Moving to Costa Rica from the UK: your 2026 guide

Costa Rica has a powerful draw for UK expats. With its stable democracy, world-class biodiversity, and the laid-back pura vida way of life, it's a place where retirees, remote workers, and nature lovers all find something to love.

But moving to Costa Rica means getting to grips with a residency system that's quite different from Europe's, a mandatory public healthcare system (the Caja), and a dual-currency economy where both colones and dollars are in daily use.

In this guide, we'll walk you through everything you need to know, from choosing the right visa and registering for healthcare to setting up your finances across pounds, dollars, and colones, and we'll show you how we can help your move with a Revolut travel money card.

16+, T&Cs apply.

Can you move to Costa Rica from the UK?

Yes. UK passport holders can enter Costa Rica visa-free as a tourist for up to 90 days, but that doesn't give you the right to live, work, or stay long term. To settle properly, you need a formal residence permit.

Tourist stays vs long-term residency

As a tourist, you can stay up to 90 days, and you may be able to extend this. But you can't work locally, and overstaying carries risks including fines and difficulties re-entering. The proper long-term route is to apply for a temporary residence permit through the DGME (Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería), Costa Rica's immigration authority, before or during your stay.

How easy is it to emigrate from the UK to Costa Rica?

The process is well-trodden and the residency categories are clear, but Costa Rican bureaucracy can be slow. Expect document legalisation requirements, Spanish translations, and processing times measured in months rather than weeks. With the right visa route and your paperwork in order, it's a manageable, structured move.

Visas and residence permits for expats in Costa Rica

If you're working out how to move to Costa Rica, your starting point is choosing the right residency category. Here are the main routes for Britons:

Retiring to Costa Rica: Pensionado (Retirement) Visa

The Pensionado visa is for retirees with a guaranteed lifetime pension.

• Who it suits: retirees with a qualifying pension
• Financial requirement: a minimum of $1,000 per month from a guaranteed lifetime pension (government pension, private pension, or qualifying annuity)
• Key rule: investment income doesn't qualify — the pension must be for life
• Path to permanence: counts towards permanent residency after 3 years

Rentista (Fixed Income) Visa

The Rentista visa is for those with stable passive income that isn't a lifetime pension, such as investment income or rental income.

• Who it suits: early retirees and those with stable passive income.
• Financial requirement: $2,500 per month in stable, non-salaried income, documented for at least two years. Alternatively, a bank deposit of $60,000.
• Path to permanence: counts towards permanent residency after 3 years.

Digital Nomad Visa

Costa Rica's Digital Nomad visa is for remote workers earning income from outside Costa Rica. It's an estancia (stay) category rather than a full residency, so it doesn't lead to permanent residency on its own.

• Who it suits: remote workers, freelancers, and digital nomads
• Financial requirement: $3,000 per month for individuals, or $4,000 per month with family
• Duration: one year, renewable for one additional year
• Benefits: you're exempt from income tax on foreign earnings, you can open a local bank account, and you can validate your home country driving licence

Inversionista (Investor) Visa

The Inversionista visa is for those investing in a Costa Rican business or real estate.

• Who it suits: entrepreneurs and investors
• Financial requirement: $150,000 invested in a business or real estate
• Path to permanence: counts toward permanent residency after 3 years

Permanent residency and citizenship

After 3 years on a temporary permit (Pensionado, Rentista, or Inversionista), you can apply for permanent residency. Costa Rican citizenship is possible after 7 years of legal residence, with basic Spanish language and Costa Rican history requirements. The Digital Nomad visa doesn't count toward permanent residency.

Visa comparison at a glance

How to move to Costa Rica: step-by-step relocation process

Once you've chosen your visa route, here's the practical sequence.

1. Gather and legalise UK documents

Costa Rica requires your UK documents to be apostilled and, in most cases, officially translated into Spanish. You'll need:

• your passport
• an apostilled birth certificate
• an apostilled ACRO police background check (criminal records check)
• an apostilled marriage certificate, if applicable
• official Spanish translations of all documents

Getting apostilles and translations can take weeks, so start early. Documents are generally valid for 6 months from issue for residency applications.

2. Apply for residency at DGME

You submit your residency application to the DGME, Costa Rica's immigration authority. This includes your legalised documents, proof of income, and application forms. You'll also need to provide fingerprints as part of the process. Processing times vary, but expect several months for approval.

Since March 2026, a pilot programme with Correos de Costa Rica (the postal service) lets you submit certain applications at post offices in San José and Santa Ana, which can be more convenient than the main DGME office.

3. Get your DIMEX card

Once your residency is approved, you register as a resident and receive your DIMEX (Documento de Identificación de Migración), your official identity card. The DIMEX is essential for everyday life, like opening a bank account, signing a lease, registering with healthcare, and dealing with government services. Issuance can take a few months, so plan accordingly.

4. Register for mandatory healthcare (Caja)

After your residency is approved, you must enrol with the Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social (CCSS), Costa Rica's public healthcare system. Registration is mandatory and is a requirement for completing your DIMEX process. You'll enrol at your local CCSS office or EBAIS clinic, bringing your DIMEX, passport, proof of address, and proof of income.

Your monthly Caja contribution is income-based: typically around 10.67% of declared income at lower brackets, rising to about 12–13% at higher brackets, with a minimum contribution of around $35–45.

Cost of living in Costa Rica vs the UK

Costa Rica's cost of living is lower than the UK's, but it's one of the more expensive countries in Central America. The economy runs on 2 currencies: the Costa Rican colón (₡) and the US dollar ($), so your budget depends on how you manage the exchange rate.

Can you live on $5,000 a month in Costa Rica?

