Get-to-Costa Rica Packages
Residency Package
Ensure a smooth landing in Costa Rica. Everything you need, nothing you don’t.
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Pura Vida, Made Easy
When you move to Costa Rica you want to find a great new home in the perfect place, figure out your immigration strategy, get a car, and bring your family along – pets included.
Not to mention getting set up with health insurance, car insurance, shipping, and what do taxes for expats in Costa Rica look like anyway?
It takes a lot of legwork to do it right. When you move to Costa Rica, you want to enjoy your new home, unburdened by bureaucratic processes and confusing new rules.
Get it right the first time. We specialize in all of the key components of your Costa Rica move, so you don’t have to.
Everything you need, nothing you don't.
Visa & Residency
Rental Search
Car
Airport Pickup
Trusted Expert Network
4 Coaching Calls
Transparent &
Affordable Pricing
Get peace of mind without breaking the bank.
Residency Package
$3450
+ $1450/$950 per adult/child dependent
- Temporary residency application
- Long-term rental in Costa Rica
- Car purchase service
- Airport pickup on arrival
- Dedicated relocation specialist to support you throughout the move process
- Four 1:1 coaching calls on move topics of your choice
- Connections to vetted accountants, health insurance brokers, and real estate buyer's agents
- Access to client Whatsapp line for 30 days after your move
- Tailored pre-arrival checklist
Price does not include cost of procuring documents, apostille, or government application fees
Let's break it down in more detail...
Costa Rica Residency
- Application submission on your behalf to the Costa Rican government
- Official translation of all required documents
- Certified income statement from accredited Costa Rica accountant
- Guidance on assembling required documentation + the apostille process
- In-person submission of government fees
- In-person accompaniment to your final visa appointment in Costa Rica (San Jose area only)
*not included: government fees and taxes
Rental Search
- Up to 25 listings that meet your criteria
- In-person or video walkthroughs of 3 rentals
- Negotiation with landlord on your behalf
- Lease review and translation
- Personal attention and support
- On-call customer service
Optional add-ons:
- Additional lease reviews & translations
- Additional in-person or video walkthroughs
Car Purchase
- 30 minute initial call to preview purchase process, discuss budget, and make recommendations
- Up to 40 listings pulled that meet your desired criteria
- Coordination of 4 in-person car inspections with a trusted mechanic
- Price negotiation on your behalf with the seller
- Connection to a vetted attorney to complete the car transfer process, plus guidance through closing
Coaching Calls
- In-depth written guides on every topic
- Choose the topics that make sense for you
- Popular topics:
- Choosing Your Ideal Location in Costa Rica
- Schooling & Childcare
- Shipping (What to Bring & What to Buy)
- Tax 101 for Costa Rica Expats
Understand Your Residency Options
Investor (Inversionista) Visa
The Inversionista Visa is available to anyone who has invested at least $150,000 in a qualifying project. That can be through purchasing real estate, investment in an existing business, starting a new business, or contributing to national forestry projects.
Retiree (Pensionado) Visa
The Pensionado Visa is designed for anyone receiving lifetime, fixed income of at least $1000 per month. Income could come from a retirement fund, annuity, Social Security, or disability payments. This visa is the best option for retirees, military veterans, or those receiving disability.
Rentista Visa
The Rentista Visa is a great option for those able to make monthly transfers of $2500 to Costa Rica. This visa is available to those who either have sufficient funds in their bank account ($60,000) or who have stable monthly income of $2500+ from sources like investments or real estate projects. Funds can be held either in a foreign or Costa Rican bank account, but $2500 per month must be transferred to an authorized Costa Rican account.
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.
Want to talk it through with us?
FAQs
Do I qualify for a Costa Rica Digital Nomad Visa?
To qualify for the Costa Rica digital nomad visa you must show income of at least $3000 per month for the past 12 months, earned from a source outside of Costa Rica. 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.
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.
