Question 1

Should residency come before the lease, the bank account and the company?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Immigration touches almost everything that comes after it: banks ask for a residency approval or a filed process, public health enrollment depends on your category, landlords may ask for proof of legal stay, and a corporation is easier to structure when your legal presence is stable. Starting with the plan instead of the move avoids the months people lose when they arrive first and discover the paperwork later.

Answers taken from Simple Legal Consulting's relocation guide.

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Question 2

How long does it take to open a bank account?

Accepted Answer

Local banking is compliance-heavy: the bank's job is not to make you comfortable, it is to satisfy internal controls. With complete documents and a clear source-of-funds profile, an account can be opened in as little as two business days, always subject to the bank's review. They typically ask for passport and entry status, proof of income and source of funds, and an explanation of the transactions you expect.

Question 3

Do I pay Costa Rican tax on income earned abroad?

Accepted Answer

Costa Rica works on a territorial basis: in general, only income produced inside the country is subject to local income tax — work performed here, services rendered here, a business located here, rent from Costa Rican property. Foreign salaries, foreign pensions, dividends from foreign companies and interest or gains on assets abroad are generally not taxed locally just because you live here. Territorial does not mean tax-free: the question is where the income is produced, not where the account sits.

Question 4

What is normal when renting a house or an apartment?

Accepted Answer

One month of rent plus one month of deposit is standard practice. If a landlord asks for significantly more, ask why: there may be a reason, but often it is simply shifting risk onto the tenant. A practical pattern is to rent for one or two months in a central area while you explore, then sign a longer lease once you know the commute and the microclimate. Even informal leases can fall under tenant protections, so a clean contract and a professional inventory prevent most disputes.

Question 5

Can a foreigner buy property, and what has to be checked first?

Accepted Answer

Foreigners can own property in Costa Rica, but the process rewards caution: verify title and liens, confirm municipal taxes and condominium fees, review boundaries, access rights and easements, and check the corporate ownership history when the seller is a company. A broker's summary, the photos or an “it's clean” is not due diligence: the review is done by a notary or a lawyer.

Question 6

What taxes does a property carry every year?

Accepted Answer

Two charges catch new owners by surprise. The municipal property tax is paid locally, based on municipal rules and the declared value of the property, usually around 0.25% a year. The “luxury home” tax — formally the Solidarity Tax for Strengthening Housing Programmes — applies to high-value residential property. Thresholds should be verified every year.

Question 7

How do we choose a school?

Accepted Answer

The four factors that matter are language, academic rigour, cultural environment and your long-term university plans. The Central Valley (Escazú, Santa Ana, Heredia) and Guanacaste (Nosara, Tamarindo, Playas del Coco, Liberia) concentrate the international schools, with International Baccalaureate, American, German, French and British systems, plus alternative and holistic models.

Question 8

Which hospitals do people actually use?

Accepted Answer

Private hospitals are the usual choice for speed, bilingual service and convenience: Hospital CIMA, Hospital Clínica Bíblica and Hospital Metropolitano. The mistake is assuming healthcare can be figured out later — with children, pregnancy plans, chronic conditions or heavy travel, the plan should be defined before you land.

Question 9

What are the insurance options?

Accepted Answer

Three routes coexist: public system enrollment where your immigration path allows it, private insurance locally or internationally, and discount medical programmes for routine care with predictable prices. Locally, the state insurer is the Instituto Nacional de Seguros (INS Medical). The right mix depends on your risk profile and your immigration timeline, not on finding the cheapest premium.

Question 10

What should I check before buying a car?

Accepted Answer

Cars are expensive here and used sales can hide legal or mechanical problems. People browse Encuentra24, Facebook Marketplace, Club de los Artesanos or CR Autos, but no purchase should go ahead without a lawyer or notary reviewing the title, the liens and the transfer mechanics. And never pay without receiving the vehicle.

Question 11

How do internet and utilities get connected?

Accepted Answer

Connections can be quick, but the speed depends on the address history, the building's infrastructure and whether the contract needs a local ID. A common workaround is to start the service under the landlord's existing account and transfer it later, once your local profile is stronger.

Question 12

Is domestic help common, and what does it cost?

Accepted Answer

Many households pay by the hour or per visit. A standard cleaning visit often sits around USD 20 to 25, depending on the area, the size of the house, the frequency and whether laundry or deep cleaning is included. What prevents friction is clarity from day one: scope, supplies, schedule and expectations agreed in advance.

Question 13

How careful do I need to be about safety?

Accepted Answer

Costa Rica is not a war zone and it is not a utopia. Most people do well by following simple rules: do not leave valuables visible, be cautious with late-night ATM use, and do not assume that tourist areas are automatically safe.

Question 14

Can I bring my pet or my service animal?

Accepted Answer

The culture is pet-friendly, but policies vary by airline, condominium and restaurant. With a service animal, carry documentation and expect uneven enforcement across private businesses: calm insistence plus paperwork works better than confrontation.

Moving to Costa Rica, answered.

01Should residency come before the lease, the bank account and the company?

02How long does it take to open a bank account?

03Do I pay Costa Rican tax on income earned abroad?

04What is normal when renting a house or an apartment?

05Can a foreigner buy property, and what has to be checked first?

06What taxes does a property carry every year?

07How do we choose a school?

08Which hospitals do people actually use?

09What are the insurance options?

10What should I check before buying a car?

11How do internet and utilities get connected?

12Is domestic help common, and what does it cost?

13How careful do I need to be about safety?

14Can I bring my pet or my service animal?