Travel Info & Real Estate
George Swartwout
407-413-9636
george (at) sunfields.com
407-413-9636
george (at) sunfields.com
Pura Vida !
Costa Rica Overview and Facts - Travel, Live & Retire
This general overview of Costa Rica is intended as being informative only. I really recommend that anyone interested in retiring or living in Costa Rica visit the country for a prolonged vacation or two at different times of the year and to Google Costa Rica. A decision of this type is very personal and subjective and not to be made frivolously or with a "romantic notion' of living in 'paradise' in a foreign country.
I would also advise attending one of the many "so you want to live in Costa Rica" seminars while you are there. They are available in the San Jose area. (Use your friend GOOGLE!) For the most part, these are informative and can offer specific answers to your questions. Also, it is a good opportunity to meet people who have already made the change.
F.Y.I. - You are allowed a 90 day visit on your tourist visa. If you want to stay longer, you must depart the country for 72 hours and then you can re-enter with your passport for another 90 days. Most people go to Panama for the 72 hours requirement, which is accessible on the Pan American Highway south of Golfito, Costa Rica...
I hope that you find this information helpful. Please contact me If I can be of further assistance.
Espero que nos encontremos alli! Buena suerte y pura vida!
Sincerely,
George Swartwout
I would also advise attending one of the many "so you want to live in Costa Rica" seminars while you are there. They are available in the San Jose area. (Use your friend GOOGLE!) For the most part, these are informative and can offer specific answers to your questions. Also, it is a good opportunity to meet people who have already made the change.
F.Y.I. - You are allowed a 90 day visit on your tourist visa. If you want to stay longer, you must depart the country for 72 hours and then you can re-enter with your passport for another 90 days. Most people go to Panama for the 72 hours requirement, which is accessible on the Pan American Highway south of Golfito, Costa Rica...
I hope that you find this information helpful. Please contact me If I can be of further assistance.
Espero que nos encontremos alli! Buena suerte y pura vida!
Sincerely,
George Swartwout
Costa Rica Beckons to North American Expatriates
This tiny country is truly a jewel in the middle of Central America. Known as the Switzerland of the Americas, Costa Rica is characterized by spectacular scenery, a temperate climate, a democratic government and a stable middle class. There is no standing army here, and overnment funds that at one time supported the military now support education and environmental causes. The government has also recently announced that it will provide free e-mail to all its citizens. The cost-of-living is low, and although Costa Rica has been "discovered," it remains mostly unspoiled and could be an ideal retirement spot for those who do their homework.
It is possible to live in Costa Rica on $1,000 to $1,300 a month, and the quality of living will be, for the most part, higher than in the United States for the same amount of money. Real estate prices can rival those in the States, but most buyers get more for their money here. A home may cost what it would in middle-America, but in Costa Rica it may come with an ocean view and a jungle backyard!
The scenery in this beautiful country can only be described as stunning. The country is composed of five geological regions, and you will find everything here from lush tropical forests to mist-shrouded mountains to miles of unspoiled beaches.
Relocation to Costa Rica is fairly easy. Expatriates are welcome, and most stay on their tourist visas. Nearly 25,000 North Americans are in Costa Rica fulltime. Foreigners can buy property, and health care is excellent and very inexpensive.
Climate
Tropical and subtropical; dry season (December to April); rainy season (May to November); cooler in the highlands. Costa Rica presents a wide variety of altitudes and temperatures. The territory rises from sea level along the coastlines to 1,000 m (3,300 ft) in the Central Valley, up to 1,500 m (5,000 ft) on the Central Mountain Range and on up the high mountain ranges to over 3,000 m (9,800 ft). The highest point is Mount Chirripó at 3,820 m (12,534 ft). Therefore, this country does not have a simple set climate, but a large number of micro-climates. Again, there are only two well-defined seasons in Costa Rica: the rainy season and the dry season. Costa Rica's lovely "summer" or dry season is from December to May and the rainy or "green" season is basically from May to November.
