How Hard Is It for a US Citizen to Move to Costa Rica?

Moving to Costa Rica as a U.S. citizen is easier than moving to most countries in the Americas or Europe. Costa Rica’s immigration options are flexible, English is widely spoken, and locals are generally welcoming.

1. Short-Term Stays Are Easy

Americans can stay:

• 90 days visa-free

Plenty of people visit first, explore regions, and choose where to settle.

2. Long-Term Residency Is Straightforward

There are multiple accessible residency paths:

1. Pensionado (Retiree Residency)

• $1,000/month guaranteed pension

• Extremely popular for retirees

2. Rentista (Income-Based Residency)

• $2,500/month income or $60,000 bank deposit

• Ideal for remote workers, online entrepreneurs

3. Investor Residency (Inversionista)

• $150,000 real estate or business investment

4. Marriage-Based Residency

If married to a Costa Rican.

5. Permanent Residency

Available after:

• 3 years of temporary residency

• OR immediately if you have a Costa Rican child

3. Ease of Daily Life

• No language requirement for residency

• English widely spoken

• Simple healthcare enrollment

• Property ownership is fully allowed for foreigners

• Strong U.S. expat communities

4. Challenges to Expect

• Bureaucratic delays

• Need for apostilles

• Slower pace of service

• Car import taxes (if bringing your vehicle)

None of these make the move “hard,” but they require patience.

Bottom Line

For Americans, Costa Rica is one of the easiest countries to move to long-term. Residency pathways are flexible and well-defined.

Use CitizenCR to streamline your application.

Download the CitizenCR app for residency checklists, financial requirements, and expert support.