海角乱伦

Hey alronjd2,

Congratulations on the move: Both away from her and toward the Pura Vida! The following is a three-part series that's a pretty good overview to get you started:

1. Get you passport in order. ($150-$300)
2. Pick your type of temp residency.(/quatro.legal/expats/) good for process info. I highly recommend you hire a Costa Rican firm to handle your application.(approx. $3000)
3. Get our docs in order. ($200-lots of smaller fees)
4. Pick a move date.
5. Pick the climate/area you want to live.
6. Make a trip to check out your region and, if you plan it right, you can drop off your application, docs and get your in-country application stuff done, ie. fingerprints at the local popo, embassy registration, sign Power of Attorney, etc.
7. Start sorting your crap: What goes in checked baggage on move flight; what goes to storage until after your approved and can ship via oncean freight; what gets donated/sold (work backwards from move date for this one).Or, totally embrace the Pura Vida and chuck it all and bring what fits in a carry on. LOL
8. Have fun googling rentals, local sites, expat activities, etc.

I made the decision to move to CR on 11/24, am making my reconnoiter/application submission trip in January, and moving in June 2025.

One day at a time, mi amigo. Same with the immigration process: One task per day keeps the anxiety away, while moving toward the PURA VIDA!

Good luck,

CR Jeanne

@CR Jeanne,

Thank you for your support and wonderful information! I appreciate you!

All Good Vibes,

AJDII

@CR Jeanne

CR Jeanne... we expats will be happy to have you here!!!聽 聽You actually have a clue.聽

@altonjd2

First of all... your parting comment pretty much sounds like you have a somewhat level head on your shoulders.聽 That is a really good first 'move' when it comes to taking the leap.... knowing that you have the confidence to do it and not coming onto this or other forums with super mindless, or clueless, questions is a good start.聽

The advice from Jeanne, above, is really good advice.聽 Of course, everybody is different, but generally speaking... she says good things.

Asking for tips, tricks, and 'any recommendations' should bring you good, sound advice and testimonials from people that are already here and 'seasoned'... I myself have benefited from the experience of others; even though I didn't discover these forums until 'after' 2-3 years of already being here.... So I figured it all out myself.聽

The first thing I did was investigate the 'Residency' options to make sure that it was doable.聽

The second thing I did was 'know' how long a person could stay here as an initial 'tourist'... some are shocked to know that they can't stay indefinitely...聽 it used to be only 90 days.聽 Right now it is supposed to be 180 days.聽 Depends on 'the weather'.. if you know what I mean.

The third and best thing I did was to decide that I wouldn't delve into this as an American moving abroad... meaning, that within minutes of landing here.... I approached things as a Tico would or 'may'.聽 I took a cab to a bus station and started my journey.聽 That is how Ticos without cars get places.聽 So I was already immersed in it (being on a bus is always an experience and one learns from observation) whether I liked it or not.聽 聽Best move I made.聽 聽Met a nice chap on the bus who helped me hook up with a driver ... etc.聽 Both are still my friends to this day (6 years)聽 聽With the driver, I explored where I thought, after months of google searches and map gazing; etc. ... would be, the place for me.聽 But since I wasn't driving, I was able to really look at the CR landscapes and people, buildings, houses, gardens, etc. go by.聽 I wanted to know how they lived and had no preconceived idea of 'how' I would duplicate my north american life in a tropical setting... where it can, depending on where you end up here... RAIN a lot, or it can be HOT.

4th... I had started a REALISTIC 'needs' and 'wants' list before coming here (I had already been in Nicaragua for 1/2 year... so I already had a bit of grit between my toes) because I knew of the few things that I could not live without... and I'm not talking about Aunt Pearls rocker, or a favorite artisanal beer... but, mostly peace of mind stuff.. like proximity to a hospital, or reliable public transit.聽 During my initial search journey here... I played devil's advocate and made changes to those lists... knowing that compromise would be important to maintaining a healthy relationship with CR.聽 I added 'paved road' to the list, and concrete house (no wood) as well as not being on a busy road or highway.聽 Paved road is really important... my village has already had over 20 feet of rain this year... and it's still raining.聽 Each area has different climates depending on elevation, proximity to wind currents, etc.聽 My village gets 90% of its weather from the currents that come from the EAST off the carrib... and then they stack up against the mountains (literally, behind m house) and dump on us.聽 25 miles away can be lower, hotter, and dryer.聽 2 miles away can be higher, cooler, and wetter.聽 It's a crap shoot.聽 A concrete house is cooler (duh!) and requires less upkeep... and I'm guessing a little less 'damp' during wet season... ceiling fans are a must and if you can ... higher ceilings too.聽 Anyway... you get the idea.聽 So so many write on this forum that they are looking for cheap property near the beach... if it's on the 'needs' list' ...聽 then they did NOT do their due diligence.聽 Cheap beach property doesn't exist... nor does good hospital 'urgent' care near that not cheap beach.聽 Look... if tons of tourists are attracted to something...then the price of everything near that 'something' will be tourist pricing.聽 Not rocket science.

