An expat in Atenas tells all about her experiences of moving to Costa Rica. Some weeks ago, I posted a very nice blog by guest blogger and expat in Atenas Judy on my other website. Two sisters (Judy and Roxi) are creating a whole new life in Costa Rica post-retirement from the United States. Hear about their…
Antoinette, a North American expat who lives with her family in Alajuela, is good at making things happen. She is good at it because she tries, she tries hard. These are some of the experiences of an expat in Costa Rica who enjoys herself tremendously. Antoinette is happy in Alajuela, together with her husband and two…
Once you have decided to become an expat in Costa Rica, you’ll be checking your email often for email messages from Costa Rica. Moving to Costa Rica and doing your due diligence on buying Costa Rica real estate means nowadays being able to use the internet as well as your email. Email is part of…
Estimated reading time: 8 Minutes Like everywhere else, there are advantages and disadvantages to living in Costa Rica. This clearly shows in a letter from an expat in Atenas to his friend George. Hello George, I received the engine part you sent. But well, I must not have been clear when we talked about the…
Earth University is the most interesting university in Costa Rica. Allow me to tell you all about this tour that I took recently. Located just outside Guacimo (Limon) in Costa Rica is a unique university campus. The campus houses EARTH University: Escuela de Agricultura de la Region Tropical Humeda (EARTH); or School of Agriculture of…
Do you know what a Guanabana is? Weird word, right! It won’t kill you to shop somewhere other than Pricemart and AutoMercado, I promise! Now there is nothing wrong with either of these fine establishments. In fact, for some of those foods from home that we just can’t do without, it’s the only place to…
You know I love living in Costa Rica vs living in Florida? I sometimes think that living in Costa Rica is like living in Florida was many years ago. Florida beaches are certainly some of the most beautiful in the world but are lined with condominiums and commercial buildings. Beaches in Costa Rica still have that…
For many years now buyers and sellers of Costa Rica real estate have been evading the Costa Rica Property Transfer Tax Law. The seller transfers the shares of the corporation that owns the underlying property to the buyer and this changes everything. By selling the shares of the corporation the parties in a real estate…
Estimated Reading Time: 5 Minutes Some clients ask us why they should move to Costa Rica. The answer is pretty simple. If you love nature – Costa Rica is a great place to be. If you like a simple life – it is here. If you want an uncomplicated and less stressful environment – you…
Are you a perpetual tourist but planning on formal immigration to Costa Rica? Expats in Costa Rica seeking to regularize their migratory condition should take the opportunity the Costa Rican Government is currently offering, for a limited time only. The Costa Rica Immigration Department based on four transitory articles included in the latest Bylaws to the…
In this 3rd and last blog on this matter, I will tell you about the powers this tax law will give the Costarican government. In my first and second blog about the changes in Costa Rica 2013 Tax Law, I explained about Law of Compliance with Standards of Fiscal Transparency and Law Strengthening the Tax…
There are some significant changes in the real estate tax procedures in the air that you should know about. In my first blog about Costa Rica Fiscal Transparency, I explained about Costa Rica’s legislation being on the verge of passing two new laws. This will bring about significant changes to the tax structure currently in…
The Chinchilla administration is presenting important changes in the standards of fiscal transparency. Costa Rica’s legislation is on the verge of passing two new laws. This brings about significant changes to the tax structure currently in effect. The two legislative bills have already passed the legislative hurdles. Now, the bills are shortly expected to be…
Let me tell you about fertile Costa Rica soil. Construction Debris = Papaya. HUGE, MASSIVE, GARGANTUAN, MAMMOTH….well you get the point. That is exactly what this pile of construction ish I have is. Remodeling a house is always a big undertaking and so is the garbage that goes with it. In Costa Rica, most of the homes are constructed of…
Did you know that resident expats have a mandatory registration with Social Security? When you move to Costa Rica, legal residency should be on the top of your list and this article can be of great help to your immigration due diligence. Any foreign resident in Costa Rica that wants to obtain or renew their…
This Real Estate Tax Guide for North American Expats can be very helpful when buying and selling Costa Rica Real Estate. Moving abroad is a difficult and complicated process even apart from the issue of real estate. Purchasing real estate overseas has complicated implications on your expat taxes. The solutions can be found in this Real…