Moving to Costa Rica: the official checks to complete before you relocate
A practical official-first checklist for checking entry, residence, work, tax, healthcare and business requirements before a move to Costa Rica.
A successful move to Costa Rica starts by separating questions that are often mixed together: entry permission, residence status, work rights, tax residence, healthcare or social-security registration, and business or self-employment requirements.
1. Entry and residence
Verify the rules that apply to your nationality, intended length of stay and purpose. Short-stay entry rules are not automatically long-term residence rules. Check the competent immigration or government authority before booking travel or committing to a long lease.
2. Work and self-employment
Check whether your immigration status permits employment, remote work, freelance activity or self-employment. Entry permission alone should never be treated as proof of a right to work. If you will provide services locally, confirm whether a work permit, registration or specific residence category is required.
3. Tax residence
Immigration residence and tax residence can use different tests. Confirm the country’s tax-residency criteria, filing obligations and any double-tax treaty issues that apply to your circumstances. Keep travel dates and supporting records because physical presence can matter.
4. Registration after arrival
Check whether you need local address registration, an identification or tax number, healthcare registration, social-security registration, or another post-arrival formality. Some steps may have deadlines after arrival.
5. Healthcare and insurance
Confirm whether public healthcare access depends on residence, employment or social-security registration. If private insurance is required for your residence route, verify the coverage conditions with the competent authority rather than relying on generic travel insurance.
6. Business setup
If you plan to establish or run a company, verify company registration, tax registration, licences and any immigration conditions that apply to the founder’s own work. Owning a company and having permission to work for it are separate questions.
7. Family and schooling
Families should separately verify dependent residence rights, documentation requirements, school enrolment and healthcare coverage. Requirements can differ for spouses, minor children and adult dependants.
8. Final verification before moving
Before paying fees, signing a long lease or travelling, re-check every requirement on the competent official authority’s website. Procedures can change and the correct route depends on nationality, family situation, activity and duration of stay.
Use the official government portal below as the starting point and follow links to the competent immigration, tax, labour, health and business authorities.
Official sources
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