5th... Again... as I approached things as much as I could in 'tico' fashion... I looked for real estate where Ticos looked... which is not ReMax or Century21... and when I did have interest in a place... I had a Tico do the inquiring and not mention that it was for a Gringo.聽 The house I found (a diamond in the rough ???) was listed at $85K... they quoted my Tico friend $40K...聽 ???聽 聽 Boy were they surprised when he and I showed up and told them that i would take it!!!聽 聽He had already negotiated a vacant lot across the back of the property into the deal.. final price, $54K.聽 I found the place on the on-line classifieds site called 'Encuetra24" ...聽 聽I had used it earlier in my searches to get an 'idea' of what was out there 'for sale' and how areas compared; and what a Tico price included.聽 I had done a few walk-thrus of properties listed for sale earlier in my journey just to get an idea of what the average Tico house was 'like' for somebody that wasn't dirt poor; but 'average'.聽 it is surprisingly different.聽 Example.. I didn't know that MOST Ticos don't have hot water in their homes... and those that do, generally ONLY have it in the shower.聽 Same for Nicaragua... but I thought it was because of electricity being expensive there.聽 Considering it never gets below 70 where I live, why would I need hot water to wash my hands???聽 So I have an insta-hot elec. hot water shower head.聽 No dishwasher, no clothes dryer, and no AC... just like all my neighbors.聽 Some laugh when they hear I have a hot water shower... others ask to use it.聽 LOL聽 聽 Right now it is cold (well... cool, 70 can feel cold if it is the lowest temp you experience) and I'm sure their tap water temp showers must feel cold right now.聽 聽So... much to consider.

6th thing...聽 maybe for me, but I had to PLAN of everything being unexpected and frustrating and full of hurdles and delays so that I wouldn't pull my hair out.聽 聽This aint Kansas.聽 That was a good mindset when it came to renovation and construction at my house; WAITING for Residency, bus schedules, and basically, most things here.聽 A friend told me to plan on living amongst a lot of chaos... well???聽 It isn't exactly like living in down-town Guayaquil... but there is 'chaos' where you would never have expected it... like standing in line.聽 Don't ask.

7th... this is something that you'll start to recognize from just reading this forum ... Many concerns that people have when coming here and getting settled, or doing the 'move' part, etc...聽 聽are because they are exporting, or trying to duplicate, their american norms to CR.聽 My advice... just don't.聽 聽Don't expect your prescription to be automatically available (find out before hand, dummy!); don't expect to find a realtor that will get you a 'steal'聽 (don't use one... 99% of Ticos don't... why would you??); don't get frustrated with Tico Institutions (from banks to Migration, to the Caja... you won't win) and LIVE here for awhile FIRST before making the move, or before going shopping for stuff you won't use or need, or.. eventually, LIKE.聽 People write in for all those things... pharmacy, realtor, shipping container bullcrap, waiting for Amazon package to show up... (my advice... buy it here) saving $$ on Caja costs (ask your Residency service... they should have a good idea... that is really a part of their job) getting 'dupped' by a developer... from Canada ???聽 What?? etc.聽 Dude.. these issues are unknown to non-existent for the typical Tico; so they are imported.聽 聽You brought it... you feed it.

