What is the expediente?
"Once you have received your "Expediente" which is proof that your residency is in process, you do not have to leave the country every 90 days. We received our Expediente three weeks after giving the lawyer all correct documents. Then returned to CR and stayed until we received our cedula, which took a total of 9 months," explained one expat.
"Once you have received the "expediente" (file saying that your application is under consideration) you do not have to leave, UNLESS you wish to keep driving, as I previously mentioned," added another member in Costa Rica.
"We received our 'Expediente' in 3 weeks, and our cedulas in nine months," said one expat.
Our partner, Clements Worldwide offers international auto insurance to expats in Costa Rica. Their unique international policy does NOT require expat policyholders to leave the country every 90 days. For more information about their international insurance plans or Get a Quote.
About the Author
Betsy Burlingame is the Founder and President of Expat Exchange and is one of the Founders of Digital Nomad Exchange. She launched Expat Exchange in 1997 as her Master's thesis project at NYU. Prior to Expat Exchange, Betsy worked at AT&T in International
and Mass Market Marketing. She graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University
with a BA in International Business and German.
Some of Betsy's articles include 12 Best Places to Live in Portugal, 7 Best Places to Live in Panama and 12 Things to Know Before Moving to the Dominican Republic. Betsy loves to travel and spend time with her family. Connect with Betsy on LinkedIn.
Additional Information:
- Costa Rica Guide
- Healthcare & Health Insurance in Costa Rica
- Members Talk about Healthcare & Health Insurance in Costa Rica
- Best Places to Live in Costa Rica
- Real Estate in Costa Rica
- Guide to Real Estate in Costa Rica
- Pros & Cons of Living in Costa Rica
- Cost of Living in Costa Rica
- Pros and Cons of Living in Costa Rica
- Chikungunya Disease in Costa Rica
- Zika Virus in Costa Rica
- How to Rent a Home in Costa Rica
- 2025 Guide to Living in Costa Rica
- Pros and Cons of Living in Costa Rica 2025
- 2025 Guide to Moving to Costa Rica
- Members Talk about the Cost of Living in Costa Rica
