Moving abroad · Costa Rica · Nicaragua

Thinking about moving to Costa Rica or Nicaragua? Start with the first 90 days.

I split my year between Florida, Costa Rica and Nicaragua. Most people who struggle after a move skipped the boring first steps. This is the checklist I would hand a friend, with the legal parts pointed at official sources.

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Where are you moving?

Official source for Costa Rica: the Costa Rica immigration office (Migración). Confirm every requirement there and with a licensed Costa Rican attorney.

Before you commit

Do this while you still live where you live.

Spend at least a month in the town you are considering, and include some of the rainy season.
Book a call with a licensed attorney in the country you are moving to before you quit a job or sell anything.
Get the residency requirements from the official immigration office, not from a blog or a Facebook group.
Ask the attorney which of your documents need an apostille or a certified translation, then order them early.
Check your passport validity and keep a scan of every important document in cloud storage.
Price out health insurance that works where you will live, and find the nearest private clinic and hospital.
Write down how your income will reach you every month and how you will move money across the border.
If you are a U.S. citizen, ask a tax professional how living abroad changes what you report.

Your first 30 days

Land softly. Rent, do not buy.

Start in a short-term rental, then sign a 6 to 12 month lease once you know the area.
Get every lease and agreement in writing, and have someone you trust read it before you sign.
Set up a local SIM and WhatsApp so landlords, drivers and clinics can reach you.
Open your residency file with your attorney and keep a copy of every receipt and stamped paper.
Write down how long you are allowed to stay right now and put the date in your calendar.
Find a doctor and a pharmacy, and carry a list of your medications and allergies.
Use the Verified Network to find a lawyer, mover or property manager someone has already checked.

Days 30 to 90

Test your plan against real life.

Track what you actually spend for a full month and compare it to your plan.
Learn the local driving, insurance and vehicle rules before you buy a car or ship one.
Wait until you have lived there 90 days before you buy land or ship your household goods.
Register with your embassy so they can reach you in an emergency.
Ask for help in community groups, but confirm anything legal or financial with an official source.
Decide honestly: stay, adjust the plan, or go home. All three are fine answers.

Read this part. I am not a lawyer and this is not legal advice. Residency rules, fees and documents change, and they are different for each nationality. Use this list to ask better questions, then get answers from the immigration office and a licensed attorney.

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More on this topic: Free visa stay tracker · Nicaragua guide · Where to stay in Guanacaste

First 90 days abroad checklist

travelwithglen.com/live-abroad/ · Not legal advice. Confirm requirements with the official immigration office and a licensed attorney.