The 12-Month Costa Rica Moving Checklist

Ensure all passports have at least 12–18 months of remaining validity. Costa Rican immigration requires a minimum validity to initiate legal filings.

Determine qualification: Pensionado ($1,000/mo lifetime pension), Rentista ($2,500/mo guaranteed annuity or $60,000 bank deposit), Inversionista ($150,000+ investment), or Digital Nomad Visa.

Spend 2–4 weeks exploring microclimates: Central Valley (Escazú, Santa Ana, Atenas) vs Pacific Beach communities (Guanacaste, Jacó, Dominical). Test daily logistics, traffic, and grocery availability.

Account for container freight, temporary housing, vehicle acquisition, private health insurance, school enrollment deposits, and immigration filing legal fees.

Order FBI Identity History Summary (USA), RCMP Certified Criminal Record (Canada), ACRO Police Certificate (UK), or Führungszeugnis (Germany). Warning: Must be apostilled and submitted to DGME within 6 months of issue date.

Request fresh certified copies of civil status certificates from state or provincial vital statistics offices, followed by Hague Apostille authentication.

Categorize items into: Keep/Ship (solid hardwoods, sentimental heirlooms, tools), Sell (large 230V European appliances, non-essential heavy furniture), or Donate.

SENASA mandates microchipping prior to or concurrent with rabies vaccinations for canine and feline entry without quarantine.

Lock in sailing schedules from departure ports (Miami, Houston, Montreal, Southampton, Hamburg) to Puerto Limón or Puerto Caldera with Costa Rica Relocation Group.

Gather official transcripts, standardized test scores, and immunization records. Obtain Hague apostilles on report cards if required by private schools (Lincoln School, Country Day, CRIA).

Set up travel and international relocation notices on primary credit and debit cards to prevent automated fraud freezes upon arrival.

Coordinate with our customs brokerage team regarding bonded fiscal warehouse staging in San José to hold goods duty-free until residency submission is completed.

Our international packing crew wraps all items in multi-ply moisture-barrier corrugate. An itemized, numbered packing inventory is generated for customs declaration (DUA).

Veterinarian must issue international health certificate within 14 days of departure; USDA APHIS (USA) or CFIA (Canada) endorsement must be completed within 10 days of travel.

Book flights into San José (SJO - Juan Santamaría) or Guanacaste (LIR - Daniel Oduber). Reserve furnished temporary lodging for 30–60 days to inspect permanent neighborhoods in person.

Submit digital scans of apostilled records to our licensed sworn translators (*Traductores Oficiales*) in San José for pre-translation.

Present original endorsed veterinary health certificate, rabies vaccination certificate, and parasite treatment records to the SENASA quarantine officer at SJO or LIR.

Complete the formal residency filing with DGME and obtain your official file number (*expediente*).

Our customs broker executes the Single Customs Document (DUA), clears fiscal warehouse inspection, and transports your container to your new residence for unloading and unwrapping.

Upon approval of temporary residency, register with your local EBAIS clinic for Caja medical coverage, and homologate your foreign driver's license with COSEVI.