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Interesting info on Costa Rica in particular and what it will take to
emigrate to another country in general (i.e. money). Basically the situation
is as columnist Mark Steyn characterized it: If you haven't moved to another
country already it's probably late now because you won't have enough money
to be allowed to emigrate in the future. America is the only country you are
allowed to move to if you don't have a cent to your name. Everyplace else
will expect you be able to pay your way and support yourself. So we're stuck
here and we'll have to make the best of it no matter what happens.
There are two basic types of residency in Costa Rica:
Residency for Pensioners or Retirees (Pensionados or Rentistas). If you earn
$600 per month from your pension, or $1000 a month from your investments you
can qualify for these permits.
Residency for investors (Inversionistas). If you invest in a local business
in Costa Rica, according to the Center for the Promotion of Exports and
Investments (PROCOMER), the current priority investment areas of business
are ornamental plants, leather articles, spices, fruits and vegetables,
processed foods, wood products and tourism. You will be required to invest
at least $50,000 US dollars in one of these areas. If you prefer an area of
investment not listed by PROCOMER, you must invest $200,000 US dollars in
that business.
Costa Rica is still one of the safest in Latin America, especially compared
to Guatemala and Mexico where crime and kidnapping is a real problem for
foreigners. But don't ever make your decisions about going south based on
current expat experiences as extolled in all the many expat web sites. This
won't last. Every country in Latin America has a lot of Marxists and people
who hate Americans-and many of them are in academia, the press and the
bureaucracies. Someday when tough times hit, and Ticos look for people to
blame, and the government looks to "tax the rich" the foreign expats will be
a prime target.
By Epictetus
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