Moving to Costa Rica from the UK: Complete guide

Thinking of swapping the UK for a tropical paradise? Costa Rica has become a top choice for many expats, and it might be the perfect destination for you too. In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about moving to Costa Rica from the UK, including the cost of living, visa options, popular expat destinations and much more.

We’ll also show you a cost-effective way to manage your money across borders. With the Wise account from the money services provider Wise, you can send, spend and convert money in 40+ currencies at great mid-market exchange rates and low, transparent fees*. It’s not a bank account but offers some similar features, and your money is safeguarded.

Looking to take your savings with you? Wise can also help you with large transfers.

Learn more about the Wise account

Table of contents

Can you move to Costa Rica from the UK? What are the requirements to move to Costa Rica? How long can a British citizen live in Costa Rica? How to move to Costa Rica from the UK Moving to Costa Rica with pets Visas and residence permits in Costa Rica How to apply for residency How to renew your residency Options for retiring to Costa Rica from the UK Living in Costa Rica - The key facts Popular cities and locations for expats Cost of living in Costa Rica Opening a Costa Rican bank account Renting and buying property in Costa Rica Healthcare in Costa Rica Finding a job and working in Costa Rica Studying in Costa Rica Save on your relocation costs to Costa Rica with Wise Conclusion

Can you move to Costa Rica from the UK?

Yes, you can move to Costa Rica from the UK, provided you meet the requirements and submit the necessary documents on time.

We’ll walk you through the process step by step and explain the process of moving to Costa Rica from the UK.

What are the requirements to move to Costa Rica?

British citizens can enter Costa Rica without a visa, but if you intend to stay beyond the permitted tourist period, you’ll need to apply for a residence permit. There are different types available, so it’s important to determine which one best suits your situation.¹

Residence permit requirements vary, but here are some of the key documents you’ll need:

• A valid passport
• Proof of sufficient funds
• Your birth certificate, translated into Spanish
• A certificate of good conduct, also translated into Spanish¹

Additionally, depending on your travel history, certain vaccinations may be required before entering Costa Rica. If you're arriving directly from the UK, you won’t need to worry. However, if you’ve recently travelled to certain South American or Sub-Saharan countries, you’ll be required to get a yellow fever vaccine.¹

How long can a British citizen live in Costa Rica?

British citizens can live in Costa Rica as long as their residence permit remains valid. When it approaches expiry, make sure to look into renewal options to extend your stay.

You can usually stay in Costa Rica for up to 90 days before needing a residence permit. If you overstay, you’ll be charged $100 per month or may even be refused entry in the future, so it’s important to sort everything out in advance.²

How to move to Costa Rica from the UK

There are various ways to move to Costa Rica, such as for education or retirement. If you're planning to work there, you’ll generally need a permanent residence permit, with certain exceptions. Here’s what you’ll generally need to do:³

1. Do job market research

Look into in-demand roles and salary averages in Costa Rica. Additionally, make sure to research the different types of residence permits available for work. Finding a job in Costa Rica can be challenging, since local candidates will always have an advantage over you.³

2. Secure a job and gather the necessary documents

After securing a job and signing a contract, you can begin handling the work and residence permit paperwork. Make sure to provide your employer with all the required documents.

3. Find a place to live

In the meantime, you can begin searching for accommodation. You can explore online listings or seek assistance from a real estate agent.

4. Look into health insurance and Costa Rica banks

Research private healthcare options in Costa Rica and the facilities available in your area. Additionally, take some time to explore Costa Rican banks and international bank accounts, and see if any allow you to apply online.

5. Read customs and imports rules before packing

Before you pack your belongings, take the time to check Costa Rica's customs and import regulations. This will ensure you don’t bring prohibited items or go over the duty-free limits.

6. Consider hiring a moving company and pack only the most valuable items

Pack your most valuable items, such as important documents and personal belongings, yourself. For the rest, consider hiring a moving company to handle the packing and transportation.

Moving to Costa Rica with pets

If you plan to transport your pet to Costa Rica, you must follow specific rules and regulations. This includes meeting vaccination requirements, having a valid pet passport, ensuring your pet has a microchip and getting a health certificate from your pet’s veterinarian. The vaccines should be administered between one month and two weeks prior to your departure for Costa Rica.⁴

When transporting cats and dogs from the UK, you need to obtain certificate 6654. If you’re in England, Scotland or Wales, you can apply using the online service. However, those living in Northern Ireland need to apply to DAERA.⁵

To ensure your pet meets all the health and documentation standards for transportation, it’s a good idea to contact the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA).