Natural Hazards
Occasional earthquakes, Tropical storms along Atlantic coast, frequent flooding of lowlands at onset of rainy season and landslides, active volcanoes
People
Most Costa Rican citizens are of European descent. Whites and mestizos (mix of Native Americans and Spanish people) account for about 96% of the population; the black citizens in the Provence of Limón (Costa Rica's seaport city on the east coast) is largely of Jamaican origin. There is a growing Chinese community.
Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 95.5%
male: 95.5%
female: 95.5% (1999 est.)
Costa Rica has the highest United Nations' Human Development Index among developing nations and the highest literacy rate of the American Continent (94%). The abolishment of the armed forces in 1949 freed resources that have been invested in free education and health services for the citizen population.
Education is state-sponsored and compulsory until the 9th grade. Strong emphasis is placed on English and computers since early grades. The National Training Institute (INA) offers free technical training in many fields. Several technical schools and universities prepare professionals with the highest international standards. These institutions offer various levels in electronic, electric, mechanical and industrial engineering. Even Harvard University has an extension in Costa Rica called INCAE to prepare middle and upper level managers.
Strategic location and preferential market access.
Costa Rica is in the middle of American Continent. With ports on both the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, it serves as an operations base for world markets. Also, Costa Rican products enter duty-free to the U.S. through the Caribbean Basin Initiative, to Europe through the General System of preferences, and to Central America and Mexico through bilateral free trade agreements. Currently, Costa Rica is working to obtain NAFTA parity and sign and agreement with Chile.
Today Costa Ricans manufacture electronic components, computer parts, pharmaceuticals, jewelry, clothing and food products, as well as perform data processing, software development and remote customer service.
Export-oriented infrastructure and lower costs in general.
Costa Rica has abundant water supply, reliable hydroelectric power, and one of the most advanced telecommunications systems in Latin America.
Regarding transportation:
Costa Rica has an improving highway system, two major international airports and two seaports. All major U.S., European, and Latin American passenger and cargo carriers provide service at very competitive rates.
Costa Rica's eight free trade zones are industrial parks that lease or sell world class facilities. These are normally designed for operations that: a) import raw materials, b) manufacture, assemble, process, and/or market products or services, and c) export them. Installed companies enjoy several services (on-site Customs Office, post-office and banks), as well as prompt approval of the privileged "Free Trade Zone Status".
Unequaled tradition of political, social and economic stability:
Costa Rica is the oldest and most stable democracy in Latin America. Its high living standards, education tradition and free health system is the highest United Nations Human Development Index among all developing nations. Costa Rica is among the three countries with the longest life-expectancy rates in the world (76 years). It also has one of the lowest infant-mortality rates in the world (1.36%), and the highest literacy rate of the American Continent (94%). Last, but not least, the Government encourages foreign investment. Guaranteed by law, foreign corporations can fully own and control their assets, as well as repatriate their capital without restrictions. As a result, Costa Rica has an excellent ranking as a low risk country.
Many well-known foreign corporations:
Motorola, Acer America, Bourns, C&K Components, Panduit, DSC Communications, Reliability, Alpha Core/Tortran, Sawtek, K&L Microwave, Merrimac Industries, Sensor Scientific, Panasonic, Hitachi, Siemens, Square D, GTE Sylvania, Conair, Baxter, Merck, Pfizer, Jewelmont, Levi Strauss & Co., Hanes Knitwear, Warner's, The William Carter Company, Rawlings, and U.S. Ringbinder are just some of the considerable number of foreign corporations that have selected our country as one of the best manufacturing sites in the world. Now Intel joins them by opening its assembly and testing plant in 1998.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Costa Rica's fee simple real estate ownership, similar to that of the United States, assures foreign investors that their land rights are guaranteed.
Costa Rica is situated on the Central American isthmus, flanked by the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea with a distance of approximately 248 kilometers (155 miles) between coasts. With a total area of 51,200 square kilometers (20,480 square miles), Costa Rica is no larger than the state of West Virginia, yet it contains 6% of the world's biodiversity.
Costa Rica is well known for the premium that it places on peace, education and democracy, and is often referred to as "the Switzerland of Central America". In 1949, the government abolished the army, allocating all would-be military expenses to education and health care. As a direct result, the literacy rate rose to 95% and still continues to be one of the highest rates in the Americas.
