Retiring In Costa Rica

"Sure you are. When you win the Power Ball lottery," mused the Pessimist.

Perhaps they were both right. Whether you think you can or can't you're always right.

Except in the Land of Pura Vida.

Recent years have seen significant changes in three areas I'll cover here:

---Costa Rica's immigration law

---Green cars

---Costa Rica's plans to lure retirees via "retirement clusters."

If vacations in Costa Rica aren't enough anymore, maybe it's time to think about retiring to the Land of Pura Vida.

Costa Rica Retirement Today

You can become a legal resident (not citizen).

I've more fully discussed elsewhere the four ways to become a legal resident and the very significant benefits, including medical and dental care, in another section; click to visit Costa Rica immigration.

Or, you can retire to Costa Rica as a "perpetual tourist", never obtaining legal residency and staying here on your tourist visa. With it (your passport is your visa), you can remain in the country for 90 days. Simply leave the country for 72 hours and come back for another 90 days. Easy as pie.

Now, if you aren't interested in the benefits of legal residency, this is an option to consider, one exercised by thousands of folks.

However you choose to retire (whether as a legal resident or as a perpetual tourist), here are some thoughts about Costa Rica cost of living, click

OK, now you know your options and some of the benefits of retiring in Costa Rica today but what about the future?

Things are likely to get better as the Costa Rica government enhances the incentives to retire to Costa Rica.

Sweetening The Pot For "Green" Cars

And, we want you to be among the first to know about it.

For years, this little country has imposed a draconian 39% import duty on new cars. To put this into perspective, a car selling for $25,000 in the States typically sells for $35,000 or more in this Latin America country.

However, as of April, 2010, all imports of specified "green" cars---certain hybrids and electric cars---are duty free.

Why? Because this little country, from its people to its leaders, want to do something about their concerns involving global climate, click

This will prove to be a great deal for retirees, the environment, and the global climate. After all, wouldn't you like to retire to tropical Costa Rica and have $10,000 more in your pocket after buying that nice new car and help the planet?

Go Green.

Drive Green.

Save Green!

Big Changes Are On The Way For Retirees

But first, here's a fact I bet you didn't know.

There's but one country on the planet designated as a "Biogem." It's Costa Rica!

And now, the Costa Rica government is embarking on a new program aimed at increasing the appeal of this biogem to retiring baby boomers even more.

You see, here's the deal about those of us soon to be ready for retirement.

First, every day 7,000 Americans reach the age of 65.

Second, 77% of America's financial resources are controlled by the generation of people born between 1945 and 1964.

And, guess who's taking note?

Why, Costa Rica, of course.

It has set upon on an ambitious public and private endeavor of creating "retirement clusters" providing outstanding medical facilities to residential communities.

Already, eight are in the planning or early construction phases and all are projected for highly desirable areas with lots of activities close at hand.

Two of these major hospital complexes are being built in Liberia which is just 20 minutes or so from some of the country's finest beaches and which boasts an almost new international airport.

This is the world famous "Gold Coast" along the north Pacific coast and already the top tourist destination in the country.

Each will contain a hospital and residential zone, where services will be provided for four levels of care: active retirement, independent living, assisted living and skilled nursing, in increasing order of patient need.

Want to know more about National Resources Defense Center? Click

The goal is to 10,000 new legal residents and create 40,000 new jobs a year and, to tempt expats:

1. Expediting residency in a kind of one-stop red-tape slashing process (I wouldn't bet on this);

2. Providing tax exemptions on real estate and vehicles.

Imagine living in a tropical paradise, a world "Biogem" with cheap world-class health care, great outdoor activities every day of the year, and wonderful, friendly people for . . .

a fraction of the costs you are now paying.

You don't need to win Power Ball to have the time of your life retiring in Costa Rica.

Pura Vida!

Want to know more about National Resources Defense Center? Click

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