Why Invest in Costa Rica Real Estate?

Let me start off by saying that there are two reasons why anyone buys a property anywhere in the world: to live on the property and/or to invest in the property by selling it at some point in the future, when they see the value of the property increasing over time. Let’s face it, the investment opportunities in the States are narrowing quite rapidly with equities, bonds, and real estate all in a spiral going the wrong direction. During this same time period, Costa Rica land investment growth has been double digits. It is not a hard equation to see, and with the Boomers seeking a place to retire with less money than they thought they would have, the influx is fairly obvious.

The real estate market in Costa Rica is thriving, and over the past years, the country has become more and more popular as a tourist destination. Costa Rica ranks fourth as the most ideal environment for foreign investment worldwide, and investors all over the world come here to capitalize on Costa Rica’s cultural and economic prosperity.

Americans, Canadians, and Europeans are wise enough to come here to invest, and there are plenty of reasons for them to do so. Costa Rica offers foreigners a real estate market that is more attractive and cheaper than that of the U.S. Land and home prices here are 20-25% cheaper than those in the U.S. The cost of property maintenance is very low, making buying and renting out properties a sound and profitable investment. As over 50,000 U.S. citizens live here, U.S. property brokers can arrange finances for Costa Rica real estate investment. What’s more, the cost of living in Costa Rica is much lower than that in the U.S., Canada, or most European countries.

Costa Rica is an ideal environment for business and real estate investment. There are no foreign exchange controls and no restrictions on capital or profit repatriation. Foreigners face no restrictions on owning a business or land in Costa Rica, and they enjoy equal property rights as local citizens. Business taxation and property taxation rates are very low. The Costa Rica real estate market is based on the U.S. dollar, and forming a company here is easy and inexpensive. Plus, investments in the business sector are expected to increase, as Costa Rica has recently agreed to the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA).

Unlike all other countries in Latin America, Costa Rica enjoys the greatest political, social, and economic stability. It is a safe and peaceful nation that has been a democracy since 1949. Costa Rica has no standing army, and it was the first country in the world to constitutionally abolish its army.

Costa Rica’s compulsory free education system goes way back to 1869, and the country now has one of the highest literacy rates in the world (95%), a highly qualified workforce, and a strong and growing middle class. There are computer labs in most of the elementary schools and all of the secondary schools, and there are 67 university campuses and 81 technical high schools.

In Costa Rica, you will find excellent communication services (landline and cell phones and faxes) and high-speed Internet. In El Cajon de Grecia, where we live, we have a stable Internet connection as well as American television.

The country has a great transportation infrastructure. Travel plans from and to Costa Rica are simple. Daily international, 3-hour flights to the U.S. and an extensive road system are available.

Costa Rica is characterized by its economic diversity. People from all over the world come here all the time to enjoy their holidays in a safe, beautiful country. In 2006, 1.7 million international visitors came to Costa Rica, helping the country earn $1.6 billion in tourism receipts. The country ranked first in Central America and second in Latin American and the Caribbean region in the 2008’s Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Report released by the World Economic Forum. Costa Rica is Latin America’s largest exporter of technology products to the U.S., which is also Costa Rica’s largest trading partner. It has the second most energy-efficient economy in the world. Plus, 99% of the country’s electricity is generated from renewable resources, mainly hydroelectric.

The country is also characterized by its ecological diversity. Costa Rica’s sunny beaches, rich rainforests, variety of wild animals, and amazing mountains attract American, Canadian, and European investors to the Costa Rica property market. The country is regarded as the “ecotourism capital of the world.” Costa Rica’s ecology and natural beauty are its main attractions, and the government always makes plans to preserve them. 25% of the country’s land is protected, and 25% of tropical biology research worldwide is carried out in Costa Rica. There are more than 850 species of birds, and more than 80% of visitors coming to Costa Rica are eco-tourists.

World-class medical and health care services, including plastic surgery and dental implants, are available at knock-down prices. Costa Rica has one of the longest life-expectancy rates on earth (77 years).

Costa Rica also supports gender equality. It ranks seventh in the world by percentage of women in Congress, and 53% of the country’s top public officials are women.

The real estate hot spot in Costa Rica nowadays is the Central Valley. Specifically in Grecia, the weather is temperate year round, the quality of life is simply incomparable, and the real estate prices are much lower than those in the U.S. If you’re thinking of buying a property in the Central Valley to live and/or invest, please contact us at CostaRicaLandToday, and we will help you find your dream house or land for building your home now or later or just for investment.

