Sandoo22
4/26/2016 17:15 EST
Hello everybody, we are new to this forum as a member , but we kept an eye on it as a guest for the last month. Our family consists of 43, 33, 2 and 4 years old members and we are from Toronto , Canada . First trip May 2nd to test the water for one week. We're looking at schools (private but affordable) for our kids in the first place and according to what we can find, we'll decide where our home should be. Lomatranquila resort( 20 min drive from the airport - St Jose ) offered us the luxury of renting an apartment and car for a good price and also to pick us up from the airport, but from there we are into the unknown, pretty much. We know nobody in Costa Rica , any information is very helpful. Looking for suggestions regarding schools and places to see. Looking to simplify life, run away from the winter and give our kids a better chance.
Thank you all, Alex
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lhammond14
4/26/2016 20:14 EST
Are you wanting to be near beaches in hotter climate, or cooler, in large or smaller city or town? Mountains?
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Immigration Help Costa RicaConnectCosta Rica Legal Residency is an articulately bi-lingual boutique firm with 15 + years of successful experience and exclusive focus on Costa Rica Temporary and Permanent Residency, Renewals, Digital Nomad, and Citizenship. Located minutes from the Department of Immigration. Click connect to have our partner contact you via e-mail and/or phone.
Immigration Help Costa RicaCosta Rica Legal Residency is an articulately bi-lingual boutique firm with 15 + years of successful experience and exclusive focus on Costa Rica Temporary and Permanent Residency, Renewals, Digital Nomad, and Citizenship. Located minutes from the Department of Immigration. Connect Click connect to have our partner contact you via e-mail and/or phone.
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Kohl
4/26/2016 20:38 EST
I am posting a link regarding Residency requirements. For a young family applying as Rentistas, two deposits of US$60K, two years apart, if the principal applicant is under 55 realize that you would likely be paying a mandatory, healthcare premium of approx. $450 month...whether you choose to use the facilities or not. So private school fees cost upwards of $300+per child. With the Canadian dollar being what it is, unfortunately, it WILL affect you. Many food items are more expensive than "home' I was in Playas del Coco last weekend, and found that many Canadians are trying to sell their properties there, and return to Canada. Cars cost twice as much. Becoming a 'non-resident of Canada for tax purposes': http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/tx/nnrsdnts/cmmn/rsdncy-eng.html http://costaricalaw.com/category/costa-rica-legal-topics/working-in-costa-rica/ Costa Rica can be a great place to live...if you can afford it...
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Sandoo22
4/26/2016 23:55 EST
Thank you for the info,
Right now , I'm thinking about a cooler place, but I just don't know what would be more suitable for us, this is our first trip . I am planning to apply for legal resident or investor in 2 years or sooner since I would like my son to start his first grade in CR . It does sound like an expensive place, though I come from Eastern Europe and I believe I could adapt to the Costa Rican system in terms of simplicity . I might sound silly , but I imagine myself driving an old landcruiser or a bike and buying food from the farm markets. What is not 100% clear to me is if the 200k invested in a residential real estate is a possibility to become an "inversionista". Or if the mandatory healthcare of $450 USD would cover all 4 of us. Are the Canadians selling mainly because of the high cost of living ?
Alex
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Kohl
4/27/2016 08:29 EST
Yes, the $450 premium would cover all of you, but know that the healthcare system has very little money, and I recently read that they are presently setting up appointments with some specialists for 2021...so many also purchase private insurance or pay cash for treatment. Unfortunately, investing as an Inversionista, the premiums may be even higher, as they are based on a percentage of the 'investment'....and you won't know what that will be until the end of the application process. . http://amcostaricaarchives.com/2014/02/some-expats-are-facing-much-higher-caja-charges/ *Premiums have risen since the article was written.
Some towns have great markets but not all towns offer them, and they may only be open 1 or maybe 2 days a week.
Canadians are finding it much more expensive with the low dollar. We have a friend who moved here at the same time as we did, over 16 years ago and she is moving back and going into a retirement home, next week as her funds don't go very far now.
