Ten Quick Facts about Costa Rica (The MUST-KNOW Basics)
For Expat Residents & Tourists Read time: 2.5 minutes. 1) Travel Requirements: Unless you are a citizen or legal resident of Costa Rica, you must show an outbound /return ticket upon entry. This includes individuals who have applied for residency and are awaiting approval. For more details: https://www.visitcostarica.com/planning-your-trip/entry-requirements 2) Crime: While crime is often sensationalized […]
How to Choose WHERE to Live in Costa Rica
Read time: 10 Min. There’s no shortage of glossy “Best Places” or “Top 10” lists ranking Central and South American countries to visit or retire in. Some are insightful; others seem to have been written by people who’ve never left the hotel bar. I want to begin with this true story recounted by a Canadian […]
Tax-Free Vehicle Importation
Most of the emails I receive regarding importation concern vehicle imports. As for the importation of furniture and other personal effects, check with your customs broker once you submit the actual list to confirm what you intend to import and whether pursuing tax exemption, with all its red tape, is worth the risk and effort. […]
CAJA Monthly Premium Calculations
(read time: 3 minutes) One of the most common questions I get from clients regarding legal residency in Costa Rica is: How much will my CAJA (Costa Rica’s universal healthcare A.K. A. – CCSS) premium cost? Unfortunately, calculating monthly premiums can be a headache, as the rules often vary from one CAJA/CCSS office or clinic […]
DIMEX
RENEWALS and FIRST-TIME ISSUANCE PROCEDURES
Let’s start with the correct terminology: A residency card is referred to as a DIMEX, as shown in the picture above. Not to be confused with Cedula – A.K.A. Citizenship card Also, not to be confused with a Visa, which, for most of you reading this, is a 180-day stamp that you receive on your […]
DEC 6, 2025 LICENSE VALIDITY UPDATE
It’s official. I recently published an update on extending entry visas to Costa Rica from 90 to 180 days. Decades of waiting for this. I also mentioned that the Costa Rica government was working with the Transportation Ministry to liberalize the validity of foreign driver’s licenses to better accommodate tourists and foreign residents. IE: Eliminate […]
Driving in Costa Rica
In a word: Different. You need to re-frame your idea of how to drive when you come to Costa Rica. Road behaviors that can get you arrested and have your license suspended in your home country are often ignored here in Costa Rica. So you are left dealing with some really intrusive and outrageous habits […]
Discover the Natural Healing Power of Costa Rica
Hint: It’s not a secret — it’s a lifestyle. Here’s a concise, fluff-free explanation you won’t find anywhere else. In brief: In Costa Rica, the sun feeds your spirit, the soil feeds your body, and the rhythm of life slows to something human again – like nowhere else on the planet. Before long, you notice […]