OverviewGetting help with living in Costa Rica

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Help guidefrom setsthe outCosta essentialRican informationgovernment

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See our Costa RicaRica. travelThis adviceincludes forthe up-to-datelatest information onon:

• visas and entry requirements, local requirements
• laws and customs,cultural differences
• safety and emergencies.
  security

ForRead informationour regardingguidance businesson prospects,moving, seeliving ouror Overseasretiring Businessabroad.

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VisasVisas, residency and residencycitizenship

CheckMake sure you meet the entry requirements for Costa Rica inbefore ouryou travel advice.travel.

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Visas youand areresidence apermits

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Passports and travel

You can applyrequest fora orregistration renewdocument yourthrough the British passportEmbassy ifFacebook you are visiting the UKpage. YouComplete can also cancel a lostsimple orform and stolenyou passportwill while in Costa Rica, and apply to get ana emergencyprintable travelcertificate document.by email.

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ForeignersOnce canyour applyresidency foris permissionapproved, toyou workmust andget foryour temporaryDocumento orde permanentIdentificación residence.de TheMigración process(DIMEX) iscard complicated(in andSpanish) professionalwithin help90 withdays.

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Healthcare

• contact inthe Costa Rica

ThereRican isimmigration adepartment state(in runSpanish)

an healthEnglish-speaking system,lawyer similarin toCosta theRica

Permanent NHS,residency

You calledmay thebe Cajaable Costarricenseto deapply Segurofor Socialpermanent (CCSSresidency orin “laCosta Caja”).Rica Residentsif mayyou’ve becomelived membersin andthe contributecountry monthly.for Cost3 isyears assessedwith ona antemporary individualresidence basis.permit.

TouristsTo willfind notout beif you’re eligible and shouldhow ensureto theyapply, haveread adequateCosta healthRican insurance.immigration Britishdepartment nationalsguidance whoon arepermanent notresidency members(in ofSpanish).

Citizenship

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• contact Biblicathe andCosta HospitalRican CIMA.Embassy Evenin quiteLondon

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Medicine

Passports

IfRead youour areguidance on amoving, prescriptionliving foror anyretiring medication,abroad. youThis shouldcovers ensurehow youto:

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Dual whencitizens intravelling Costato Rica. Most medicines prescribed in the UK

When willtravelling beto availablethe inUK, CostaBritish Rica.citizens Normallymust onlycarry antibiotics,a narcoticsvalid andBritish psychotropicpassport drugsor requirecertificate aof prescription.entitlement. PharmaciesRead areguidance widelyon availabledual andcitizenship.

Healthcare thein pharmacistsCosta highly qualified.

Rica

Read theour guidance hereon ifmoving, youliving needor toretiring travelabroad. withThis medicines.covers how to:

Working

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medicine abroad

MostCosta employersRica willdoes requirenot employees to have gaineda thereciprocal “Bachillerato”health (Highagreement School)with certificatethe –UK.

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Costa Rican employers and institutionsinternational willproviders.

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Read UCR,our UNA,guidance TECon andmoving, othersliving areor highlyretiring regardedabroad. andThis placescovers areworking muchabroad, sought-after.

Tax

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Read awareCosta thatRica theirimmigration UKdepartment Stateguidance Pensionon willresidence notpermits increase(in withSpanish). inflationContact whenthe theydepartment takeif upyou residencehave here.questions.

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Recognition willof provide discounts.

qualifications

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Driving in Costa Rica here.

Read our guidance on:

• Taxon ifmoving, youliving leaveor theretiring UKabroad. toThis livecovers how to:
  • drive abroad legally
  • Taxtake on your UK incomevehicle ifabroad
  • get youdriving livelicence abroadletters

  Pension

  If youyou’re retireresident in Costa Rica, you canmust claimget youra UKCosta StateRican Pensiondriving orlicence. newYou UKcan Stateexchange Pension.your ContactUK thelicence Internationalwithout Pensiontaking Centrea for further information.test.