Old land cruisers are not cheap...while bikes are. 8-) although not very good when taking the kids to school.
Article today: http://qcostarica.com/strike-left-classrooms-empty-and-public-hospital-patients-waiting/
Enjoy your visit!
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Sandoo22
4/28/2016 05:44 EST
Thank you Kohl, Your information is like a reality check for us, obviously I will have to get more informed. I'm hoping to have a business going there and I have 2 years to make sure of that. Do you know an immigration lawyer with a good reputation? We both speak Spanish, especially my wife since she was born in Venezuela , so the service doesn't have to be necessarily in English . Again , thank you very much for all the info. Alex
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Immigration Help Costa RicaConnectCosta Rica Legal Residency is an articulately bi-lingual boutique firm with 15 + years of successful experience and exclusive focus on Costa Rica Temporary and Permanent Residency, Renewals, Digital Nomad, and Citizenship. Located minutes from the Department of Immigration. Click connect to have our partner contact you via e-mail and/or phone.
Immigration Help Costa RicaCosta Rica Legal Residency is an articulately bi-lingual boutique firm with 15 + years of successful experience and exclusive focus on Costa Rica Temporary and Permanent Residency, Renewals, Digital Nomad, and Citizenship. Located minutes from the Department of Immigration. Connect Click connect to have our partner contact you via e-mail and/or phone.
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Kohl
4/28/2016 08:36 EST
I only recommend people/businesses that I have personally used and the lawyer we used, has since decided that he will no longer provide residency application services.
I would suggest you start trying to build an online business that you can continue doing from a new location here in CR, especially since you cannot 'legally perform any physical work' until a permanent resident, which will take 4-5 years.
Of course, you could decide to have another child, born here, that will allow you to be able to work much sooner...8-)
I will advise you to rent first, to be sure that CR is for you, but to pack up and move to a new area of the country is much simpler. It is very easy to purchase property and very difficult to sell.
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Mariska
4/28/2016 10:31 EST
Hi Alex, There are also other options to start a business here or work without a residency, per instance as a consultant. That is how I and my husband work here in Costa Rica and also many friends of us. You can talk with Roger Peterson he is from Plaw: http://www.plawcr.com/. Our company has very good experiences with them. You can also participate in our monthly workshop about the general life in Costa Rica and how to deal with the culture differences. More information about that can be found on www.expathousingcr.com or you can email me [email protected]. Good luck!!
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Sandoo22
4/28/2016 23:24 EST
The funny thing is that I didn't even think of having a third kid in CR, I had a good laugh at this idea. My field is security equipment and i kind of see a little niche there in this field. I'm expecting almost absurd import regulations, but there's always a way to deal with the system. My business will still generate some income after I would move , and being a tourist in the beginning looks to us like the way to go. Lots to learn but very excited to visit !
Thank you again for taking the time to inform us. Alex
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Sandoo22
4/28/2016 23:39 EST
Thank you for the links Mariska
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RyanJon
5/1/2016 09:32 EST
If you have a family, I would get out of the cities and away from the beaches. Everything bad you read in the paper happens around the cities and the beaches.
There are tons of quality schools in and around the mountains. Most are associated with research centers. CATIE comes to mind, but there are others.
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Immigration Help Costa RicaConnectCosta Rica Legal Residency is an articulately bi-lingual boutique firm with 15 + years of successful experience and exclusive focus on Costa Rica Temporary and Permanent Residency, Renewals, Digital Nomad, and Citizenship. Located minutes from the Department of Immigration. Click connect to have our partner contact you via e-mail and/or phone.
Immigration Help Costa RicaCosta Rica Legal Residency is an articulately bi-lingual boutique firm with 15 + years of successful experience and exclusive focus on Costa Rica Temporary and Permanent Residency, Renewals, Digital Nomad, and Citizenship. Located minutes from the Department of Immigration. Connect Click connect to have our partner contact you via e-mail and/or phone.
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Kohl
5/1/2016 11:25 EST
I second the Turrialba area and CATIE...but not everything is perfect in that area either.
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