International ports on both coasts; air, ocean and freight transportation services; a well-developed infrastructure and a strategic location at the crossroads of two continents make Costa Rica a contender in world markets. The government's receptiveness toward new business ventures and excellent incentive plans have lured a growing number of multinational corporations to the country.
Spectacular natural beauty and a peaceful atmosphere attract over one million visitors to Costa Rica annually. Nine active volcanoes, diverse forest environments, hot springs, wetlands, lakes, island reserves and 966 kilometers (600 miles) of beaches on two coasts account for the dramatic increase in tourism over the last decade. Costa Rica's varied terrain provides endless possibilities for activities ranging from hiking and white water rafting through national parks to surfing, snorkeling and scuba diving off the Pacific and Caribbean shores.
The odds of seeing wildlife are greater in Costa Rica than anywhere else in the world. The country is home to 1,240 species of butterflies, 845 species of birds, 250 mammal classifications, 160 amphibian categories, 218 types of reptiles and 1,013 varieties of fresh and saltwater fish, including several endemic species found nowhere else on the planet. Costa Rica is also the world leader in terms of protected areas, with 27% of its land mass designated as national parks or reserves.
Whether your interest is business, pleasure or retiring; you'll find Costa Rica is a country of unequalled beauty, with friendly people, a high standard of living and an interesting blend of local and foreign cultures that truly make it the jewel of Central America.
San Ramon, Atenas, Alajuela
... is at an elevation of 1,178 meters (3,840 feet) in an area noted to have one of the best climates in the world. It is a pastoral agricultural community less than 1 kilometer off the Pan American Highway. Centrally located 45 minutes from San Jose's International Airport and one hour from the Central Pacific beaches. San Ramon (pop. ~60,000) is one of the larger Central Valley coffee towns set in a picturesque valley enclosed by lush and fertile mountains. The town is home to a branch of the University of Costa Rica, a major hospital, numerous banks, restaurants, internet cafes, a new 3-cinemas with stadium seating, while retaining all the charm of traditional Costa Rica. As some areas of Costa Rica are becoming over-developed, San Ramon is a unique gem just being discovered by an International community craving a real Costa Rican experience.
Costa Rica's Standard Rentista and Pensionado Programs
The Rentista and Pensionado program is available...to those individuals... who can prove... a permanent and stable income... from investments, pension or retirement benefits. The applicant... must live in the country... for a period of no less... than four consecutive or alternate months, since the date of approval of the status.
1. Pensionado
The Pensionado (Retiree) applicant...
must demonstrate... a permanent fixed income... from a pension or similar retirement income... of at least US $600 per month. The typical applicant in this category... has a government, private sector pension... or social security retirement benefits.
2. Rentista
The Rentista applicant...must demonstrate...a permanent fixed income... of at least US $1,000 per
month. Generally, those who seek the Rentista category...do not have a pension source... and instead have investment income.
To apply for this category... it is necessary... to provide proof... of the investment... and it will generate... the US $1,000 per month... required under this program.
As such... the applicant... must provide a letter... from the bank or financial institution... where the investment funds...are deposited... certifying the existence... of that income. It is not required... that the funds... be held... in Costa Rica. The letter can be issued... by international banks... as well as Costa Rican banks.
The ideal letter issued... by the financial institution...should state the following:
(a) That the recipient... will receive... at least US $1,000 per month... in Costa Rica.
(b) That the investment... generates US $1,000 per month... in a stable, permanent and irrevocable manner...for at least five years.
(c) That the financial institution... issuing the letter... will notify... the Costa Rican Tourism Institute (I.C.T.)... if the condition changes.
Costa Rica's Standard Rentista and Pensionado Status
The application... for Rentista and Pensionado status is filed directly... with the Pensionado / Rentista Department...at the Costa Rican Tourism Institute (I.C.T.). Before the application... can be prepared, the applicant must compile...all the supporting documentation... that is required as follows:
1. Interpol Background Check
This step is done... in Costa Rica. The applicant... first fills out an application form, which is addressed... to the Department of Public Security... and signed... by I.C.T. In it ... is a request...for the background check...... which requires fingerprinting...in Costa Rica. The background check... takes approximately one month.