Visas and residence permits in Costa Rica

There are various types of Costa Rican visas and residence permits, so you may want to consult professionals to help you decide which one to apply for. Here are some of them:

• Special permit for students, volunteers, academics or researchers
• Temporary residence for annuitants
• Temporary residence for retirees
• Temporary residence as a specialised independent worker¹

Other categories include Temporary residence as an athlete, Temporary residence as staff correspondents and news agencies and Temporary residence as a technician.¹

How to apply for residency

Before applying for a residence permit, you should register your fingerprints at the Ministerio Seguridad Pública in San Jose. After that, you can apply for a residence permit by visiting the Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería.⁶

Depending on the residence permit type, you’ll need a different set of documents. Just make sure they’re all translated to Spanish.⁶

The residence permit fee is 200 USD, plus another 50 USD for converting your visa to residency. Since this process can get complicated, you might want to consult a Costa Rican lawyer.⁶

How to renew your residency

You also renew your residence through the Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería. You should do this every year or every two years, depending on the residence type.⁷

Options for retiring to Costa Rica from the UK

UK citizens can retire in Costa Rica by obtaining a temporary residence permit for retirees. To apply, you'll need to provide proof of a lifelong pension with a monthly payment of at least 1,000 USD, or the equivalent in Costa Rican colón.¹

If you manage to retire in Costa Rica, you can also claim your UK state pension there. It can be paid into a UK bank account or a Costa Rica one, in which case you’ll be paid in the local currency. You can choose how often you’ll get paid - anywhere from 4 to 13 weeks. Contact the International Pension Centre to get the most recent information.⁸

Living in Costa Rica - The key facts

Here are some basic facts you should know about Costa Rica if you’re considering moving there:

💰 Currency:	Costa Rican colón (CRC)
🗣️ Main language:	Spanish
👥 Population:	5,144,062⁹
🇬🇧 Number of British expats:	Around 4,800¹⁰

Popular cities and locations for expats

Expats live all over Costa Rica, but some locations have more English-speaking expats than others. For example, Rohrmoser in San José, Playa Flamingo, Uvita, Quepos, Manuel Antonio and Nuevo Arenal are particularly popular.¹¹

Cost of living in Costa Rica

On average, the cost of living in Costa Rica is significantly lower than it is here across all categories. Let’s see how much you’d save from your move to Costa Rica from the UK.

For example, rent in Costa Rica is nearly 40% lower and restaurant prices are about 27% cheaper on average. A monthly transportation pass costs approximately 50% less. Property prices also show a significant difference, with homes in Costa Rica being 55-70% more affordable. However, groceries tend to be around 3% more expensive.¹²

The biggest contrast is in utility costs, where you can expect to pay over 70% less on average compared to the UK.¹²

Opening a Costa Rican bank account

Having a local bank account is essential for handling rent and getting paid, as well as for managing your daily expenses. Most banks will allow foreigners with legal residency to open an account, but the state-owned Banco de Costa Rica may even permit non-residents to apply.¹³

You’ll generally be required to provide your ID, proof of address, proof of income and a minimum deposit. Some popular banks are Banco BAC San Jose, Banco BCT, as well as the state-run Banco de Costa Rica and Banco Popular.¹³

Whether you’ll be able to keep your UK bank account after moving depends on your bank. For example, Barclays closes your account once you move abroad.¹⁴

Renting and buying property in Costa Rica

You can rent and buy property as a UK citizen if you meet the legal requirements. For example, foreigners can’t be full owners of property on the maritime-terrestrial zone.²

The Costa Rican law requires that all rental contracts are made for a period of three years. You might be able to find a shorter contract, but it’s not guaranteed.¹⁵

You’ll usually be asked for a one month’s rent deposit and a pet deposit if you have animals. Deposits are paid in cash.¹⁵

Healthcare in Costa Rica

Costa Rica has a state-run healthcare system called the Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social, or CCSS for short. You need to pay for healthcare, but the cost is assessed individually.²

The cost of treatment in state hospitals is not drastically different from private ones. Both are also of a good standard. Some of the most popular private hospitals are the Clinica Biblica and Hospital CIMA.²

Health insurance

Costa Rica has free healthcare only for those in need. However, everyone else must pay contributions based on their income. This amount is usually 7-11% of your salary, but not more than 100 USD in most cases.¹⁶

Private insurance is optional, yet approximately 30% of the population has it. It is available through the Instituto de Seguro Nacional or international insurance providers.¹⁶

