Costa Rica (CR)

Register as a CCSS employer if you hire local staff

If you hire any Costa Rican employee (domestic worker, gardener, business employee), you are legally required to register as a CCSS patrono (employer) and pay both employer and employee CCSS contributions monthly. Failure to register is a serious violation — penalties include fines, back-payment of all contributions with interest, and potential criminal liability.

Enrol in CCSS as voluntary insured (asegurado voluntario)

CCSS enrolment is legally mandatory for all legal residents of Costa Rica and is a condition of your DIMEX residency. As an asegurado voluntario (self-employed, freelancer, retiree, or non-working resident), your monthly premium is assessed by CCSS based on declared economic capacity and category. This gives you and your dependants access to CCSS facilities: EBAIS primary care, hospitals, specialists, surgery, and pharmacies. The CCSS paz y salvo (clearance certificate) is required at every DIMEX renewal.

Pay vehicle Marchamo (annual tax + insurance) by December 31

The Marchamo is the combined annual vehicle circulation tax plus mandatory SOAT (basic third-party liability insurance), due December 31 each year. Driving without a current Marchamo is illegal and results in vehicle impound plus fines. Driving without current SOAT means you are uninsured — you are personally liable for any bodily injury costs to others.

Accrue aguinaldo monthly if you employ anyone

Aguinaldo is the mandatory 13th-month bonus paid between December 1 and December 20. It applies to employees, domestic workers, and part-time regular staff, prorated by wages earned in the calculation year.

Register with your local EBAIS primary care clinic

After CCSS enrolment, register at the EBAIS (primary care clinic) assigned to your residential address. Your EBAIS is your gateway to the entire CCSS system — all specialist referrals, medications, and hospital admissions flow through your EBAIS doctor. Knowing which EBAIS serves your area before a health issue arises is essential.

Keep proof of onward travel and funds for each entry

Costa Rican immigration can ask visitors for proof of onward or return travel and proof of funds. First-group visitors can be admitted for up to 180 days, but the officer decides the stamped period. Airlines may deny boarding without onward travel evidence.

Obtain SENASA Import Permit and import your pet correctly

Bringing pets to Costa Rica requires a SENASA Import Permit (obtained online 2–3 weeks before travel), a government-endorsed health certificate from your vet, and an ISO microchip + valid rabies vaccination administered in that order. Without the permit, pets risk confiscation at the airport.

Book and pass RTV/DEKRA vehicle technical inspection

All private vehicles over 3 years old must pass periodic technical inspection through the authorised RTV operator (DEKRA has operated the service in recent years). The inspection tests brakes, lights, tyres, emissions, steering, and vehicle identification. Driving with an expired inspection certificate is illegal — ₡60,000+ fine and vehicle impound until the vehicle passes. Appointment availability can be 2–6 weeks out — book early.

Complete the driver medical exam before licence homologation

Foreign-licence homologation requires a dictamen médico digital from an authorised doctor, blood type record, and appointment through the driving-licence system. Complete the medical step before the licence appointment.

Exchange foreign driving licence for Costa Rican carné de conducir

Once you receive your DIMEX (legal residency), you have 30 days to exchange your foreign driving licence for a Costa Rican carné de conducir. Driving on a foreign licence after the 30-day window as a legal resident may be illegal and can void your vehicle insurance coverage. Most licences from major countries (USA, Canada, EU, UK) can be directly exchanged without a written driving test — only a COSEVI medical exam is required.

Scan your entry stamp, DIMEX, and passport bio page

Many immigration, driving, banking, and notarial steps need proof of current legal status. Keep secure digital copies of your latest Costa Rican entry stamp, passport bio page, DIMEX, and filed residency expediente receipt.

Update your address with CCSS, bank, Hacienda, and DGME after moving

Costa Rica has no Germany-style Anmeldung, so address updates are easy to miss. Your bank, EBAIS assignment, CCSS records, Hacienda notices, and immigration file can all become stale after a move.

Set up a reliable courier/mail address

Costa Rican street addresses are descriptive and mail delivery is uneven. For bank cards, legal papers, replacement passports, and online purchases, set up a courier locker, Apartado Postal, or trusted office delivery address.

Open a Costa Rican bank account

A Costa Rican bank account is essential for: paying CCSS contributions, receiving local income, paying rent and utilities, and accessing SINPE Móvil (the national instant payment system used for almost everything). State banks (BCR, BNCR) are most accessible for new residents. BAC San José (private) has the best English service and international transfer options.

Set up SINPE Móvil for instant payments

SINPE Móvil is the national instant payment system operated by BCCR. It links your Costa Rican bank account to your local mobile number and allows instant, free transfers to any Costa Rican mobile number 24/7. It is the dominant payment method for rent, markets, splitting bills, small businesses, and informal transactions. Without SINPE Móvil, daily life in Costa Rica is significantly more difficult.

Buy a Costa Rican SIM or eSIM and register your number

A local mobile number is needed for SINPE Móvil, bank verification, delivery drivers, landlords, CCSS callbacks, and WhatsApp communication. Kölbi/ICE has the broadest rural coverage; Claro and Liberty are strong in the GAM and beach towns.