2. Birth Certificate
You must provide... a certified copy...of your birth certificate... and that... of your dependents. The certified copy... must be sent... to the Costa Rican Consulate... for your jurisdiction... for authentication.
The consulate charges... US $40. for each document authenticated. Be advised... that I.C.T. will not accept...any supporting documentation... which has not been authenticated... by the Costa Rican Consulate.
3. Marriage Certificate
Certified copy... of a marriage certificate... if applicable. Also must be authenticated...by the Costa Rican Consulate.
4. Proof of Income
If your source... is a government pension, then obtain a letter... from your government... certifying the income. If the income... is from a Bank or Financial Institution, then it must issue... the letter..... All documents... should be authenticated... by the Costa Rican Consulate.
5. Police Certificate of Good Conduct
This certification... is obtained.... from the police department... where you last resided. This certification... also needs to be authenticated... by the Costa Rican Consulate.
Note that these certificates... are only accepted... in Costa Rica... for 6 months... from the date they are issued. If this document expires... while you are pulling together...the rest of the documentation... then you will have to obtain... another one.
6. Photographs
The application requires photographs.... and we recommend.... that you take... at least 20 photographs (10 facing the front and 10 facing the side).You will require photographs... for the background search, the I.C.T. application... and for the Department of Immigration.... so you might as well get them... all at once... and keep them... in the file... to use as needed.
7. Translation of Documents
Once you have compiled all your documentation, all documents... which are in English... must be translated into Spanish. This procedure... can generally be handled... by the Attorney...that you have retained... to process your application.
8. Sworn Statement
The Applicant and Dependent...must appear... before a Costa Rican Notary Public... and issue a sworn statement ... stating that they agree... to abide... by the Pensionado / Rentista law. This statement... can be prepared... by your legal representative, in Costa Rica. Once you have all the documentation... set forth above... you are ready to submit... your application to I.C.T.
Generally I.C.T. will only receive applications... that are accompanied.... with ALL the supporting documentation. Keep in mind.... that all the original documents... that you submit... become the exclusive property... of I.C.T. and will NOT be returned... to you. MAKE COPIES OF EVERYTHING!
Once received.... by I.C.T. the application... goes to the Legal Department... within I.C.T. who will review... all the documentation... for compliance. If all is in order, the Legal Department... will forward the application... to the approval committee... for approval. If there are defects in the application.... the Legal Department will notify... your legal representative, of the defect... and request... that it be corrected... before it will submit... the application for approval.
If approved, the I.C.T. will issue... a formal resolution... indicating the date... on which... the application was approved. The procedures that follow approval... are related... to obtaining... the actual picture residency card, and are done... directly before.... the Department of Immigration. It requires a prior deposit... of US $100 for each applicant and dependent, to pay for your residency identification card.
It is possible to live in Costa Rica on $1,000 to $1,300 a month, and the quality of living will be, for the most part, higher than in the United States for the same amount of money. Real estate prices can rival those in the States, but most buyers get more for their money here. A home may cost what it would in middle-America, but in Costa Rica it may come with an ocean view and a jungle backyard!
The scenery in this beautiful country can only be described as stunning. The country is composed of five geological regions, and you will find everything here from lush tropical forests to mist-shrouded mountains to miles of unspoiled beaches.
Relocation to Costa Rica is fairly easy. Expatriates are welcome, and most stay on their tourist visas. Nearly 25,000 North Americans are in Costa Rica fulltime. Foreigners can buy property, and health care is excellent and very inexpensive.
Climate
Tropical and subtropical; dry season (December to April); rainy season (May to November); cooler in the highlands. Costa Rica presents a wide variety of altitudes and temperatures. The territory rises from sea level along the coastlines to 1,000 m (3,300 ft) in the Central Valley, up to 1,500 m (5,000 ft) on the Central Mountain Range and on up the high mountain ranges to over 3,000 m (9,800 ft). The highest point is Mount Chirripó at 3,820 m (12,534 ft). Therefore, this country does not have a simple set climate, but a large number of micro-climates. Again, there are only two well-defined seasons in Costa Rica: the rainy season and the dry season. Costa Rica's lovely "summer" or dry season is from December to May and the rainy or "green" season is basically from May to November.
