Can You Retire in Costa Rica as a Canadian?
Visas, Healthcare, and Key Differences (2026)

Costa Rica Welcomes Canadians — And the Process Is Very Similar

The good news for Canadian retirees is that Costa Rica's residency and retirement framework is almost identical for Canadians and Americans. The Pensionado visa is available to all nationalities, the income threshold is the same $1,000 USD per month, and the document process follows the same apostille-and-translate pathway.

There are a few key differences, however, that Canadian retirees specifically need to know. This guide addresses them directly.

Canadian Income Sources — What Qualifies for the Pensionado?

For Canadian retirees, qualifying pension income for the Pensionado visa includes:

• Canada Pension Plan (CPP) — qualifies if it meets or exceeds $1,000 CAD equivalent in USD
• Old Age Security (OAS) — qualifies as a government-guaranteed pension
• Workplace or defined benefit pensions — qualify if they are permanent and documented
• CPP + OAS combined — combined income that meets the $1,000 USD threshold qualifies

Note that the $1,000 threshold is in U.S. dollars. Given the CAD/USD exchange rate, you will want to verify that your combined Canadian pension income converts to at least $1,000 USD monthly at the time of application.

The Document Apostille Process — Canadian Differences

Canada is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, so the apostille process exists — but it differs from the U.S. process. In Canada, apostilles for federal documents (like RCMP criminal record checks) are issued by Global Affairs Canada. Provincial documents (birth certificates, marriage certificates) are apostilled by the relevant provincial authority.

You will also need an RCMP criminal record check rather than an FBI check — obtained through the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and then apostilled by Global Affairs Canada.

Healthcare — What Happens to Your Provincial Health Coverage?

This is the most important difference for Canadian retirees. Provincial health insurance (OHIP, AHCIP, MSP, etc.) does not cover you outside Canada, and most provinces cancel coverage after you have been abroad for more than six or seven months continuously. Once you establish legal residency in Costa Rica, you will generally lose your Canadian provincial coverage.

The good news: Costa Rica's CAJA public healthcare system enrolls all legal residents, including Canadians, at the same affordable monthly dues as American residents — typically $70 to $130 per month for comprehensive coverage. Most Canadian retirees at Magnolia Reserve find CAJA combined with supplemental private insurance provides excellent coverage at a fraction of what they expected.

For all other aspects of the Costa Rica retirement process — the visa application, daily life, cost of living, and the extraordinary appeal of Puerto Viejo — the experience for Canadians is virtually identical to that for Americans. At Magnolia Reserve, we welcome residents from both countries and the broader English-speaking world with equal warmth.