the state that issued them, not by the Department of State.
• Proof of income. For Pensionado, a letter from your pension provider, such as the Social Security Administration. For Rentista, the income certification your category requires.
• Timing. Order the FBI record last. It is the document most likely to expire before your file is complete.

Once the documents are in Costa Rica, each one needs an official Spanish translation. See our residency requirements guide for the full list.

Visit, Rent and Choose Your Region First

Rent for a few months before you buy. The Central Valley and the beaches feel very different, and so do neighborhoods a few miles apart. Spend time in the rainy season as well as the dry season, and check the drive to the nearest hospital and supermarket. When you are ready to buy or rent long term, our sister company GAP Real Estate has over 1,000 listings across the country.

Shipping Your Belongings, Pets and Car

Decide early what is worth shipping. Make an inventory and ask a customs broker for their checklist; see shipping household goods to Costa Rica and how customs duties work. Law 9996 once let new pensionados, rentistas and investors import household goods and vehicles with tax benefits, but the window to opt into those benefits reached its five-year limit in July 2026 (what that means). Bringing a dog or cat takes its own veterinary paperwork; start with our guide to bringing pets to Costa Rica.

Healthcare and Banking

Residents must join the Caja, the national health system (CCSS registration), and keep it paid, because Migración checks it when you renew. Many Americans add private health insurance for faster access to specialists. A local bank account makes paying the Caja and daily bills easier; see opening a bank account in Costa Rica.

Working After You Move

Pensionado, Rentista and Investor residency do not let you take a job as an employee in Costa Rica. Remote work for employers or clients abroad is what the Digital Nomad visa is built for, and that income is exempt from Costa Rican income tax under Law 10008. Permanent residents, after three years, may work in any paid activity.

Your First Weeks: a Short Checklist

• Keep your passport, entry stamp and residency receipts together.
• Book your fingerprinting and any appointments your file still needs.
• Join the Caja as soon as your approval allows, and set up the monthly payment.
• Open a bank account and get a local phone number for official notices.
• Diary your DIMEX renewal date so it never lapses.

Frequently Asked Questions

Plan Your Move With CRIE

CRIE is an immigration law firm with licensed attorneys. Tell us your income, family and timeline, and we will tell you which category fits and which U.S. documents to order first. WhatsApp +506 8373 2085 or email [email protected].

This guide is general information, not advice on your particular case. Immigration rules and required documents can change, so we confirm the current checklist before anything is filed.