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I thank you all for your help. I am going to apply for residency – I am WELL traveled, and quite intelligent in my own way, just got back from 2 trips to Europe in the last 3 months…DO have income above the pension to cover my expenses and of course DO have a passport so I think I must have given someone the wrong idea in my past posts – I apologize for that 🙂
I don’t know where someone got the idea I don’t even have a passport. I DO have a current US passport…. not a problem..
[quote=”maravilla”]it’s taking approx 6 weeks to get a passport in the States now. so you had better apply for one TODAY!!![/quote]Can I get your take on Santa Ana? I am looking for safety first, and a nice reasonable clean place in which to make my new home – one where I will have access to the city without a car, yet still be able to build a strong friendship circle. Marie
[quote=”kordan”]San Jose is quite expensive
However the virgin country areas–which in many cases are no far from the capital offer a considerable cost advatage[/quote]THank you all for your help. I did speak with Javier today who said that I only needed to get the process started with passport, birth certificate and finger prints started and in before March 1st to qualify under the old rules, but I have also been doing more research on the true cost of living in Costa Rica (rents in particular). i wasn’t expecting grande style and I do have other income (just not guaranteed more than $1000) so I wasn’t too concerned. I can’t live in Florida in ANY style on $1000 a month an have been spending savings at an enormous rate to stay here. Can anyone tell me how much I would have to pay for a 1 bedroom apartment in a SAFE place anywhere around San Jose? How much money do you think it takes to live (over and above rent) for one person – a young 55 year old?
Marie
[quote=”DavidCMurray”]The Association of Residents of Costa Rica’s website says that their affiliated attorneys will process a [i]pensionado[/i] residency application for $870US. That may or may not be an updated figure, but if not, it’s probably close. We used one of those affiliated attorneys and have received superb service as have a number of folks we’ve referred to him.That said, were it me, I’d be planning on meeting the new income requirements. If the attorneys and Immigration are backed up and your application under the old law isn’t accepted, you’ll be in the soup.
And maravilla is absolutely correct in saying that your income will be stretched very thin if you plan to live in the environs of San Jose. Outlying towns will be much less expensive for rent which will probably be your largest single expense. Even at that, $1,000US per month isn’t going to keep you in grand style.[/quote]
My income is from a former employer pension for life – not other income, so as long as I get the required letter, I’m assuming that will work. That doesn’t include my other income. I’m working hard on it now so that I don’t miss this opportunity.
[quote=”costaricafinca”]Yes, this replaces the previous amount required of $600. And this is good [i]for a couple and or a family[/i]. But, this wouldn’t really be enough to support a family ifthis was all the income you had.
The $1000 must be from a [i]guaranteed source[/i], not from rental income, etc.
You can apply as a rentista, depositing funds which you will then have deposited in ayour bank account every month. Here is a site that explains it better than I can, [url=http://blog.therealcostarica.com/2009/08/13/the-new-costa-rica-immigration-law/]New residency requirements[/url].[/quote]My plan was of course to come and look around a couple of times before making a move to CR. Now with the changes in the law, and my not qualifying under the old rules, makes this a little more rushed than I had planned. I am coming to CR in Feb – just need to make my flight arrangements, have lived in other countries already – and would be surprised if I found I didn’t like it 🙂 I’m easy going, non materialistic, and really looking for a place where I can live on the money I already have – I can’t do that here in Florida…..and…..if I don’t like it – no big deal – I come back! Not the end of the world. I don’t have much to get rid of here – rent a furnished condo, do have to sell my car – but relatively easy move and decision for me. If I don’t come in under a pensionado residency, I understand I can still come (just need to leave every 3 months – right?) but would not then be eligible for the gov’t health care – is that right?
I don’t mind going through the hoops and applying for residency even before checking it out – I’m THAT confident in my abilities to adapt. I’m extremely positive and know that I can live and enjoy Costa Rica…..[quote=”costaricafinca”]No, it isn’t ‘really necessary’ and quite impractical to expect to bolt a safe to the floor of a rental unit.
Again, it depends on where you choose to live.
You have mentioned on another post, about the requirements of residency here and the costs involved. If you haven’t been here before, I wouldn’t advise you too jump ahead until you have really looked around and see if this is the place for [i]you[/i]. Many disagree on how many or the percentage of people actually returning ‘home’ due to lots of different reasons that their expectancy was very different from their actual experience.[/quote]Thank you. I am ready with just about all requirements at my fingertips, except for the fingerprinting and police report, but can come to costa rica in a few days/weeks – already making plans. All else should be easy – birth certificate, passport, letters, etc. Your help is invaluable and I thank you so much.
Marie
[quote=”costaricafinca”]I would advise you to consider using the above site. It will be difficult now, to get your application in before the deadline, because you must have all the required paperwork, be finger printed here in CR, and copies of birth certificate in before your application can go ahead and like you, many are now just becoming aware of the change and many, many applications are being prepared.
Here is [url=http://www.therealcostarica.com/residency_costa_rica/costa_rica_residency.html]another site[/url] that offers good information and mentions the cost involved.[/quote]I am planning to come to Costa Rica for an extended time and hopefully apply for residency (currently have US drivers license) but not planning to drive or own a car. However, I might on occasion want to rent one while there. Will I need a CR drivers license or will I be able to use my US one to rent?
Yes, my guaranteed income is just a ‘tad’ under the requirements, unfortunately – thank you for that information – it’s news to me. Is there a way to supplement that ‘tad’ short with dollars in the bank? I thought I read something about transfering a certain amount of USD to local currency on a monthly basis that would also qualify…..I could certainly do this within reason. Where can I find out more information here, before I arrive about the new requirements?
I need to actually live in Costa Rica for 4 months before even applying for residency, right?
Can I come and ‘live’ without residency? What are the restrictions? Would there be things I would not be able to do without it? What is the new requirement for a ‘couple’? Do you have to be married?[quote=”costaricafinca”]As of March 1st the new rules go into effect that will call for a guaranteed pension of [b]$1000[/b] or SSC when applying for residency under the [i]pensionado catagory.[/i] Unfortunately, you have just a ‘tad under’.
For one person to live here on that, should be fine, but this would depend heavily on what you rent for accommodations and where.[/quote]I am planning to cone to Costa Rica in a few weeks to check out the real possibilities of moving and living there. I will want to rent first to see how life goes and I do understand that theft can be an issue. Since I won’t be buying my own property, is it really necessary to bolt a safety deposit box to the floor to keep my laptop and other things from being stolen???
[quote=”costaricafinca”]Ronny, yes, a membership is necessary for PriceSmart. Obviously, if you intend to [i]’bolt this to the floor'[/i] it will be in your own home and not a rental property :roll:[/quote]
