Costa Rica Services
Everything You Need to Make the Move to Costa Rica
Comprehensive 1:1 Support
Let’s be honest, making an international move is not easy.
You’re going through a lot of change when you relocate to a new country: adapting to a new place, culture, and even language. Every day is full of new wonder, but also new challenges.
Now add the logistics. It takes the average expat hundreds of hours to figure out systems in their new country. That gets overwhelming, fast.
You deserve to enjoy your dream move. We make that possible.
What Are You Looking For?
Concierge Relocation
You’re handling enough right now. You don’t need the added stress of figuring out the details of an international move. Let us take care of it for you. This is our white glove service that includes assistance with every aspect of the relocation process. We take care of what you don’t even know you need - you won’t be caught off guard as a concierge client.
Residency Package
What you need for a smooth landing in Costa Rica. We take care of the big stuff so you can rest easy: your Costa Rica residency, your car, your new home, & more. We’ll have an open line of communication throughout, so when the move finally comes you won’t have to worry about a thing.
Digital Nomad Package
Pura Vida, made easy. No need to waste time on logistics, just get to Costa Rica and enjoy from day one. We take care of your digital nomad visa, rental, car, airport pickup, and provide exactly what you need to cover tax & health insurance.
Digital Nomad Visa
100% approval rate, 1:1 service. We take care of your visa submission and translations, and are with you in person in Costa Rica to finalize your residency.
Additional Services:
Car Purchase, Rental Search, Arrival Support
Which service is right for me?
Take Our Quiz.
Understand Your Visa Options
Residency Visas
Who is a Residency Visa for?
Residency visas are for anyone who wants to live in Costa Rica long-term. Valid for an initial period of 2 years, they are renewable and can be converted to permanent residency after 3 years and citizenship after 7 years.
Types of Residency Visas and How to Qualify
Inversionista (Investor)
You want to buy real estate or make another investment in Costa Rica of at least $150,000
Pensionado (Retiree)
You have retirement income of at least $1000/month
Rentista
You have rental income of at least $2,000/month or $60,000 that you can set aside for 2+ years
Benefits
- Pathway to Costa Rica permanent residency & citizenship
- No taxation on income earned outside of Costa Rica
- Access to national healthcare system
- Residency for dependents/familiy members
- Ability to work in Costa Rica once you achieve permanent residency
Explore Our Residency Visa Packages:
Digital Nomad Visa
Who is a Digital Nomad Visa for?
Costa Rica’s Digital Nomad Visa is ideal for anyone seeking to work from Costa Rica for 1-2 years, including those who want to test out living in Costa Rica before investing in residency.
How to Qualify
Applicants must prove minimum monthly income of $3000 USD for the 12 months preceding submission of the application. When applying with dependents, that rises to $4000 USD per month. Income must come from a company registered outside of Costa Rica.
Benefits
- No taxation on income earned outside of Costa Rica
- Quick and affordable: you can get your digital nomad visa in just a few months and for a significantly lower cost than residency
- Include dependents/familiy members
- Duty-free imports of work materials
- Eliminate international “visa runs” and risk of border issues
Explore Our Digital Nomad Visa Services:
Want to talk it through with us?
Experience the StartAbroad Difference
1.
Your move is personal. Work with people who care.
We get to know everyone we work with personally. You are making a huge life change when you move to a new country. We get it, we’ve been there. You deserve to work with someone who cares about your move success.
2.
The best customer service in the industry
Every StartAbroad client gets their own dedicated relocation specialist. We are available to you over email and phone and responsive to your needs.
3.
Transparent, affordable pricing
We don’t believe in hidden fees, added VAT tax, recurring annual subscriptions, or charging extra for translations. What you see is what you get, and it’s all you need to pay to get you there.
4.
We’re local
We're your boots on the ground in Costa Rica. We live here, own property here, and have children here ourselves. We understand what it means to make the move to Costa Rica because we've done it too.
We've been featured in:
FAQs
Do I qualify for a Costa Rica visa?
There are several visa types you can consider in Costa Rica. If you want to eventually become a permanent resident or citizen, you can consider the retiree (pensionado) visa, the investor (inversionista) visa, or the rentista visa. The pensionado visa requires income from a pension of at least $1000 per month. The investor visa requires an investment of at least $150,000. Real estate purchases qualify. The rentista requires $60,000 that is put aside for at least 2 years.
The digital nomad visa is quicker and easier to get, but is only valid for maximum 2 years. For this visa you must show income of at least $3000 per month for the past 12 months. If you want to bring any dependents the requirement is $4000 per month.
Questions? Please sign up for a consultation here.
When should I book your services?
We recommend starting our service at least 2 months before you want to move and up to 8 months before your target move date. It usually takes at least 2 months to find a rental you love and organize the car buying process for your arrival in country. Visa processes take longer, but you can move to Costa Rica before they are finalized. We will want to start the visa process while you are in your home country, given the need to source paperwork at home.
Can I meet you in person?
Maybe! As our business is for expats, by expats, we are location independent and we travel often between our countries of operation. We do meet our clients in person from time to time if they are moving to our home bases in Costa Rica and Portugal or passing through.
I don’t know what to do about my children’s school - where do I start?
You have options. Depending on where you want to move there may be public options, private options, and international schools to consider. Once you sign on as a client we can use a coaching call to orient you to the public vs private vs international systems and help you identify an initial shortlist of schools that may work for you.
How can I find a place to live that’s safe and affordable?
Finding a home in a new country can be daunting. You might hear about affordable rentals but not know where to look, or you might need to be sure your rental meets the requirements for your visa. We can help. We know the best towns and neighborhoods and can help you find a place that fits your needs and budget. Our rental search includes a deep-dive on location, full lease review and translation, and can be done either in-person or remotely.
What if my visa application is rejected?
Unsure if you qualify for your visa of choice? Get on the phone with us (sign up for a free consultation below) and we’ll let you know. We have a 100% approval rate for clients who meet qualifications.
My pets don't fly well and I don't know how to travel with them.
We get it. As pet owners ourselves we understand how important it is to get your pets to your new home safely and calmly. We know all of the options and can walk you through what is best for you and your pet, whether it’s in-cabin or a private flight. Ask us about using a coaching call to discuss this topic. We’ll share our Costa Rica pet relocation checklist and walk you through every step, including all required paperwork. If you need to book a professional pet relocation service, we have recommendations.
Should I ship my things or buy new when I arrive?
Deciding what to do with your possessions is a very personal decision, but it’s one that we have a lot of experience discussing with our clients. We can help you understand your options, understand the costs, and make the decision that is right for you.
"It was like having a friend that I could confide in and that would alleviate any of my stress and always comforted me. Any questions I had were always answered... So I just really felt comfortable.”
- Joyce