Yes, comfortably. A single person can live well on $2,000–3,000 a month, while a couple in a premium area like Escazú might spend $3,000–5,000. Coastal and tourist areas like Tamarindo are pricier than the Central Valley.

Life in Costa Rica: what you should know

Living in Costa Rica has its own quirks, and there are some things you should be aware of before you move.

Renting in Costa Rica

Costa Rican rentals come with their own norms. Standard leases run for 3 years under Costa Rican law (Law 7527), and you can usually negotiate the term. Deposits are typically paid in cash, often 1 or 2 months' rent.

Something to watch: leases priced in US dollars can't be raised during the contract term, while colón-denominated leases are subject to an annual legal cap. With the colón strong against the dollar in 2026, paying rent in colones where possible may save you some money.

Can UK citizens buy property in Costa Rica?

Foreigners can own property in Costa Rica with the same rights as locals, with one key exception: the maritime zone. Land within 200 metres of the high-tide line is regulated, and the first 50 metres is public. Concession rights in the next 150 metres require special approval and can't be fully owned by non-residents. Always use a qualified local lawyer for property purchases.

Is Costa Rica safe to live?

Costa Rica is generally one of the safest countries in Central America, with a stable democracy and no standing army. As with any country, you should exercise normal precautions, particularly in tourist areas and at night, but most expats live comfortably and safely

Managing your money between the UK and Costa Rica

Costa Rica's dual-currency economy means you'll be dealing with pounds, dollars, and colones. Wide exchange markups can quietly eat into your money. The same goes for withdrawing cash abroad.

This is where having a smart setup pays off. With a Revolut account, you can use your card to spend in GBP, USD, and CRC at competitive rates. That means you're ready to pay for transport, meals, and temporary accommodation the moment you land at San José (SJO) or Liberia (LIR), before you set up your local bank account.

If you need cash, you can use your Revolut card to withdraw from ATMs across Costa Rica at competitive exchange rates with no fees from us during market hours and within your plan limits.¹

Note: we don't offer CRC currency accounts, so you can't convert your money into colones before you fly. Instead, you spend with your card once you're there, and we convert your pounds at competitive rates as you go. We do offer USD currency accounts, though, so you can convert your GBP to USD within the app.

Tip: use Pockets in your Revolut app as separate spaces to store your spending. Allocate your relocation budget, your everyday spending, and your savings to their own Pockets, in both both GBP and USD. Hold USD ready for a deposit or rent, keep pounds for financial commitments in the UK, and convert between them in-app whenever suits you.

Fair-usage limits and weekend fees may apply, depending on your plan.

Checklist for moving to Costa Rica

Once you've decided to move to Costa Rica, here's the practical sequence for your move:

12 months before moving

• Research your residency route and confirm you meet the income or investment threshold
• Start gathering UK documents for apostille (birth certificate, ACRO police check, and your marriage certificate if applicable)
• Arrange official Spanish translations of all documents

6 months before moving

• Submit your residency application to the DGME (or start the process via a Costa Rican immigration lawyer)
• Arrange travel and private health insurance to cover you from arrival until Caja enrolment
• Research areas to live and shortlist a few

1 month before moving

• Book your flights
• Order a physical Revolut card (delivery fees may apply), and activate your virtual cards for online bookings

First month in Costa Rica

• Get temporary accommodation while you wait for residency approval
• Once approved, enrol with the Caja at your local CCSS office or EBAIS
• Complete your DIMEX card registration
• Open a local bank account with your DIMEX

Before you leave, why not get a Revolut data eSIM? That way you have access to data from the moment you land, without having to worry about roaming charges from your UK provider.²

Set up a Revolut account to help you move from the UK to Costa Rica

If you're planning your move, getting your Revolut account set up early means your money's ready to go when you are. Here's how to get started:

1. Download the Revolut app: available on the App Store and Google Play. You'll need your UK phone number and a form of ID (passport or driving licence) to verify your identity.
2. Open a Personal account: follow the in-app steps to set up your account. Verification usually only takes a few minutes.
3. Add money in GBP: top up your account from another UK bank account or by card. You'll hold your balance in pounds to start with.
4. Add dollars and start converting: open a USD balance and convert between GBP and USD at competitive exchange rates. You can schedule a currency exchange in advance or convert on the spot. If you need to spend in CRC, we'll automatically convert your pounds when you make a payment — we don't offer a CRC account to exchange your currency beforehand.
5. Order your Revolut card: get a physical card delivered to your UK address (delivery fees may apply), and a virtual card you can start using right away for online shopping or in-person via your Apple Pay or Google Pay.
6. Spend and withdraw in Costa Rica: use your Revolut card to pay in CRC in shops and restaurants, or withdraw cash from ATMs in Costa Rica.
7. Use Pockets to budget: create separate spaces for your relocation fund, rent, and day-to-day spending, to keep your move organised.

16+, T&Cs apply. Exchange fees, fair-usage limits, and weekend fees may apply.

¹No ATM withdrawal fees within plan limits on a monthly basis. Out-of-network ATM withdrawals are subject to a 2% fee for Standard customers, and a 2% fee for Premium and Metal customers once their plan limits are exceeded. Third-party providers may charge a withdrawal fee. Currency and ATM fair-usage fees apply. Weekend markups on currency exchange will apply.

²18+, eSIM T&Cs and fees apply, subject to fair-usage policy. eSIM services are provided by 1Global. Revolut acts for 1Global, the service provider.

The information provided is accurate as of 2 September 2026.

The content of this page is for general information purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. If you have any questions about your personal circumstances, please seek professional and independent advice. Revolut is not a financial adviser.