Here is some of what I’ve been learning about moving to Costa Rica. I want to keep it handy so I can review it as the time to go approaches.

I don’t need a visa to visit Costa Rica. All I need is a passport that is good for at least two years beyond the time I’ll be there if I don’t intend to stay past 90 days. I will need confirmed arrival and departure dates and times (like a plane ticket) if I go there on a passport.

I can stay at an aparthotel in Tronadora starting at $490 for ten days.That’s just $49 a day. When I move there permanently, rentals in Tronadora (and many other places) can be procured for $490 per month (and up) while I’m looking for a permanent location to settle and either decide to buy property or rent.

I can apply for residency there either from there or from here. I will probably apply from here. There’s quite a lot of paperwork and some fees involved.

I can take my cat. But she will need all immunizations ahead of time, including a rabies shot about a month before we go there, plus a health certificate and internal and external pest check (by the vet).

I need to ask my insurance broker, Katheryn Evans of Sound Strategic Solutions, if Original Medicare will cover me in Costa Rica during the ten days I visit and/or after I move there until I qualify to become a permanent resident and can apply for their Caja (socialized medicine) insurance. If not, I need to get some international health insurance until I’m a confirmed permanent resident of CR.

Relocation Hotspots Abound in Costa Rica. For more about that, here’s a good URL: https://www.costarica.com/relocation/relocation-hotspots

Checklist for Moving to Costa Rica: https://www.costarica.com/relocation/moving-checklist

Required Documents for residency: https://www.costarica.com/relocation/residency-required-documents

Getting Residency Without a Lawyer: https://www.costarica.com/blog/getting-residency-without-a-lawyer

Comprehensive Guide: How to Immigrate to Costa Rica – Step By Step With CRIE.cr