Natural Hazards
Occasional earthquakes, Tropical storms along Atlantic coast, frequent flooding of lowlands at onset of rainy season and landslides, active volcanoes
People
Most Costa Rican citizens are of European descent. Whites and mestizos (mix of Native Americans and Spanish people) account for about 96% of the population; the black citizens in the Provence of Limón (Costa Rica's seaport city on the east coast) is largely of Jamaican origin. There is a growing Chinese community.
Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 95.5%
male: 95.5%
female: 95.5% (1999 est.)
Costa Rica has the highest United Nations' Human Development Index among developing nations and the highest literacy rate of the American Continent (94%). The abolishment of the armed forces in 1949 freed resources that have been invested in free education and health services for the citizen population.
Education is state-sponsored and compulsory until the 9th grade. Strong emphasis is placed on English and computers since early grades. The National Training Institute (INA) offers free technical training in many fields. Several technical schools and universities prepare professionals with the highest international standards. These institutions offer various levels in electronic, electric, mechanical and industrial engineering. Even Harvard University has an extension in Costa Rica called INCAE to prepare middle and upper level managers.
Strategic location and preferential market access.
Costa Rica is in the middle of American Continent. With ports on both the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, it serves as an operations base for world markets. Also, Costa Rican products enter duty-free to the U.S. through the Caribbean Basin Initiative, to Europe through the General System of preferences, and to Central America and Mexico through bilateral free trade agreements. Currently, Costa Rica is working to obtain NAFTA parity and sign and agreement with Chile.
Today Costa Ricans manufacture electronic components, computer parts, pharmaceuticals, jewelry, clothing and food products, as well as perform data processing, software development and remote customer service.
Export-oriented infrastructure and lower costs in general.
Costa Rica has abundant water supply, reliable hydroelectric power, and one of the most advanced telecommunications systems in Latin America.
Regarding transportation:
Costa Rica has an improving highway system, two major international airports and two seaports. All major U.S., European, and Latin American passenger and cargo carriers provide service at very competitive rates.
Costa Rica's eight free trade zones are industrial parks that lease or sell world class facilities. These are normally designed for operations that: a) import raw materials, b) manufacture, assemble, process, and/or market products or services, and c) export them. Installed companies enjoy several services (on-site Customs Office, post-office and banks), as well as prompt approval of the privileged "Free Trade Zone Status".
Unequaled tradition of political, social and economic stability:
Costa Rica is the oldest and most stable democracy in Latin America. Its high living standards, education tradition and free health system is the highest United Nations Human Development Index among all developing nations. Costa Rica is among the three countries with the longest life-expectancy rates in the world (76 years). It also has one of the lowest infant-mortality rates in the world (1.36%), and the highest literacy rate of the American Continent (94%). Last, but not least, the Government encourages foreign investment. Guaranteed by law, foreign corporations can fully own and control their assets, as well as repatriate their capital without restrictions. As a result, Costa Rica has an excellent ranking as a low risk country.
Many well-known foreign corporations:
Motorola, Acer America, Bourns, C&K Components, Panduit, DSC Communications, Reliability, Alpha Core/Tortran, Sawtek, K&L Microwave, Merrimac Industries, Sensor Scientific, Panasonic, Hitachi, Siemens, Square D, GTE Sylvania, Conair, Baxter, Merck, Pfizer, Jewelmont, Levi Strauss & Co., Hanes Knitwear, Warner's, The William Carter Company, Rawlings, and U.S. Ringbinder are just some of the considerable number of foreign corporations that have selected our country as one of the best manufacturing sites in the world. Now Intel joins them by opening its assembly and testing plant in 1998.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Costa Rica's fee simple real estate ownership, similar to that of the United States, assures foreign investors that their land rights are guaranteed.
Costa Rica is situated on the Central American isthmus, flanked by the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea with a distance of approximately 248 kilometers (155 miles) between coasts. With a total area of 51,200 square kilometers (20,480 square miles), Costa Rica is no larger than the state of West Virginia, yet it contains 6% of the world's biodiversity.
