Last Updated: November 26, 2025
Moving abroad can be very stressful. We remember what it was like getting ready for our big move to Costa Rica from Boston in 2013. Selling our stuff and condo, taking care of finances, and figuring out first steps when we arrived were just a few of the many things we needed to do. The only thing that kept us sane through the months of preparation was being organized and having a plan for what to do and when. In this post, we’ll give some guidance on when to start planning your move to Costa Rica and provide a moving checklist to walk you through the process.
Note: This post was written shortly after our move in 2013. We have since helped many people move to Costa Rica through consultation services that we offered, and the advice we give in this post still applies. We have updated the information as necessary to keep it current.
When to Start Getting Ready for Your Move
We started taking concrete steps towards moving to Costa Rica a couple of years in advance and recommend this to anyone seriously considering a move themselves. There are a lot of things to plan for, especially financially, that can’t be accomplished in just a few months so the sooner you can start, the better.
For example, since we aren’t retired and don’t have a monthly pension or retirement coming in, we knew that we would need quite a bit of savings to get us through until we figured out how to earn enough income through our website and books. We did some budgeting and felt comfortable with the amount we would have by early 2013. That timing also worked out well with our condo, since we knew that spring was the best time of year to sell.
Your situation might be totally different, but whether you rent or own, are retired or still employed, work for someone else or have your own business, you will probably still benefit from starting early.
On a personal note, we also found that sharing our plans with family and friends early on was very beneficial. A lot of people won’t take you seriously at first and think that moving to Costa Rica is just a dream that probably won’t happen. They might think that for a while, but then as you keep talking about it every time you see them, they’ll start to take it more seriously and be emotionally ready (or at least more so) when the day actually comes.
Moving Checklist
Here’s the list that we used to get ready for our move to Costa Rica.
6+ Months Before
Packing List
If you’re planning to move with only the basics, begin a list of what you’ll take. Think about what you’ll store, sell, or give away.
Keep in mind that some items are much more expensive or difficult to find in Costa Rica. Here is a link to our post Packing for Your Move to Costa Rica with advice on what to bring and what you won’t need.
Shipping
If you’re shipping your belongings, begin researching shipping companies. We brought what we needed in suitcases on the airplane so don’t have much advice to give on shipping, but many people do ship their things so that they can bring more. We’d recommend asking others who have used a shipper in the past to ensure you have a good experience.
Passports
Make sure you and your family member’s passports are current and not expiring in the near future. Costa Rica requires passports to be valid for at least six months in order to let you into the country.
If you still have some time left on them, rest assured that they are easy to renew in Costa Rica. Now the process is through the mail for adults and at the US embassy in San Jose for minors.
Pets
If you’re moving with pets, begin researching airline policies and what paperwork you’ll need. Keep in mind that some airlines don’t allow pets to travel at certain times of the year (e.g., if it is too hot).
The requirements for bringing a pet into Costa Rica are provided on the US Embassy website.
Notification List
Start making a list of people to notify about your move. Businesses, banks, distant family members, the IRS, etc. You will add to the list over time.
Residency Paperwork
If planning to apply for residency, figure out the process so you know what documents you need to obtain (background check, birth certificates, marriage certificates, etc.). These documents are much easier to get while you’re still in your old country of residence.
Remember that timing is critical as the documents are only valid for a set time from issuance and some take longer to obtain (FBI background check). Our post on applying for residency has more information.
Medical Updates
Get physicals, blood work, and vaccinations. We got tetanus boosters and the typhoid and Hepatitis A vaccines (typhoid and Hep A are not standard for Costa Rica but we got them because we were planning to travel to other countries in Central America).
Health/Dental/Eye Insurance
Public health insurance, the Caja, is available only to legal residents. Start thinking about if you’ll pay out of pocket for health care or if you’ll want private or international insurance.
If you have dental insurance and will lose it once you move, get any work you need in the immediate future done but know that it is very affordable in Costa Rica. We’ve found dental work to be cheaper in Costa Rica than what we used to pay in co-pays in the US. Once you get settled, you should have no problem finding a good English-speaking dentist.
For eyeglasses and contacts, exams are inexpensive but the glasses themselves are about the same price and contact lenses are more expensive, so stock up at home.
ATM/Debit Cards
Most US banks charge fees for using a foreign ATM and an additional fee if you get out local currency (3% or more of total amount in foreign currency conversion fees).
For withdrawals from our checking account in the US, we opened a Capital One 360 account, which provides free ATM withdrawals in foreign countries. We’ve heard Charles Schwab is also good.
Credit Cards
To avoid foreign transaction fees, we ended up going with the Bank of America Travel Rewards and Capital One Venture Rewards cards. Neither of these charge fees for foreign transactions and they’re both rewards-based so we redeem our miles for cash back.
For more information, check out our post Using ATMs and Credit Cards in Costa Rica.
Legal
Talk with your lawyer/accountant/tax planner about all legal ends that need to be tied up like wills, etc. Remember that if you are buying property in Costa Rica, you may need a separate Costa Rica will or other legal arrangement as it’s difficult to get foreign wills recognized in Costa Rica due to different legal requirements.
Home Projects
If planning to sell, finish any projects around the house that will increase your property value.
