Terry and Vivian Smith
@TerrynViv
Canadian expat in Costa Rica
Forum posts
650
Contacts
7
About me
Canadian
Lives in La Palma
Speaks English and some Spanish
Registration: 21 October 2011
Activity
HOW (step-by-step instructions) to apply for a pensionado visa by dwilhelms1
Hello all,I cannot find any information on a goverment or otherwise reliable-appearing site on how to apply for a pensionado visa. And the consulate in Denver is evidently closed. Any ideas on where to find such a place? Or is that not even ...
I agree wholeheartedly about the use of a lawyer, we had to step in 1/2 way through our initial application and finish it up ourselves.Permanent Residency, we did ourselves, and it was a breeze. We even managed to get our initial deposits for ... Read More
Cost of living in Costa Rica in 2025 by Cheryl
Hello everyone, Every year, we invite you to share your experiences with the cost of living in in Costa Rica, especially in the region or city you live in. Your insights will greatly help members planning their move to Costa Rica or already ...
We bought a small acreage and built our house. The cost of the land and house was cash paid out of pocket. (slightly less than $400,000).Of course we could live on less ......... but did not work for the same company for 38 years only to scrimp on ... Read More
Cost of living in Costa Rica in 2025 by Cheryl
Hello everyone, Every year, we invite you to share your experiences with the cost of living in in Costa Rica, especially in the region or city you live in. Your insights will greatly help members planning their move to Costa Rica or already ...
We live in a rural area outside of Puriscal and our costs in 2024 were as follows in USD per year: (costs tracked in a home finance program)Daily living expenses (groceries, drinks, etc.) - $10,055Electricity - $1,747Internet (200 mbps up and down) ... Read More
Influx of new expats ??? by rainagain
Hello. This is not about politics... but, with the events of last night in the US... will we or should we, and our Tico friends and neighbors, expect an influx of new Expats in the coming months and years?  ...May be interesting to ...
We have been here ten years, did not leave Canada because things got too bad, but rather to enhance our retirement. Spent ten years looking at alternatives and landed here. We are in Puriscal, which is an hour and a half from San Jose. If you ... Read More
Checking things out in March by dennisqdw
Like others, we have been to Costa Rica before, but are now thinking of retiring there. Or maybe splitting time between San Jose and New Mexico, where we currently live. We are coming in mid March to do some fact finding about where the best ...
I'll vouch for daveandmarcia's advice. Up until two years ago, when ICE installed fiber optic in our subdivision, 75% of our community had ICE copper internet. My next door neighbor had it and it was not available to us. Read More
Expat banking in CR by CR Jeanne
Afternnon all:What can ya'll tell me about banking in CR? I'll be a Pensionada temp resident when I arrive in June of next year. Im thinking I'll just transfer auto-transfer my monthly Social Security direct deposit from my US credit union into ...
I have heard many different variations on what is allowed and what is not.I can only give my personal experience. We opened our bank account, with our Canadian passports, with Banco Nacional before we achieved our residency. We were limited to ... Read More
Expat banking in CR by CR Jeanne
Afternnon all:What can ya'll tell me about banking in CR? I'll be a Pensionada temp resident when I arrive in June of next year. Im thinking I'll just transfer auto-transfer my monthly Social Security direct deposit from my US credit union into ...
newlance777;Can you be more specific with your question?What were you told was impossible?Cheers .... Terry Read More
Type 2 diabetic by beckinlbc
I am being prescribed Mounjaro because of my diabetes getting worse. I am also thinking about leaving the US with the political climate. Is this medicine available in Costa Rica and if yes, how much does it cost. Becki
I sent you a PM. Read More
Expat banking in CR by CR Jeanne
Afternnon all:What can ya'll tell me about banking in CR? I'll be a Pensionada temp resident when I arrive in June of next year. Im thinking I'll just transfer auto-transfer my monthly Social Security direct deposit from my US credit union into ...
We have had an account with Banco Nacional for 10 years now. We only have a dollar account but can move colones through it. We only use colones as our daily currency. We are from Canada and use our Scotia Bank Passport Visa for almost all our ... Read More
Trustworthy Realtor by Nylado
I'm planning a trip to CR in the spring to search for a long term rental. May be interested in buying a home after a year. Which realtor do you think is top rated and trustworthy?
Getting to know some of the locals and asking their opinion works in the long run, but that is hard to do until you are established. Many of the small businesses have "bulletin boards" where you can find some ideas. We travelled throughout Costa ... Read More
Trustworthy Realtor by Nylado
I'm planning a trip to CR in the spring to search for a long term rental. May be interested in buying a home after a year. Which realtor do you think is top rated and trustworthy?
Realty is not regulated here. There is no such thing as a realtor. We came here ten years ago with the same illusion. There are some people here who could fit your criteria, but not the same as in Canada or the US Read More
Income proof for inversionista temporary residency by Simplepuravida
HiCan anyone shed some light on what income if any is needed when requesting a temporary residency under the inversionista program ie; (buying a qualifying property). Specifically I would like to know what I should expect the caja to be under that ...
I did not have to show any income to receive our temporary Inversionista Residency. Rather I had to show our tax valuation of our property which at the time had to be over $200,000 USD.Caja will be a crap shoot!!! I know a couple who left ... Read More
Electrician job in Costa RIca by Cédric Miginiac
Hi I'm french I want to move in Costa Rica on 2025 . I d' like to know if there's opportunities with my job .Let me know if someone knows something about it ..Cedric
Here are a couple of links that may help;https://www.costarica.com/relocation/working-in-costa-rica/https://www.godutchrealty.blog/costa-rica-living/i-want-to-work-in-costa-rica-am-i-allowed-to/ Read More
Monthly CAJA payment by Schempf
I can't seem to connect with anyone about lowering my monthly payment. Removing pension and matrimonio.I've emailed, got redirected then told my email not accepted.Calling was just recordings.My attorney wrote a letter, but no response.Is there an ...
I have read many, many times that Caja is based on your income, and the Inversionista residency is the highest category in regards to Caja payments. I cannot speak for anyone else's experience but ours has been very positive. We joined ten years ... Read More
Where to live in CR ? by slausonbeanco
Good day,Planing a trip in Jan 2025 to look into some areas near lake Arenal and west to the coast. like to be near water of some sort. 72 years young with my lady a few years younger. Like to go out and explore the culture and enjoy what is ...
3000 feet .... cool weather?????Depends on your definition of cool. The top of our development is at 3000 feet and the lower half at 2500. Year round, the normal morning low is 21 deg C. It is 7:15am now and the temp is 24 deg C. Normal highs ... Read More