English-speaking doctors and medical staff

You can find English-speaking doctors even in public hospitals in Costa Rica. Since many of them studied or worked in the US, it’s not uncommon for them to speak multiple languages. However, make sure to check this before booking an appointment.¹⁶

Medication and prescription requirements and restrictions

Most prescription medication that’s available in the UK can also be found in Costa Rica. However, you should check this before leaving the UK. Also, always carry your medication in its original packaging and in your hand luggage.²

Finding a job and working in Costa Rica

You can work in Costa Rica as a British citizen if you manage to demonstrate that you have specialised skills that no local applicant can fulfill. Finding a job in Costa Rica can be challenging, as local candidates are given priority.

The residence route for annuitants is a great option for digital nomads. If you earn at least the equivalent of 2,500 USD a month, you might be able to get a residence permit.²

The average monthly salary in Costa Rica ranges from 358,000 to 765,500 CRC, depending on the occupation. For example, software analysts earn 19,235,211 CRC per year, while bartenders make 5,616,049 CRC on average. Costa Rica has the highest minimum salary in Latin America.¹⁷

Studying in Costa Rica

Costa Rica has more than 60 universities, but only five of them are public. Some of them are ranked highly both in Latin America and the world, such as Universidad de Costa Rica and Universidad Nacional Costa Rica.¹⁸

Studying in Costa Rica is quite affordable compared to Western Europe and North America. Tuition fees vary, but they start at around 13,000 USD. At private universities, yearly tuition can go up to 40,000 USD. Some of the cheapest universities are the Tecnológico de Costa Rica, Veritas University and Universidad de Costa Rica.¹⁹

Save on your relocation costs to Costa Rica with Wise

Before moving to Costa Rica, you’re likely to have lots of costs to cover. Some of these, such as real estate costs, visa application fees and rental deposits, will need to cross borders and can get expensive because of the transfer fees and exchange rate markups.

Open a Wise account and you can send money to Costa Rica for low, transparent fees* and the mid-market exchange rate. It's not a bank account but offers some similar features and your money is always safeguarded.

You can also get the Wise card for a one-time fee of £7 to spend in CRC from the moment you step off the plane. It works in 150+ countries and automatically converts your pounds to the local currency whenever you spend, only adding a tiny, upfront currency conversion fee*.

Here’s an overview of the main benefits of using Wise:

Fast and easy setup with no physical paperwork Low, upfront, transparent fees* and the mid-market exchange rates Dedicated support for large transfers Sophisticated security and anti-fraud measures, with your money safeguarded under regulatory protections Trackable and fast transfers to 140+ countries Low-cost spending in 150+ countries with the Wise card Earn a return on your GBP, USD and EUR balance with Wise Interest**

Sign up with Wise today 🚀

**Capital at risk. In the UK, Interest and Stocks are provided by Wise Assets — this is the trading name of Wise Assets UK Ltd, a subsidiary of Wise. Wise Assets UK Ltd is authorised as an investment firm and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Our FCA number is 839689. We do not give investment advice, and you may be subject to pay tax. If you're not sure, seek qualified advice. You can find more information about the funds on our website.

Wise Interest isn’t currently available to use with a Costa Rica address.

Conclusion

• The main routes for moving to Costa Rica from the UK are the residence permit for retirees, annuitants and students
• You should apply for a residence permit at the Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería
• Expats can rent or buy property in Costa Rica just like citizens
• Costa Rica has high-quality healthcare, but it is only free for those in financial need
• The cost of living in Costa Rica is significantly lower compared to the UK

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Sources used:

1. Embassy of Costa Rica - visas and residence permits
2. Gov.uk - living in Costa Rica
3. Internations - working in Costa Rica
4. Pet Relocation - pet transport to Costa Rica
5. Gov.uk - certificate 6654
6. Visa Guide - Costa Rica residence permit
7. Costa Rica Immigration Services - residency renewal
8. Gov.uk - State Pension if you retire abroad
9. Worldometers - Costa Rica population
10. BBC News - Brits abroad
11. International Living - top expat destinations
12. Numbeo - cost of living comparison between the UK and Costa Rica
13. Expat Focus - opening a bank account in Costa Rica
14. Barclays - living outside the UK
15. Internations - rent and housing in Costa Rica
16. Internations - healthcare in Costa Rica
17. Payroll - average income in Costa Rica
18. Top Universities - study in Costa Rica
19. Jeduka - studying in Costa Rica

Sources last checked on date: 10-Feb-2025