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  Accommodation and buying propertyTax

  SeeRead buyingour aguidance propertyon moving, living or retiring abroad.

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  Drivinglawyer in Costa Rica.

  Pensions

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  Claiming Drivingyour abroad

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  IfFund you(in wishSpanish) to takefind yourout vehiclewhether withyou you,can seeclaim guidancethe onstate takingpension vehicles(‘Régimen outInvalidez, ofVejez they UK.Muerte’) in Costa Rica.

  Benefits

  Claiming UK benefits

  TouristsRead canour driveguidance on theirmoving, UKliving drivingor licenceretiring whilstabroad. legallyThis herecovers ashow ato visitor.claim ResidentsUK mustbenefits applyabroad, forincluding aChild Benefit.

  Claiming Costa Rican drivingbenefits

  Contact licencethe –Costa thisRican isSocial aSecurity straightFund exchange(in –Spanish) noto re-testfind isout currentlywhether required.you Localcan drivingclaim licencesbenefits canin onlyCosta beRica held(you ifmay thenot driverbe alsoable hasto residentaccess IDthis (Cédulawebsite deoutside Residencia).Costa Rica). 

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  DisabledContact drivers

  Ifan youEnglish-speaking have a UK Blue Badgelawyer andif liveyou’re inconsidering Costabuying Rica,property youor must return it to the original UK issuing authority.land.

  Voting in Costa Rica

  UK elections

  YouRead mayour beguidance ableon tomoving, voteliving inor someretiring UKabroad. elections.This Youcovers can:how to:

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    Pets

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    Rica)

  Registering with the EmbassyChildren

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    UK authorities

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  Read haveour notguidance registered.on Themoving, detailsliving ofor manyretiring ofabroad. thoseThis citizenscovers whohow haveto registeredget havemarried beenor foundform toa becivil out-of-date.partnership Theabroad.

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  Emergencies

  DialRead 911guidance foron thedivorce police,services ambulancein orCosta fireRica brigade.(in Spanish). 

  DialConsider thetaking 800-8000-645legal toadvice reportfrom aan missingEnglish-speaking child.

  Iflawyer youin haveCosta beenRica.

  Documents thefor victimBritish ofpeople rape or sexual assault in Costa Rica,Rica

  Read readour theguidance on informationdocuments for victimsBritish ofpeople rapeabroad. This covers: 

  • legalising and sexualcertifying assault.UK Seedocuments
  • marriage alsoand Victimcivil ofpartnership rapedocuments
  • affirmations and sexualaffidavits
  • witnessing assault abroad.
    signatures

  List

  Lawyers, oftranslators English-speakingand lawyers in Costa Rica.

  notaries

  IfTo youfind arean theEnglish-speaking victimlawyer, oftranslator a crime, have been arrested or arenotary affectedin byCosta aRica, crisis,read contactguidance theon Britishprofessional Embassyservices inif Sanyou’re Joséabroad.

  Pets

  ReadIf theyou guidancewant onto internationalbring parentalyour childpet abductionwith ifyou yourto childCosta mayRica, beread atguidance riskon of this.:

  Sponsoring

  • importing familydogs members

  Permanentand orcats temporaryto residencyCosta isRica usually(PDF, granted169KB) under(in severalSpanish)

• taking differentyour categories,pet onedog, ofcat whichor isferret ‘linksto with a Costanon-EU Rican citizen.’ For more information, consult the Immigration Department’s website.country

Returning to the UK

Read the guidance on returning to the UK permanentlythe UK permanently. whichThis includes information on bringing family members,members back to the UK, tax and access to services.

Disclaimer

PleaseWe noteprovide that this information is provided as a guide only.only. For Definitivedefinitive informationinformation, shouldcontact be obtained from the relevant Costa Rican authorities.

Read our consular information disclaimer.