Even though Costa Rica is widely regarded as a safe and well-governed country and the vast majority of Costa Rica’s real estate transactions are carried out without any problem, you should always research and investigate any foreign property you consider buying. You should also visit Costa Rica in person before you make any property purchase. Again, at CostaRicaLandToday, we are more than happy to help you research and find the right property for you.

As you can see, it makes a lot of sense to invest in Costa Rica real estate. While the U.S. real estate market seems not likely to recover any time soon, Costa Rica’s tourism industry and economy are always on the rise. At CostaRicaLandToday, we can help you find your dream home, land or just lots for your retirement investing or living!

Pura Vida! (The Good Life)

How about Some Fun?!

There are necessarily pre-trips to Costa Rica to open a bank account, get an attorney for residency, find a rental or look at property (hopefully at CRLT), and one should mix some fun with the dutiful tasks of relocation. After all, we are coming here to relax, change our pace of life, enjoy a beautiful tropical paradise, and some trips to the various ends (and sides) of the country should be part of the schedule.

The Central Valley is perfectly located in the center of Costa Rica, about the size of the State of Virginia, so a quick 2-hour ride and you can be basking at the beach in Jaco on the Pacific side where they have a zillion restaurants or go the other direction and there you are at the Caribbean side, which is far less populated.

We are also perfectly located a half day ride to the Sarapiqui River, where you can hire a river boat to take you almost to Nicaragua, all the while seeing howler monkeys, crocodiles, unending bird species, and even flying fish. You can go south toward Panama to the rain forest side of the country, and the seaside and mountainous views are breathtaking. There are the active volcanoes of Arenal as well as the hot springs for that spa type of day. Most of the hotels have nothing but window views of the volcano so that your nighttime views are nothing short of spectacular.

There are zip lines all over the country that my 80 year old mother-in-law loves to do and she swears to do the “Superman” zip on her next visit. This is one where they put you in a Superman type of giddyup (laying flat on your stomach) to do the zipping on. Needless to say, she has no fear and has been known to do this stuff all day. Normal folks just do the chair type of zipping. Don’t try to keep up with my mother-in-law; she will probably embarrass you.

My mother, at age 90, has become a little more reserved and prefers the botanical gardens in Sarchi (4 kilometers from Grecia) and then browsing in their Walmart sized souvenir store. And while in Sarchi, you have to stop at Steve’s place and get a whole rotisseried chicken as it is absolutely the very best in the whole world. Take all leftovers home with you and if you are like us, we order an extra one to take home anyway.

And if any of this has made you tired, you can still go to the theater in Grecia that rivals the finest quality theater I have ever seen in the states and don’t forget they will be in English with Spanish subtitles so you can be entertained and learn some Spanish at the same time. The activities in Costa Rica for entertainment are too numerous to mention because we did not even get to the scuba, the white water rafting, bird watching, and so much more. I never understood why people watched birds until I came here saw what beautiful creatures they have to watch here. The crows in Dallas never did much for me.

As always, CostaRicaLandToday is always available to make tour recommendations, give suggestions, and hopefully help you find your dream home, dream property and enjoy the Pura Vida lifestyle that we feel so blessed to have found.

Moving Your Goods versus Selling and Buying

Moving your personal goods, much less your family, can be a daunting thought, but after a careful review of all your options, you will see that it needs not be a difficult ordeal, just one that requires thought and organization. Hopefully, this post will help you arrive at the thought process and if we can help you with our personal experiences, please call CostaRicaLandToday.Com.

I have done a big move of personal goods only three times, and I was boxed in (no pun intended) by the same thought process each time. I have come to discover that there are many ways to consider the move to Costa Rica, and some may be much cheaper or at the very least less stressful and requiring less coordination.

The first thing I learned about moving goods to Costa Rica is to find your mover in Costa Rica and coordinate the move through him, as you want to be able to deal with someone local from this end, just in case there should be any questions or problems. How logically simple is that? But had I not been advised, I would have called a mover from Dallas, and I think it would have caused more logistical problems in the long run.

At CostaRicaLandToday.Com, we highly recommend that you call Barry Wilson to coordinate your move, and he can be contacted through his website at: http://www.shipcostarica.com/. His direct email contact is: barry@shipcostarica.com. He is a Canadian who has lived here for 18 years and I have watched closely to see how he operates his business as he has moved two very close friends, and the moves were flawless. I have broken bread with him on occasion and know him to be thoughtful and organized and if I had a problem, I would want him on my side.

