| In order to escape Canada's cold winters, many Canadians
live in Costa Rica on a full or part-time basis. It is therefore
not surprising that many businesses and services catering
to Canadians have been created.
Canadians may stay in Costa Rica for up to 90 days without
a visa, however a passport is required. Extensions may be
obtained from the office of Immigration office. If you overstay
your visa or entry stamp, you will have to pay a nominal fine
for each extra month you've stayed.
The Canadian Club helps make life easier for Canadians living
or planning to live in Costa Rica. By attending club meetings
people can make new friendships and establish some good contacts.
This organization provides information about acquiring residency, starting a
business, transferring ownership of a car, names of doctors
and lawyers and will assist with purchasing medical, automobile
and home insurance in Costa Rica. All Canadian visitors and
residents are urged to attend. They meet at the King's Garden
Restaurant over the Más x Menos supermarket in east
Sabana, the third Wednesday of every month at noon. You can
find a schedule of their activities and meetings in The
Tico Times.
The Canada Costa Rica Trust Company Limited (CCTC) offers a variety of financial
services for Canadians. It is located in Casa Canada, Avenida
4, Calle 40 in San José. For more information, you
may contact them at P.O. Box 232-1007, Centro Colón,
San José, Costa Rica, tel: 255-1723 or 255-1592, fax:
255-0061.
If you are a Canadian non-resident living in Costa Rica, you should think about
receiving the CRA Magazine's Canadian Expat Quarterly.
It sends out a periodic update newsletter covering topics
of tax and financial interest to Canadians overseas. If you
should have an expatriate-related tax or investment question,
send it to them and they will try to research the answer for
you. Contact Canadians Residents Abroad Inc., 305 Lakeshore
Road East, Oakville, Ontario L6J 1J3, tel: (905)-842-0080,
fax:(905)-842-9814, e-mail: cra@ canadiansresidentabroad.com,
http://www.canadiansresidentabroad.com.
The Canadian Embassy is now located in the Oficentro office complex, in building
5, third floor, in the Sabana Sur area of San José,
behind the Contraloría. Their address and phone are
Apartado 3511007 Centro Colón, San José, Costa
Rica, tel: 296-4149, fax: 2964270.
If you have any questions about Costa Rica or need a visa, you may contact any
of the following Costa Rican Embassies and Consulates in Canada:
- Montreal, 1155 Dorchester Blvd. West, Suite 2902, Montreal,
Quebec H3B 2L3, Tel: (514) 866-8159.
- Ottawa, 15 Argule St., Ottawa, ON K2P 1B7, Tel: (613)
234-5762 or 562-2855 fax: 230-2656.
- Toronto, 164 Avenue Rd., Toronto, ON M5R 2H9, Tel: (416)
961- 6773, fax: 961-6771.
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