To retire in Costa Rica, you need to obtain a retirement visa, also known as a Pensionado Visa.

Who Can Apply for a Retirement Visa in Costa Rica?

To qualify for the Pensionado Visa, you must receive a lifetime monthly pension of at least $1,000 individually. This can be through social security, annuities, retirement funds, military pensions, or other retirement benefits. Costa Rica has no minimum age requirement for pensioners.

Documents For a Costa Rica Retirement Visa

These are the documents you need to submit to complete the application for a Costa Rica retirement visa:

• A request letter stating the reasons for your application in Costa Rica. The request letter must include your first and last name of the lawyer, nationality, age, occupation, address, etc. The letter must be signed by an immigration officer or through a Public Notary.
• Two recently taken photographs. The photograph format should be passport-sized; you must be facing the camera and in clear view.
• Completed and signed application form. The application form is provided by the Costa Rica immigration services or the embassy/consulate in which you are applying.
• Proof of fingerprint registration, issued by the Ministry of Public Safety. This is not applicable for dependents under the age of 12.
• Birth certificate, issued by your country of origin, legalized and authentically annotated (not older than six months).
• A legalized and authentically annotated certificate of your past criminal record from your home country or the place you have been living for the past three years. U.S applicants should submit a Federal Criminal Background Certificate not older than six months.
• Copies of passport pages. All copies must be certified and compared to the original by the official or through a Public Notary.
• Lifetime pension issued by the competent authority. A certificate indicating that you will be receiving a monthly pension of more than $1,000.
• For accompanying dependents: Submit supportive documentation such as a marriage or birth certificate or any medical certificates proving dependency.
• Proof of paid fee. Once you pay the requested fee, attach the receipt to the rest of the documents.
• Payment of $1.25 and $2.50 for each page submitted with the residency request.

NOTE: All documents issued abroad must be legalized and authenticated or apostilled by the Costa Rican Consulate and then certified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Costa Rica. Documents issued in a language other than Spanish must be translated through an official translator through a Public Notary.

How to Apply For a Retirement Visa in Costa Rica?

There are two ways you can apply for a Costa Rican Retirement visa:

• At the Department of Immigration in Costa Rica.
• At a Costa Rica consular office abroad.

Applying for a Retirement Visa in Costa Rica

If you are in Costa Rica, you must submit your application for a retirement visa at the Costa Rican Department of Immigration. You have to apply through the Platform of Services of the central offices of the Department of Immigration or one of the regional offices. The process is as follows:

1. Complete the document checklist. If there are any documents missing, you will have ten days to submit them. If it takes longer to submit the missing documents you must submit a written request to extend the deadline.
2. Submit the documents at the Department of Immigration. After submission the documents will be reviewed and put into the system.
3. Review your application. You will receive a document with your personal information, file number, and the list of submitted documents. You must review it to make sure the information is correct.
4. Wait for a decision on your visa application. The department takes 90 days to reach a decision. If you have included a fax number in the application, you will receive the decision through fax. If you did not, you should go to the Platform of Services in person and ask for your application status.

Applying for a Costa Rican Retirement Visa Abroad

If you are abroad, you can apply for a Costa Rica retirement visa at a Costa Rican consulate or embassy. The process is as follows:

1. Set an appointment. Contact the nearest Costa Rican consular office in your home country and set an appointment. You may have to visit the office in person or ask for further information.
2. Complete the list of documents. You must have the full list of required documents when you submit your application. See “Documents For a Costa Rica Retirement Visa” below.
3. Complete the application form. You can get an application form for a retirement visa at the embassy or consulate or the immigration services of Costa Rica. complete the form and attach it to the rest of your application.Check the documents and make sure there are no missing documents.
4. Submit the application and wait for an answer. On the date of your appointment, submit all the required documents, as requested by the embassy/consulate. You may have to wait for up to 90 days to hear a decision on your application.

Costa Rica Retirement Visa Fee

The fee for a Costa Rican retirement visa is $50 or each applicant. You have to pay the fee via bank transfer at the bank account provided by the Department of Immigration in Costa Rica. When applying for a retirement visa from abroad, the consulate or embassy will provide you with the relevant bank details for payment of the visa fee.

What Is the Duration of a Retirement Visa for Costa Rica?

The Costa Rica Pensionado Visa is valid for two years. After two years, you can apply for a renewal of your retirement visa. You need to provide proof of a $1,000 monthly income.

Can My Family Members Come With Me?

Yes, the Costa Rica retirement visa allows you to bring your family to reside in Costa Rica. The eligible family members who can apply with you include:

• Your spouse.
• Dependent, unmarried, children under the age of 25.
• Children over the age of 25 who are dependent on you or your spouse due to a disability.