Here are some of the mistakes I made that I would suggest you consider prior to contacting Barry at the moving company. We brought everything, and I do mean everything. We should have had multiple garage sales prior to the move because we downsized from a 3,000 sq. ft. house to a 2,300 sq. ft house, and we had acquired junk from the previous 20+ years. We knew we wanted to build and no longer wanted a dining room, as we discovered it was wasted space in our last home just to store a dining room set. But we certainly brought everything else. George Carlin has a gig on “stuff”, and everyone should listen to that before coming to Costa Rica. It took a little over a year for us to actually move into our house, which meant that we paid, by the square meter, to store our goods, which is an expense we had not considered. Had I had the opportunity to do it again, I would have brought our bedroom set, living room furniture, dishes/silverware, and that’s it! Yes, special art pieces and personal belongings, but about half what we brought. That would have cut our moving and storage tab in half.

You can buy American appliances here, and yes, at a higher expense, but still less than moving and storing yours from home. Personal goods are not taxed, but goods that are new are subject to taxation. Many times they are not taxed if you have one of each, but if you bring 10 new flat screen TVs, chances are you will be taxed a very large amount. If you want to have no questions about taxation, Barry at http://www.shipcostarica.com/ will develop a flat-rate move that includes your taxation. You needn’t worry about this, as his company will handle all the details and dealings with Customs and deliver your goods to his storage facility or your new house.

I would suggest you get a 3-ring binder and keep all the papers related to moving in this notebook. If you pack goods yourself, label the box with the contents of each box and keep a copy of that in your notebook. If you have professional packers, make sure you get a listing of each box’s contents, and that the box is labeled with the contents that you have a copy of in your 3-ring binder. All the paperwork related to Customs should be kept here also.

There are specialists who can help with your goods as opposed to sell and buy, so please visit our recommended moving & storage specialists, who offer excellent service for door-to-door shipping of household goods, personal effects, vehicles, and commercial products for both import and export, at http://www.shipcostarica.com/.

The following are some tips on what you should do before and after you move to Costa Rica:

Two Months before Moving:

1. Gather your moving supplies (boxes, tape, rope, etc.). Begin packing.
2. Make any necessary travel arrangements (airline, hotel, and rental car reservations).
3. Call a moving company or make truck rental reservations to move your goods.
4. Cover your real estate temporary & permanent needs (CostaRicaLandToday.Com)
5. Keep your legal, medical, and insurance records in a safe and accessible place.
6. Give your new address to all your mailers (family members, friends, banks, insurance companies, and other financial institutions, charge card and credit card companies, doctors, dentists, and other service providers, state and federal tax authorities, and other government agencies).
7. Keep your moving receipts (many moving expenses are tax deductible).

Two Weeks before Moving:

1. Notify gas, electric, water, cable, local telephone, and trash removal services of your move, and sign up for their services at your new address.
2. Notify long distance Phone Company of your move.
3. Arrange help for your moving-day.
4. Confirm your travel reservation.
5. If needed, make arrangements to close or transfer your bank account.

Packing Tips:

1. Make sure you have the following supplies and accessories: boxes (all sizes), bubble wrap or other cushioning material, marking pens, tape measure, furniture pads or old blankets, packing tape and scissors, and money and credit cards.
2. Label each box with the room in the new home to which it should be moved.
3. Make an itemized list of what you’re packing with a yard-sale price on each item, so you don’t have to pay too many taxes when your household arrives at the Costa Rican customs. Personal household goods are exempt.
4. Number the boxes, and keep a list of what is in each box.
5. Mark any fragile item.
6. Pack your personal items (clothes, toiletries, medicine, maps, food, and drinks) into a bag, and keep it in an easy-to-find place.
7. Keep a medical kit accessible.

After Your Move:

1. Locate police, fire, and gas stations as well as hospitals near your home.
2. Locate shopping areas in your new neighborhood.
3. Find out which day the trash is collected and whether your new community has recycling programs.
4. Seek out new service providers (banks, cleaners, doctors, dentists, and veterinarians). CostaRicaLandToday.Com will be happy to help with these.
5. Provide your new doctor and dentist with your medical history. You may need to request your file from your previous doctor and/or dentist.
6. Find out more information about schools, cable service, cultural events, community activities, and the availability of emergency calling services (such as 911) in your new neighborhood.
7. Transfer your insurance policies to an agent in your new community. If necessary, make a detailed list of all your belongings, their value, and your coverage.