Costa Rica is well known for the premium that it places on peace, education and democracy, and is often referred to as "the Switzerland of Central America". In 1949, the government abolished the army, allocating all would-be military expenses to education and health care. As a direct result, the literacy rate rose to 95% and still continues to be one of the highest rates in the Americas.
International ports on both coasts; air, ocean and freight transportation services; a well-developed infrastructure and a strategic location at the crossroads of two continents make Costa Rica a contender in world markets. The government's receptiveness toward new business ventures and excellent incentive plans have lured a growing number of multinational corporations to the country.
Spectacular natural beauty and a peaceful atmosphere attract over one million visitors to Costa Rica annually. Nine active volcanoes, diverse forest environments, hot springs, wetlands, lakes, island reserves and 966 kilometers (600 miles) of beaches on two coasts account for the dramatic increase in tourism over the last decade. Costa Rica's varied terrain provides endless possibilities for activities ranging from hiking and white water rafting through national parks to surfing, snorkeling and scuba diving off the Pacific and Caribbean shores.
The odds of seeing wildlife are greater in Costa Rica than anywhere else in the world. The country is home to 1,240 species of butterflies, 845 species of birds, 250 mammal classifications, 160 amphibian categories, 218 types of reptiles and 1,013 varieties of fresh and saltwater fish, including several endemic species found nowhere else on the planet. Costa Rica is also the world leader in terms of protected areas, with 27% of its land mass designated as national parks or reserves.
Whether your interest is business, pleasure or retiring; you'll find Costa Rica is a country of unequalled beauty, with friendly people, a high standard of living and an interesting blend of local and foreign cultures that truly make it the jewel of Central America.
San Ramon, Atenas, Alajuela
... is at an elevation of 1,178 meters (3,840 feet) in an area noted to have one of the best climates in the world. It is a pastoral agricultural community less than 1 kilometer off the Pan American Highway. Centrally located 45 minutes from San Jose's International Airport and one hour from the Central Pacific beaches. San Ramon (pop. ~60,000) is one of the larger Central Valley coffee towns set in a picturesque valley enclosed by lush and fertile mountains. The town is home to a branch of the University of Costa Rica, a major hospital, numerous banks, restaurants, internet cafes, a new 3-cinemas with stadium seating, while retaining all the charm of traditional Costa Rica. As some areas of Costa Rica are becoming over-developed, San Ramon is a unique gem just being discovered by an International community craving a real Costa Rican experience.
Costa Rica's Standard Rentista and Pensionado Programs
The Rentista and Pensionado program is available...to those individuals... who can prove... a permanent and stable income... from investments, pension or retirement benefits. The applicant... must live in the country... for a period of no less... than four consecutive or alternate months, since the date of approval of the status.
1. Pensionado
The Pensionado (Retiree) applicant...
must demonstrate... a permanent fixed income... from a pension or similar retirement income... of at least US $600 per month. The typical applicant in this category... has a government, private sector pension... or social security retirement benefits.
2. Rentista
The Rentista applicant...must demonstrate...a permanent fixed income... of at least US $1,000 per
month. Generally, those who seek the Rentista category...do not have a pension source... and instead have investment income.
To apply for this category... it is necessary... to provide proof... of the investment... and it will generate... the US $1,000 per month... required under this program.
As such... the applicant... must provide a letter... from the bank or financial institution... where the investment funds...are deposited... certifying the existence... of that income. It is not required... that the funds... be held... in Costa Rica. The letter can be issued... by international banks... as well as Costa Rican banks.
The ideal letter issued... by the financial institution...should state the following:
(a) That the recipient... will receive... at least US $1,000 per month... in Costa Rica.
(b) That the investment... generates US $1,000 per month... in a stable, permanent and irrevocable manner...for at least five years.
(c) That the financial institution... issuing the letter... will notify... the Costa Rican Tourism Institute (I.C.T.)... if the condition changes.