Set up fibre or cable internet before signing a long lease

Coverage varies by neighbourhood and even by street. Before committing to a rental, check Kolbi, Liberty, Tigo, Telecable, and regional fibre providers for the exact address. Remote workers should confirm upload speed and outage history, not just headline download speed.

Join a local community, sports, or volunteer group

Integration happens through neighbourhood committees, conservation projects, churches, sports clubs, animal rescues, beach cleanups, Spanish exchanges, and parent groups. It also gives you practical local knowledge faster than expat forums alone.

Check local water reliability and choose a filter/backup plan

Urban tap water is usually potable, but rural, coastal, ASADA-managed, and dry-season areas can have outages or quality alerts. Confirm the provider and whether the property has a storage tank.

Prepare a 72-hour earthquake, flood, and storm kit

Costa Rica has earthquakes, heavy rains, landslides, volcanic ash events, and road closures. Keep water, food, flashlight, power bank, medicines, copies of documents, cash, and pet supplies ready.

Activate CCSS Oficina Virtual access

Once enrolled with CCSS, activate online access to download your paz y salvo, check contribution history, confirm dependants, and resolve payment gaps before they block DIMEX renewal.

Secure Hacienda, bank, CCSS, and SINPE credentials

Costa Rican banking and tax access relies heavily on SMS, app codes, and password portals. Losing access to a local phone number can lock you out of banks, Hacienda, and CCSS services.

Enrol children in school (public or international)

Public primary (Escuela Primaria, ages 6–12) and secondary (Colegio, ages 12–17) schools are free and open to all children regardless of parents' immigration status. The school year runs February–November. For expat families choosing international schools (Country Day School, Lincoln School, Blue Valley, Colegio Humboldt): apply by October for the following February intake.

Translate and apostille children's school records before enrollment

MEP and private schools may request apostilled birth certificates, vaccination records, transcripts, grade-completion letters, and Spanish translations. International schools also ask for reports and recommendation letters.

Build your EDUS/EBAIS medical record before you need care

Bring your medication list, allergy list, vaccine records, and chronic-condition history to your EBAIS. A complete EDUS record makes specialist referrals, pharmacy refills, and emergency treatment smoother.

Create an emergency file for private hospitals

Even if you rely on CCSS, private hospitals may be your fastest emergency option. Prepare a file with passport/DIMEX, insurance card, blood type, medication list, allergies, emergency contacts, and credit card authorisation.

Update family vaccination records for CCSS and school

Schools and EBAIS clinics may request vaccination evidence. Bring foreign vaccine records and ask EBAIS how they map to Costa Rica's schedule.

Document your rental inventory and meter readings at move-in

Before accepting keys, photograph every room, appliance, wall, window, lock, air conditioner, and utility meter. Costa Rican deposit disputes are common, especially in furnished expat rentals.

Confirm who pays electricity, water, internet, and condo fees

Leases vary: some include utilities; others require the tenant to pay ICE/CNFL electricity, AyA or ASADA water, internet, security, and condominium fees separately. Confirm account numbers and payment deadlines before the first bill.

Get private health insurance to complement CCSS coverage

While CCSS provides excellent coverage, wait times for elective procedures (1–6 months) and specialist referrals make private health insurance a strong complement for most expats. Private insurance gives you access to CIMA Hospital, Clínica Bíblica, and La Católica — Costa Rica's top-tier private hospitals — and covers English-speaking doctors.

Enrol in free INA Spanish language course

INA offers free Spanish language courses for foreign residents (A1 through B2) funded by employer contributions. Courses are 100–200 hours per level (approximately 3–6 months each). Spanish is essential for navigating CCSS, DGME, Hacienda, and daily life outside tourist areas. The INA course is the most cost-effective way to reach functional Spanish quickly.

Build a Spanish vocabulary list for bureaucracy

Even fluent conversational Spanish can fail in CCSS, DGME, notary, bank, and tax offices. Build a personal glossary for words like constancia, personería jurídica, timbres, certificación literal, paz y salvo, and expediente.

Check Municipalidad pet rules and register dogs where required

Municipal rules vary. Some cantons require dog registration, vaccination proof, leashing, waste cleanup, and restrictions on noisy or dangerous dogs. Condominiums often have stricter private rules.

Register with your home-country embassy or travel service

Most governments offer an online registration service for citizens living abroad. Use it after you have a stable Costa Rican address so you can receive security alerts, voting notices, passport-renewal updates, and consular help after earthquakes, floods, civil unrest, or a medical emergency.

Register with Hacienda as a taxpayer (contribuyente)

If you earn any income in Costa Rica (employment, freelance, business, or rental income from Costa Rican sources), you must register as a taxpayer (contribuyente) with Hacienda. Self-employed workers and businesses must register before issuing any invoices. Registration is done online at the ATV portal. This is also required for factura electrónica (e-invoicing) setup.