Can I Get Permanent Residency in Costa Rica With a Retirement Visa?

Yes, after having a temporary residence permit for three or more years, you can apply for a permanent residence which can be renewed every five years.

How Much Money Do You Need to Retire in Costa Rica?

Costa Rica might not be the cheapest option when it comes to living costs. However, location and lifestyle are two key factors that affect your retirement budget.

But, overall, Costa Rica is cheaper than the US, and you can live comfortably with $1,000 to $1,500 per month, including rent.

Keep in mind that settling in cities like San Jose, Escazu, Tamarindo, or Puntarenas will cost you more than settling in a rural area and a smaller city.

Healthcare for Retirees in Costa Rica

Healthcare in Costa Rica is considered one of the best in Latin America. There are two healthcare systems expats can have access to:

• CCSS – Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social (Caja)
• Private Healthcare 

CCSS – Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social (Caja)

The Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social is in charge of most of the nation’s public health sector and offers services available for all citizens and permanent legal residents.

As a retired expat, you will be required to pay for the use of the public healthcare system. The amount you will need to pay depends on the financial amount you declared during your retirement visa application.

You can sign-up for Caja after entering Costa Rica. Visit the nearest Caja office and submit the required documents to start the application.

Private Health Insurance

Private healthcare insurance in Costa Rica will offer you access to a higher standard of quality of medical care and facilities.  You can pay for private treatment with cash.

Most of the population in Costa Rica chooses private insurance to avoid long waits at medical facilities or delayed treatment.

Even though it is more expensive than Caja, private health insurance is still very affordable for everyone.

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The UK has over 15.5 million retired citizens, including retired foreigners, and the number of requests for retirement in the UK keeps increasing every year.

To learn more about the retirement opportunities in the United Kingdom, continue to read this article.

Does the United Kingdom Have a Retirement Visa?

The UK has canceled the retirement visa program, which was known as “the retired persons of independent means permit.” Under this permit, anyone who needs a visa to stay in the United Kingdom could apply for retirement in the country if they prove they have a minimum income of £25,000 a year and close connections to the UK.

This program is now closed and does not accept new applicants. Still, individuals that already have permission to stay in the United Kingdom as retired persons of independent means can apply for an extension.
The maximum period that the retired persons of independent mean permit can be extended is 5 years.

What Are Other Alternatives to the United Kingdom Retirement Visa?

Since the United Kingdom has closed the retirement program, foreign nationals must look for other alternative ways that will allow them to move to the UK permanently. One of the ways to retire in the UK is by getting a residence permit.

*Before starting any process, you must check to see if you need a UK visa to enter the country and apply for the type of visa you want (work, business, settlement, study, etc.). 

After living in the UK for five years under a valid temporary visa, you can apply for an “Indefinite Leave to Remain (Settlement Visa).”

An Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) enables its holder to settle in the United Kingdom for an indefinite period of time.

EU/EFTA Citizens Retiring in the United Kingdom

Since December 2020, with the exit of Britain from the European Union, nationals of EU/EFTA can no longer move freely to the UK. Those already living in the UK could apply for retirement by June 30, 2021. This procedure is now officially closed. 

If you are a retired citizen living in the UK but do not have access to the state pension, you need to finance yourself through a private pension, a state pension from your home country, or your savings. 

Who Is Eligible For a Retirement Visa in the United Kingdom?

You can retire in the United Kingdom once you meet the following criteria:

• You can prove that you have the necessary financial means to support yourself and your dependents indefinitely from your own resources and without working or benefiting from public funds.
• You must be able to transfer your income to the UK and convert it to sterling.
• You have health insurance valid in the United Kingdom.
• You have a police clearance document proving you have not been charged or sentenced for serious crimes.

How Much Money You Need to Retire in the United Kingdom?

The United Kingdom is ranked the 27th most expensive country to live in, so you should be prepared to spend more than you might have thought. If you live alone, your monthly expenses will be lower.

For example, as a single person, you would spend around $115 to $380 per month on utilities such as electricity, water, heating, etc., whereas for rent, you would spend around $545 to $2180, depending on where you live.

If you decide to live with your dependents, your monthly expenses will double, but that should not be a problem if you know how to manage your finances.

To avoid spending money on rent, you can purchase an apartment in or outside the city centre. The apartment prices per m2 in the UK go from $2060 to $16,100. 

Here is a presentation of the average living costs in the United Kingdom:

Can I Work in the United Kingdom as a Retiree?

Once you decide to retire in the United Kingdom, you will not be allowed to be employed or take an active interest in the running of any business in the UK or other countries. However, you are allowed to participate in a limited amount of voluntary charity work only if it is unpaid and part-time. 

Can I Bring my Dependents to the United Kingdom?