You can check what it would cost you to move your household goods and compare costs between moving companies at http://compare-international-movers.com/.

Selling and buying your goods can actually be a cheaper and better option than moving and storing them. Storing your goods for long periods might expose them to humidity. Also, with moving your goods, there is always a risk of breakage of fragile or inadequately packed items. Rid yourself of items you know you will not need.

Moving your goods might be the best decision to go for if you gathered a lifetime of valued personal belongings that you must take with you. If you are an avid collector of artwork, then you should consider using the services of a special artwork packing company. We did this and are grateful we did.

You can also consider a half container, and there are even smaller-sized crates that you can move. There are many that came with their clothes and pets – and that’s it!!

All of these are thoughts and experiences to help you consider your options and don’t feel “boxed in”. If you would like to talk about this more, feel free to contact us personally at CostaRicaLandToday.Com, and we will tell you all we know! Pura Vida! (The Good Life)

Pet Relocation to Costa Rica

Are you planning a move to Costa Rica, but have no idea what is required to bring your pets with you? At CostaRicaLandToday, we have the Cliff Notes version of this information below, so do not feel daunted by all the technical jargon. Not only did we bring our pets here and on board the plane with us, but we know a few unpublished tricks to help you with this transition as well.

Here are the requirements that need to be met to ensure a safe and easy transition for your pets to Costa Rica:

1. Your veterinarian must be approved by the government veterinary authority in your country. For example, if an animal is departing the United States, the veterinarian must be USDA Accredited.

2. You should obtain a Pet Immigration Form ahead of time from the Ministry of Agriculture (Ministerio de Agricultura y Ganadería) in Costa Rica. The form costs 20,000 colones (US $40.00) and is good for only a one-month period from the date of issue. A USDA endorsement is required – the form must be sent to your local USDA for their stamp of approval. You should have this form with you when you pass through customs at the airport in Costa Rica. Don’t worry – your vet will probably have these forms.

3. All animals need to have the following vaccination certificates:

· Dogs: Distemper, Hepatitis (CAV-2), Leptospirosis, Parainfluenza, Parvovirus (DHLPP), Coronavirus, and a Rabies vaccination administered within the last 12 months and at least 30 days before arrival.

· Cats: Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, Panleukopenia (Feline Distemper) (FVRCP), and a Rabies vaccination administered within the last 12 months and at least 30 days before arrival.

(The Costa Rican government will not acknowledge a three-year rabies vaccine)

· Birds: As of January 2008, Costa Rica is now allowing the importation of birds after many months of not allowing any bird to enter the country. Although you may now bring your birds to Costa Rica, you will never be permitted to export them. Therefore, you should be 100% sure that Costa Rica is for you as you will not be able to change your mind later and take your birds with you to any other country.

Parrots require import permit (Permiso de Importación) issued by the Ministry of Agriculture (M.A.G). Parrots must have been in the possession of the owner for at least six months. A Government Veterinary Certificate, issued by the nearest Costa Rican Consulate, is required stating that the parrots come from an area free of Psittacosis, Ornithosis, Salmonella, and any other contagious diseases.

4. International Health Certificate – this is an international health certificate that needs to be completed by your veterinarian within 10 days of departure. This certificate must be signed and sealed by the government of your country. If an animal is departing the United States, the certificate needs to state that the US is free of African Horse Sickness and Rift Valley Fever and that your pets have not traveled to regions affected with these diseases. An additional USDA endorsement is required on the APHIS Form 7001 Health Certificate – the form must be issued by a USDA approved veterinarian and sent to your local USDA for their stamp of approval.

5. Your pets must have all their immunological tasks up to date, and you must have approval from the Zoonosis section of the Costa Rican Health Department (mainly registration procedures). All veterinary documents must be approved by the Costa Rican Embassy or Consulate closest to you, and they must be presented to immigration – along with the animals – upon arrival in Costa Rica.

6. Pet Quarantine Permit – the quarantine permit must be issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Control (Ministerio de Agricultura y Ganadería). It costs US $22.00 per pet. You can file for this permit prior to your pets’ arrival through a Custom Agency, in person if you are already in Costa Rica, or through a third party that represents you. Cats and dogs are subject to quarantine for up to 6 months.

