What We Offer?

What Does the ARCR Offer?

Why Belong To ARCR?

As A Potential Resident Of Costa Rica
As A Resident Of Costa Rica

What Does the ARCR Offer?

Moving to a new country with a different culture is exciting, and ARCR Administration can help with the legal, moving, language and cultural problems. As an ARCR member, you can take advantage of a large range of bilingual services and benefits; just a few of which follow:

• Legal resident applications and file updates, identity card renewals.
• Services in areas such as investments, real estate (including appraisals) and banking.
• Assistance with shipping and customs.
• Referrals for legal, tax and accounting assistance.
• Assistance in dealing with various government departments in Costa Rica.
• Two different group medical plans.
• Group insurance for automobile and homeowners.
• All types of insurance available in the ARCR San Jose offices.
• Inexpensive international mail courier service to the US postal system in Miami, Florida.
• Vehicle & property title searches, company searches, credit checks.
• Photocopy, translation, fax, mail delivery and Internet services.
• FREE email account that provides stable and reliable service anywhere in the world.
• Discounts on a wide variety of goods and services.
• Work permits for foreign domestic staff.
• Subscription to "EL RESIDENTE" magazine.
• Many social acivities and Adventure trips for networking and fun.
• Access to Costa Rica Asistencia (Auto Club Road service program like AAA)

We have a "Provisional Membership" category, with a fee of US$100 per year. Members with legal residency status in Costa Rica pay a fee of US$50 per year. Membership entitles you to all information and services. The Spouse of a member is $10 per year (please send separate application form.)

Once you are a provisional member, we can help you apply for residency status. ARCR members pay the following: Prices are in U.S. dollars.

Pensionado or rentista applicants $870 for the titular primary applican

Inversionista applications $1,200 for the titular (primary) applicant.

Less for shareholders in some qualifying companies.

Dependent's documents $425 for a spouse, $195 for each child

(note: Prices subject to change w/o notice)

Half the total is payable on application and the balance when legal status is completed. Prices include attorney fees, translations from English to Spanish (which must be done by an official Costa Rican translator), and all timbres (government stamps) required. There is an extra charge for translations from other languages to Spanish. If you have documents translated in the country of origin, the only official translator accepted by the Costa Rican government is the Costa Rican consul for that country. ARCR provides detailed instructions on how to handle documents required from your country of origin, as well as what you must do in Costa Rica.

All documents from outside Costa Rica must be authenticated by the Costa Rican Consul for your area. Before you do that, we suggest you that you fax these documents to us for review and any corrections. The Consul charges US$40 per authentication.

Come and visit us in Casa Canada, at the corner of 4th Avenue (Avenida) and 40th Street (Calle). Tell the taxi we are 200 meters South of Iberia, Paseo Colon.

Why Belong To ARCR?

As A Potential Resident Of Costa Rica
There are many ways the ARCR can help you as a new resident of Costa Rica. Here are a few.

• Assistance within Costa Rica before you arrive, with advice, contacts and information. Also, information on what you must bring with you for residency purposes.
• Recommendation of professional people who you can trust, including lawyers, accountants and other specialists.
• Assistance with language.
• Assistance in getting around the country when you arrive, and in selecting the area to live in which best meets your requirements.
• Recommendation of trustworthy real estate firms.
• Assistance with importation of cars, furniture and personal effects through our office.
• Assistance in locating various firms you may require who speak your language.
• Assistance with government agencies and departments, and an explanation of local rules and regulations.
• Assistance in establishing banking contacts.
• Advice in how various investments work in Costa Rica.
• Advice on insurance matters.
• Costa Rican mail, fax, phone and E-mail addresses for messages are available until you become settled.
• Working permits for domestic staff you may bring with you or hire here.
• Arrange hotels and airport transfers for your arrival in Costa Rica.
• Help arrange temporary accommodation while the members looks for a permanent residence.

Why Belong To ARCR?

As A Resident Of Costa Rica
ARCR is a member driven organization. The larger the membership, the more influence the group has with government, discounts on insurance & goods and services, and the more new services which can be introduced. Some of the current benefits to members are:

• Processing of resident government file updates, and identity card renewals.
• Proving assistance in dealing with various government departments.
• Referrals of reliable suppliers and professionals as required.
• Provision of discounted medical and household insurance.
• Full insurance service in the ARCR offices, including group insurance for health, home and vehicles.
• Group rates on Gold Key medical services discount program.
• Rapid, safe international mail and courier service
• Property or vehicle title search. ARCR computers are on line with the computers at the Central Registry of Costa Rica. Full details on ownership and charges against vehicles and property are available to members for a small fee.
• Company name searches. ARCR computers are on line with the Company Registry, and so it is possible to find out if company names are available, or if companies are registered with the government.
• Personal or Company credit studies. ARCR computers are on line with the data bank computers of credit agencies. Checks to show how businesses or individuals manage their financial affairs are available to members.
• ARCR is on the Internet, and receives and transmits messages for members.
• In the ARCR office photocopy, fax, mail delivery and document translation services are available to members.
• Access to membership in Costa Rica Asistencia, for emergency road service.
• Working papers for domestic employees.
• Hundreds of merchants and professional services are available to members at a discount simply by showing the ARCR membership card. Most merchants display the ARCR decal at their place of business.
• Includes subscription to the bi-monthly ARCR magazine "El Residente".
• Social Activities and trips are held by ARCR to provide networking possibilities and fun activities for members.