Costa Rica relocation planners: what they do and when to use one

A move to Costa Rica involves an attorney, a landlord or agent, a mover, an insurer, a bank, the public health system and sometimes a school, each with its own timetable. A relocation planner is the one person who keeps those in order and tells you what to do next.

What a planner does

Before you decide

• Talks through what you want from the move and which regions fit your climate, budget, healthcare and schooling needs.
• Plans a scouting trip: where to go, in what order, and who to meet in each place.
• Gives you a realistic budget for the area you are considering.

Before you move

• Builds a timeline working back from your move date.
• Tells you which documents to order and apostille in the US, and when, so they are still valid when your attorney files.
• Introduces an immigration attorney, and keeps the residency file moving on your side.
• Lines up a rental for your first months, or viewings if you are buying.
• Shortlists schools and arranges visits.
• Coordinates the mover and the pet paperwork with your travel dates.

After you arrive

• Helps with the tasks that need local knowledge and Spanish: electricity, water and internet accounts, a phone plan, a bank account, registering with the Caja once your residency is approved, converting your driver’s licence, buying and registering a car.
• Finds the people you will need: a doctor, a dentist, a vet, a mechanic.
• Stays available for the questions that come up in the first months.

What a planner doesn’t do

• Give legal or tax advice. That is for an immigration attorney and a tax preparer.
• Act as your real estate agent, unless they are also one. Ask how they are paid if they recommend a property.
• Guarantee a residency approval or a timeline. Those depend on the immigration department.

Who benefits most

• People who haven’t chosen an area and want a structured way to compare several.
• Families, because schools, housing and timing all depend on each other.
• People still working full time, with little time to manage a move.
• People who don’t speak Spanish.
• People moving with pets, a full household or a complicated set of documents.

If your move is simple and you like doing the research, you may only need an attorney and a rental.

When to bring one in

Early. The most useful time is before your scouting trip, when a planner can save you from visiting the wrong places, and six months or more before the move, when the document timeline starts. See the steps for moving to Costa Rica.

What to ask before hiring

• What exactly is included, and what is charged separately?
• Is the fee fixed, hourly or a package? Is anything due before you start?
• Do you receive commissions or referral fees from the attorneys, agents or other providers you recommend?
• Who will I deal with day to day, and how quickly do you answer?
• Which parts of the country do you know first-hand?
• Can I speak with clients who moved in the last year?

Common questions

What does a relocation planner do?

A relocation planner works out the order and timing of your move with you, helps you choose an area, and coordinates the specialists you need: the immigration attorney, real estate agent, mover, insurer and schools. Many also handle the settling-in tasks after you arrive, such as utilities, a bank account and buying a car.

Is a relocation planner the same as an immigration attorney?

No. Only an attorney can give legal advice and file your residency application. A planner works alongside the attorney and covers everything outside the legal process.

Do I need a relocation planner to move to Costa Rica?

No. Plenty of people manage the move themselves. A planner is most useful if you are short of time, don't speak Spanish, are moving with children or pets, or don't yet know which part of the country suits you.