Costa Rica's Standard Rentista and Pensionado Status
The application... for Rentista and Pensionado status is filed directly... with the Pensionado / Rentista Department...at the Costa Rican Tourism Institute (I.C.T.). Before the application... can be prepared, the applicant must compile...all the supporting documentation... that is required as follows:
1. Interpol Background Check
This step is done... in Costa Rica. The applicant... first fills out an application form, which is addressed... to the Department of Public Security... and signed... by I.C.T. In it ... is a request...for the background check...... which requires fingerprinting...in Costa Rica. The background check... takes approximately one month.
2. Birth Certificate
You must provide... a certified copy...of your birth certificate... and that... of your dependents. The certified copy... must be sent... to the Costa Rican Consulate... for your jurisdiction... for authentication.
The consulate charges... US $40. for each document authenticated. Be advised... that I.C.T. will not accept...any supporting documentation... which has not been authenticated... by the Costa Rican Consulate.
3. Marriage Certificate
Certified copy... of a marriage certificate... if applicable. Also must be authenticated...by the Costa Rican Consulate.
4. Proof of Income
If your source... is a government pension, then obtain a letter... from your government... certifying the income. If the income... is from a Bank or Financial Institution, then it must issue... the letter..... All documents... should be authenticated... by the Costa Rican Consulate.
5. Police Certificate of Good Conduct
This certification... is obtained.... from the police department... where you last resided. This certification... also needs to be authenticated... by the Costa Rican Consulate.
Note that these certificates... are only accepted... in Costa Rica... for 6 months... from the date they are issued. If this document expires... while you are pulling together...the rest of the documentation... then you will have to obtain... another one.
6. Photographs
The application requires photographs.... and we recommend.... that you take... at least 20 photographs (10 facing the front and 10 facing the side).You will require photographs... for the background search, the I.C.T. application... and for the Department of Immigration.... so you might as well get them... all at once... and keep them... in the file... to use as needed.
7. Translation of Documents
Once you have compiled all your documentation, all documents... which are in English... must be translated into Spanish. This procedure... can generally be handled... by the Attorney...that you have retained... to process your application.
8. Sworn Statement
The Applicant and Dependent...must appear... before a Costa Rican Notary Public... and issue a sworn statement ... stating that they agree... to abide... by the Pensionado / Rentista law. This statement... can be prepared... by your legal representative, in Costa Rica. Once you have all the documentation... set forth above... you are ready to submit... your application to I.C.T.
Generally I.C.T. will only receive applications... that are accompanied.... with ALL the supporting documentation. Keep in mind.... that all the original documents... that you submit... become the exclusive property... of I.C.T. and will NOT be returned... to you. MAKE COPIES OF EVERYTHING!
Once received.... by I.C.T. the application... goes to the Legal Department... within I.C.T. who will review... all the documentation... for compliance. If all is in order, the Legal Department... will forward the application... to the approval committee... for approval. If there are defects in the application.... the Legal Department will notify... your legal representative, of the defect... and request... that it be corrected... before it will submit... the application for approval.
If approved, the I.C.T. will issue... a formal resolution... indicating the date... on which... the application was approved. The procedures that follow approval... are related... to obtaining... the actual picture residency card, and are done... directly before.... the Department of Immigration. It requires a prior deposit... of US $100 for each applicant and dependent, to pay for your residency identification card.
Information compiled from various Internet sources: GTS/gts
Again, this general overview of Costa Rica is intended as being informative only. I really recommend that anyone interested in retiring or living in Costa Rica visit the country for a prolonged vacation or two at different times of the year and to Google Costa Rica. A decision of this type is very personal and subjective and not to be made frivolously or with a 'romantic notion' of living in 'paradise' in a foreign country.
I would also advise attending one of the many "so you want to live in Costa Rica" seminars while you are there. They are available in the San Jose area. (Use your friend GOOGLE!) For the most part, these are informative and can offer specific answers to your questions. Also, it is a good opportunity to meet people who have already made the change.
I hope to see you there ... good luck and Pura Vida!
George
I would also advise attending one of the many "so you want to live in Costa Rica" seminars while you are there. They are available in the San Jose area. (Use your friend GOOGLE!) For the most part, these are informative and can offer specific answers to your questions. Also, it is a good opportunity to meet people who have already made the change.
I hope to see you there ... good luck and Pura Vida!
George