Cost of Living in Costa Rica vs. the USA, Canada, UK or EU
Is Costa Rica Really Cheaper? It depends… For most of the clients I work with, the answer is yes — and the difference became especially clear once they compared healthcare costs, housing prices, and everyday lifestyle expenses side by side. However, the move to Costa Rica isn’t just about cutting costs. It’s about trading winter […]
Ten Must-Know Facts About Costa Rica
For Expat Residents & Tourists Three Minutes That Can Save You from Having to Say: “… we didn’t know…” Every year I receive dozens of emails that all point to the same problem: far too many travelers still don’t understand the basic rules for entering, visiting, and exiting Costa Rica. These are not minor details. […]
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 […]
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 […]
Abandoned by My Lawyer
“Hey Laura… my lawyer abandoned me. Can you help?” An increasingly common lament and request. I recently submitted a Power of Attorney for a new client who requested that I investigate his case further. When I presented this documentation to the intake staff at the DGME (Costa Rica Immigration offices), they asked the routine question, […]