8th...聽 I did what Jeanne wrote about... only that which 'could' come on a plane trip (I made 5 between the initial search trip, coming back for house closing, and bringing 3 cats, and then return to States to sell house up there... etc.)聽 is what came here with me... and I had it when I landed... no waiting, no taxes, not customs beyond what the airport security guys did and they were overwhelmed.. so nothing got opened.聽 I brought, wrapped in clothes and towels and bedding and of course, bubble wrap,, dishes, glassware, cookware, tiny elec. appliances, tools, art, etc.聽 聽I got rid of everything else before coming here... from weekend flea markets, an auction house (the sold my art, books, and furniture... I did really well) gifting to friends and family, and even a few loads to the charity thrift.聽 For furniture here,.I found a few good mid-century knock offs at a place called Nordico in SJ. and the rest is either outdoor furniture (works well inside in this climate) or things I have had made by local craftsmen.. from cabinets to dressers, desk, coffee table, etc.聽 I design it, they build it.聽 The tropical woods are amazing, and some of the natural 'cuts' are mind blowing... art unto themselves.

No two people are alike.. so I'm just giving you my 'testimonial' if you will, of how I went about things.聽 It's still a work in progress and the learning curve is roller coaster ish.. but I'm happy.聽 聽the rain really sucks this year, and my garden is a friggin disaster... but at least I have one!!!

Pura Vida

Enjoy your new life, whether here or elsewhere.

@altonjd2

OOPss... almost forgot... if you are planning on CR or anywhere that calls Spanish their official language...聽 Start learning or brushing up on your high school Spanish, like, yesterday.

I use Duolingo, and I still do somewhat.. even though I'm now acquainted with Ticos who want to know more English and I get to tap them for help with or dumb questions about Spanish.聽 聽Knowing even a little will help your transition; but knowing more will exponentially improve your experience and life here.

Like I didn't write enough already... somebody is sure to comment... bring it!!!

Buena Suerte

@rainagain

Thank you for all of this information! So much to consider and going it alone is both scary and exciting. I鈥檓 doing my very best to educate and accommodate {in advance}. I intend to get a digital nomad visa and take it from there. I do have a company helping with my request, housing, etc. Thus, not entirely on my own.

i can tell you, with great confidence, that I fully intend to not be 鈥淎merican鈥欌�� no matter my length of stay. I have traveled extensively and am well aware {now more than ever} that it鈥檚 never the right mentality when abroad.

i do have medical issues (nothing serious), would like to be closer to mild or more temperate climate. I鈥檓 a drummer and will need space for that. Additionally, I am a very social being and I鈥檒l be eager to build relationships, friendships, etc.

As far as packing, I intend to bring next to nothing save some clothes, meds, lab top, and other basic necessities. My Spanish is limited but I do try and use it as frequently as possible. I believe that is important, out of respect and adoration, for both associated cultures and peoples of Latino origins. Moreover, it has been a tradition, necessity, and longstanding ethos of mine to treat all I meet with the very same regard and kindness that I would wish from others.

With some of this information now at hand (i.e., a little about me) any further insights, information, or recommendations are most welcome and greatly appreciated.

Best - Alton (aka) 鈥淒iego鈥�

@altonjd2

I think you'll be fine.聽 Just 'knowing' that you really don't 'know' what you are in for, LOL!!,聽 is going to make the adventure that much easier.聽 Surprises are good; most of the time.

They 'say' that if you are living at least 3,000 feet above sea level here (maybe 2,500... depends on the person) that the climate is ideal.聽 You'll have to do some homework to deal with that... it generally means 'mountains and interior regions; but some can be wetter than others, it depends on where their 'weather' comes from.聽 Example:聽 I get mine from the East (primarily) and the north.聽 The weather off the carrib. is warm and wet... but I wanted Tropical... hardcore.聽 Maybe I'm nuts?聽 But the higher you go, the cooler it wil be, and thus, you won't spend much, if anything, on AC.聽 The days, if sunny will always be warm.

Also... don't 'not' bring things, small enough to bring, that you may think are better to procure here... Remember... everything here is imported and thus, generally more expensive than in the states, like tools (even a hammer) and good cooking utensils and cookware.聽 There is a TON of cheap, poor quality CRAP for sale here because the income of most only allows them to buy at that 'level' of quality.聽 I'm sure, eventually, that you'll find what you need, but you'll have to hunt, pay for it, and anything that is really good is going to be sold where people have some dough... like Escazu or suburbs like that.聽 I'm glad I brought what I brought... but the kitchen stuff and tools are game changers.聽

Good luck to you and glad to have a level headed expat on board.