You can bring your dependents (spouse, children, parents) together with you on the condition that they do not conduct any type of employment. 

Healthcare in The United Kingdom

Healthcare in the United Kingdom is very developed. This is due to the fact that each country (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales) has its own systems of publicly funded healthcare. Thus, the healthcare policies and priorities differ depending on what part of the UK you will settle in.

However, despite the separate health services for each country, the United Kingdom’s healthcare was ranked among the bests in the world in certain categories. 

NHS provides most healthcare in the United Kingdom, and each NHS system uses general practitioners to provide primary healthcare services. Expats living in the UK will have access to standard healthcare through the NHS.

In many cases, the public sector provides free ambulance services for emergencies, but there are different types of services that citizens must pay for out of their own pocket.

The UK also has a full range of private medical services available in some locations, but the coverage of private medical insurance in the UK is often limited.

This results in many insured citizens still going to an NHS general practitioner, obtaining NHS prescriptions, or using the NHS emergency department.

What Are The Best Places for Retirees in the United Kingdom?

The United Kingdom has many famous places where expats can find everything they need for a comfortable and relaxing life. Depending on your lifestyle preferences, you can settle in one of the four geographical parts of the UK. Here are some of the best places for retirement in the UK.

Birmingham

If you want to find a city with cool temperatures during the summer, a developed economy, and great architecture, Birmingham is the one for you. In Birmingham, you can enjoy world-class theatre, concerts, and ballet in one place. The city has countless restaurants, independent venues, and plenty of bars and cafes.

Glasgow

A cultural hub and one of the friendliest cities in the world, Glasgow is the right choice for spending the golden days. The city is home to dynamic art scenes and is known for its nightlife. Glasgow is renowned for its elegance of the Victorian architecture and legendary music scene with iconic venues.

Glasgow has relatively low prices making it an affordable place for everyone who wants to retire here.

Oxford

Oxford is a city in England with an estimated population of more150,000. It is a city of stunning architecture, history, and culture. In Oxford, you will find ancient and modern colleges, museums and galleries, and beautiful gardens. Oxford has plenty of green spaces where you can relax and enjoy a day surrounded by nature.

To move to Oxford, you must have a considerable amount of savings, because the city can be a bit expensive for most people. 

Edinburgh

Scotland has many cities that are worth moving to, and Edinburgh is definitely one of them. The capital city of Scotland is a great place to spend your retirement if you are looking for a city with great food, stunning views, a relaxed lifestyle, and dynamic nightlife. 

Although Edinburgh is small, it has many amazing attractions, historic sites, friendly and welcoming people, and was voted as one of the best cities to live in the UK.

Manchester

There are many good things about Manchester besides the famous football teams. Manchester is a diverse, energetic, and one of the most exciting cities in the UK. The city displays a variety of architectural styles, and you will not be boring because there are plenty of fun things to do and unique places to visit. 

Besides all the beautiful things the city offers, the living costs in Manchester are relatively low and affordable. 

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Bangkok vs Chiang Mai vs Pattaya

Most retirees choose to move to one of the three main tourist hotspots. The lifestyle is different for each, so it’s essential to pick the place that suits you best. Pattaya is a beachside city with a vibrant and busy feel. It is not partilculoaltry chilled or laid back; for some, this helps them feel younger for longer. If you are looking for a quieter lifestyle, you may prefer Chiang Mai. It has a lovely heritage, old city streets, stunning temples, and fewer tourist attractions. Finally, Bangkok is also known for its bustling and loud nightlife, and you will find other ex-pats more spread out, so it could be harder to make friends. 

Cost of Living

Living costs in Thailand are estimated to be anywhere from 35% to 75% less than life in the USA. If you are looking to rent, not buy, you can save around 70% for a comparative property, making pension monies go a lot further. For example, a one-bed apartment in New York attracts a rent of about $3000 a month, whereas, in Bangkok, this would be about $550. You can potentially save even more if you are looking to live outside of the city, where you may snap up a great apartment for $300. When it comes to food, you can live a moderately frugal life if you eat like a local. You will find that imported international goods are significantly more expensive than local produce. 

Health and Safety 

Healthcare in Thailand is world-class, but you will need to pay for private health insurance unless you are an ex-pat with a private sector job. As a retiree, you will find that the plans for private health insurance are very reasonable. Thailand is also one of the safest countries in Southeast Asia, with very low crime rates. As a retiree, you would just need to guard against crimes of financial opportunity such as pickpocketing. Locals are generally welcoming, but if you live in any of the three main areas above, you will also find thriving ex-pat communities. The biggest challenge is the language barrier, so finding other English speakers will make things much more manageable. To fit in, you should make every effort to adopt the local dress code and embrace customs. Otherwise, you may find that you are labelled a rude outsider. 

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