7. A personal letter stating your pets’ market value or a document that proves it such as an invoice.

8. All original documentation must travel with the pets.

9. You can bring your pets on most airlines as checked baggage if you plan to fly with them on the same flight. They will take the place of one of your checked bags although they will be kept in a separate area from your luggage. The port for the pets is pressurized and the temperature is controlled so that your pets are as comfortable as possible during the flight.

10. If you can’t fly with your pets, you will need to send them as manifested cargo. This is really safe, and your pets will do just fine whichever way you need to send them.

11. Coming into Costa Rica, you will probably need assistance with clearing customs from a specialist who is accustomed to handling the importation of animals to ensure that your pets are released from the customs warehouse in only a few hours.

12. Please note that sedating your pets is absolutely forbidden by all airlines. Sedating your pets for the trip can be fatal to them.

Pet relocation can be the least stressful part of your trip for you and your pets if you use the services of a pet relocation expert. Please visit our relocation specialists, who will guide you through the whole process of relocating your pets and the paperwork involved, at http://relocationcr.com/. And remember, your vet has probably done this a hundred times and more than likely he/she has the paperwork in their office and will ask only the specifics requested by Costa Rica. Stress not!

Pura Vida!

Residency Requirements and Classifications in Costa Rica

If you’re thinking about moving to Costa Rica and have no idea what the required residency procedures are, you’ve come to the right place. And if any of this information confuses you, please ask us at CostaRicaLandToday for the simple explanation or a personal introduction to our recommended residency attorney, Romulo Pacheco, Esq., and we will gladly take you to his office for a personal introduction.

When it comes to applying for residency in Costa Rica, there are general and specific requirements that need to be filled and documents that must be submitted. You should submit any request for residency in Costa Rica to the Costa Rican Consulate in your country. We recommend you begin this process at least 3 months prior to your anticipated departure.

The following are the general requirements that need to be filled for any residency application in Costa Rica:

1. You should submit an application addressed to the Director General of Migration. If you can’t be there in person, you should grant a special power of attorney – notarized, authenticated, and in Spanish – to a representative in the USA who will sign the residence application form and submit all the documents to the Consulate.
2. You should grant special authority to a representative (apoderado) by submitting a document, signed by you and notarized and authenticated in the Consulate, that shows the personal details of the representative and the address to which they receive notifications within the judicial perimeter of San Jose.
3. Birth Certificate that clearly shows the parents’ name (required for all applicants, spouse, and dependent children up to 18 years or up to 25 if a university student with a proof of enrollment)*
4. Police Certificate (not older than six months) issued by the state where you have lived for the past two years (required for all applicants, spouse, and all dependent children aged 18 to 25)*
5. Applications received after November 15th, 2002 will require an FBI identification record. (Required for all applicants, spouse, and all dependent children aged 18 to 25)
6. Marriage Certificate (if found)*
7. Photocopy of the passport certified by the Consulate or certified and authenticated by a Notary Public (required for all applicants, spouse, and any dependent children)
8. Four recent forehead passport-size photographs (required for all applicants, spouse, and any dependent children)
9. Eligible individuals can claim their spouses, children under 18, and older children with disabilities as dependents. A son or daughter between 18 and 25 can be considered dependents if they are enrolled in a university.
10. In the case of a family group, an individual file is required for each member. Parents should sign applications on behalf of their minor children.
11. For practicing a profession, you should provide your diplomas. For pursuing other professional activities, relevant documentation – such as courses and studies undertaken – should be submitted as well.

*All documents listed in 3, 4, and 6 must be authenticated by the Costa Rican Consulate and translated into Spanish. Before they are submitted to the Consulate, these documents must be notarized and also apostilled by the respective states in which they originated.

You should send all the required documents first to the Consulate of your jurisdiction to be checked. If the documents are complete, you – or your representative – will be asked to go to the Consulate for an interview and sign the application you have already sent.

The documents will be sent to Migration in Costa Rica, who will contact your representative in Costa Rica. For this purpose, you will have to pay for the courier service.

In addition to the general requirements mentioned above for residency application, you should fulfill the following specific requirements depending on your immigration category. You do not have to send those documents together with the ones mentioned above. However, if they are missing, you – or your representative – will be notified once Migration receives and processes the documents sent by the Consulate. You will be given 10 days to complete those documents if they are issued in Costa Rica, or 30 days if they are issued abroad. Please note that some documents need to be authenticated by the Costa Rican Consulate first.