Selling Stuff
Begin selling higher priced items you plan to get rid of so that you’re not scrambling and get nothing for them right before you move.
Read Up
Spend some time on blogs and books written by expats who have made the move to Costa Rica themselves. You can find a lot of bloggers who have relocated from the United States, Canada, etc. Our Living in Costa Rica category also has some articles with life updates from when we first moved up until ten years.
1-2 Months Before
Yard Sales
Start organizing your stuff for a yard sale if you’re planning to get rid of a lot. We had two yard sales: one a couple of months out and another right before we put our condo on the market.
Selling Your House
Start talking to a real estate agent if you plan to sell your house. Figure out temporary housing in between the sale and your moving date.
Finalize Shipping Plans
If you’re using a shipping company, pick a company and start working with them on the details of how the process will work.
Pick Your Departure Date and Buy Plane Tickets
If you’re planning to bring your stuff in suitcases like we did, make sure your airline doesn’t have a baggage embargo in effect during the time you’ll be traveling.
Don’t rule out first class when considering your options. It might actually be cheaper since many airlines let you have free bags, which can be over the standard weight limit.
If you’re bringing your pet, figure out if you need to buy their tickets simultaneously with yours. Some airlines require this.
Plan Your First Days in Costa Rica
Figure out where you will live, even for only the short term. We stayed in an affordable bed and breakfast for the first week and searched for temporary housing when we arrived. It is typically easier to find housing once you have boots on the ground. Arrange transportation from the airport in Costa Rica to your new place.
More Banking
Contact your banks and ask them to mark your accounts for use in Costa Rica (sometimes checking/debit cards and credit cards must be requested separately). Get their toll-free customer service number for international calls.
Get new cards if any are set to expire soon.
Cancel any accounts you don’t want anymore.
Renew Driver’s License
If your driver’s license expires soon, renew it. It’s easier to renew when you’re still in-country. This is especially important if you’re planning to stay in Costa Rica on a tourist visa for some time, as you can’t get a Costa Rica driver’s license anymore unless you have residency.
Cancel Insurance
Arrange for cancellation of medical, dental, and other insurances once you have moved.
Make Last Minute Purchases
Purchase any items that you’ll want to bring (e.g., unlocked cell phone, other electronics that are much more expensive in Costa Rica).
2-4 Weeks Before
More Shipping
Confirm all details with your shipping company.
Communication
Set up WhatsApp or MagicJack so you have a way to communicate with friends and family back home.
Sell Your Car
Cancel insurance, return license plates and electronic toll devices.
Set Up Mail-forwarding Service
We use St. Brendan’s Isle and have been happy with the service. They receive our mail at an address they provided us in Florida and scan it so that we can read it online. We pay for each scan and by weight to have it shipped to Costa Rica or to family or friends who are visiting. For more information, read our post on getting mail and packages in Costa Rica.
Mail Forwarding
Request mail forwarding with the local post office.
Unsubscribe from Mailing Lists
Cancel magazines that you no longer want, and notify those you wish to keep of your new address.
Paperless Billing
Arrange to begin receiving your bank, credit card statements, and any other bills you’ll still have electronically so that you can pay them online.
More Residency
If applying for residency, make sure you have all of your documentation.
Records
Get copies of medical and dental records, including histories of vaccinations.
Banking Documents for Costa Rica
If planning to open a bank account in Costa Rica, get letters of reference from your US banks. Not all Costa Rica banks require this but some do.
Notify Employer
Give previous employer new address for next year’s tax forms.
2 Weeks Before
Living Arrangements for Costa Rica
Finalize plans for where you will be living in Costa Rica.
Documents
Make copies of all important documents or store on the Cloud. Put them in a separate location from the originals.
Utilities
Contact utility companies (phone, cable, internet, electric, gas) re: cancellation of service.
Safe Deposit Box
If you have a safe deposit box, think about if you want to empty it or put anything new in it.
Proof of Onward Travel
Buy onward tickets to show proof that you will be leaving Costa Rica within 180 days of your arrival to satisfy immigration requirements.
1 Week Before
Pack Suitcases
Make a list of last-minute items to add the day or two before departure.
Inventory Suitcases
We made separate sheets for each suitcase that listed the contents so that we knew what was in each bag. This was really helpful for the first couple of weeks when we were in temporary housing and living out of our suitcases. Taking photos can also help. If you’re shipping your stuff, inventorying is even more important.
Enjoy!
Eat your favorite foods and sip your favorite drinks because you might not find the equivalent in Costa Rica. Oh and cheers, this is really happening and it’s going to be an exciting adventure!
Have something to add? Let us know in the comments below.
Moving to Costa Rica? Here are some more posts you might find helpful:
FAQs About Moving to Costa Rica: Answers commonly asked questions about obtaining residency, cost of living, internet reliability, etc.
Buying a Car in Costa Rica: The process and our experience buying a car.
Where We’ve Lived in Costa Rica: Our pros and cons on the different places we checked out before settling down initially in the Southern Zone.
House Sitting in Costa Rica: House sitting is a free way to travel in Costa Rica if you have the flexibility. Read about our experience house sitting for our first year in Costa Rica.