Retirees (Pensionados):

12. If you’re a retiree, you should be receiving at least US $600 a month from a qualified retirement plan or a lifetime pension source outside Costa Rica.

13. Original Income Certificate from the company, government, or institution guaranteeing that the monthly income will be sent to Costa Rica in your name

14. You could also demonstrate that you receive the minimum amount of US $600 from interests or dividends from investments on foreign currency deposited in a Costa Rican government bank.

15. The Police Certificate mentioned above should be issued by the state where you have lived for the last six months.

16. The foreign currency you receive as a monthly pension should be converted into the Costa Rican currency (colones). This could be certified by the Costa Rican Central Bank or any other government bank.

17. You (and your dependents) cannot work and/or earn a salary in Costa Rica. You can, however, administer your own investments but without a salary. In addition, a physical presence in Costa Rica for a minimum of 4 months each year is required.

(Rentistas):

12. If you’re a rentista, you should demonstrate that you would receive income from an investment such as a certificate of deposit or annuity of at least US $1,000 per month per person (or couple) and US $500 per children under 18 in the same family group.

13. Original Income Certificate from the banking institution (in a foreign country or in Costa Rica) guaranteeing that they hold sufficient funds in a stable and permanent account to provide an income of US $1,000 per month for at least five years and that the monthly income will be sent to Costa Rica in your name.

14. Your income should be converted into Costa Rican colones, whose exchange rate is established by the Central Bank.

15. You could have a deposit of US $60,000 in an approved Costa Rican bank to meet the government requirements for the residency status.

16. You (and your dependents) cannot work and/or earn a salary in Costa Rica. You can, however, administer your own investments but without a salary. In addition, a physical presence in Costa Rica for a minimum of 4 months each year is required.

Investor (Inversionista):

12. If you’re an investor, you will be required to invest at least US $50,000 with an approved organization in a field such as tourism or export businesses.

13. You will be required to invest US $100,000 in a reforestation project.

14. In other types of business, an amount of US $200,000 invested will be required.

15. As an investor, you should spend at least six months per year in Costa Rica.

Foreign Relatives of a Costa Rican Citizen:

12. If you have first-degree family members such as parents, siblings, spouses, or children who are citizens of Costa Rica, you can apply for permanent residency.

13. If you’re married to a Costa Rican citizen, the Marriage Certificate should be issued by the Civil Registry (Registro Civil) in Costa Rica. In case of children or siblings born in Costa Rica, Birth Certificates should also be issued by the Civil Registry in Costa Rica.

14. You should submit a photocopy of the ID (cédula de identidad) of the Costa Rican citizen who is related to you.

Students:

12. If you’re a student looking to obtain a Student Visa, you should provide: (a) proof of enrollment in an educational private or public center recognized by Costa Rica, (b) relevant academic diplomas authenticated by the Consulate, and (c) proof of sufficient economic resources for the duration of the educational program.

Temporary Workers (Work Visa):

12. The following individuals might obtain a temporary work permit in Costa Rica: (a) scientists, professionals, teachers, technicians, and specialized staff hired by companies or institutions based in Costa Rica and (b) businessmen and board members of national and international companies.

13. The employing company or institution should provide a document describing the: (a) functions to be undertaken by the employee, (b) length of the contract, (c) salary or wages to be received, and (d) why they need to employ that particular individual (justification of employment).

14. The Police Certificate mentioned above should be issued by the state/place where you have resided for the last five years.

All the residency status will require, upon approval, US $300 per person as a return trip guarantee deposit as well as US $150 per person for the issuance of an ID card.

Moving to Costa Rica may seem like a paperwork nightmare. These classifications and the associated process for each are more for the “do it yourself” kind of person; however, it can be very easy and simple with the help of a lawyer who specializes in this process. All the steps involved are very procedural, and all you have to do is take them one step at a time. We cannot emphasize enough how easy this process will be if you please visit our recommended specialist, who will guide you through this whole process with the least amount of stress and the greatest of ease, at http://www.residencycr.com/residency.html.

This process generally takes about 10 months, so follow the guidance of the attorney, and then let it go; he knows his business! I know him, I trust him, and I cannot tell you how many of my friends I have referred to him, and I have no bad stories.

Pura Vida!