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Europe loses, Costa Rica wins
Official statistics show a new wave of migration: active, qualified Europeans with families choose Costa Rica for a safer and freer life.
Relocations are no longer about "dreaming of the tropics," but about a new beginning for those who want stability, security, and opportunities.
Costa Rica wins: Professional Migration
How was migration to Costa Rica perceived in the past (retirees, hippies, temporary refuge, etc.)
For years, Costa Rica was seen as a corner of paradise where you could retire, grow orchids, and eat papaya while counting your pills. Then came the “digital nomads” with their laptops under their arms, flip-flops on their feet, and a vague idea that “Pura Vida” meant sustainable net and organic smoothies.
But something has changed. Radically.
Since 2021, official figures from the General Directorate of Migration in Costa Rica clearly show that the profile of those choosing to move here has changed fundamentally. Retirees are still there, of course, but they have been quickly overtaken by another type of migrant: the active professional, often under 45, who comes alone, as a couple or with the whole family.
We are no longer talking about “tropical dreamers”, but about financially stable, educated people with a long-term plan. They don’t come “to try”, they come to stay.
And if until now you could still think that it was a passing fad, the statistics from the last four years make you seriously think: Europe loses, Costa Rica wins.
Source of information migration Costa Rica
What has changed in the last 4 years?
Who are the new migrants? They are not what you think.
radical change in the migrant's profile
What the numbers show: it's not an impression, it's a reality supported by official data
If you thought of “John and Mary” with 5 children, 500 euros in their pockets and a vague dream about palm trees – you can get the image out of your head. The new migrants do not resemble the classic stereotype at all.
At first glance, you might think that we are just witnessing a passing fad – a few digital nomads, a few “different” families, people looking for exoticism and mangoes for breakfast.
But official figures from the General Directorate of Migration of Costa Rica say otherwise:
Between 2021 and 2024, the number of temporary and permanent residents coming from Europe has increased steadily, sometimes spectacularly, and the proportion of minors accompanying adults clearly suggests a phenomenon of family relocation – not a simple solo adventure.
The growth does not come from the poor East, but from the prosperous West – Germany, the Netherlands, France, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, countries with high GDP, a high-performance healthcare system and impeccable infrastructure.
The official data from 2021–2024 clearly show: those who choose Costa Rica are mostly professionals, young families or active couples, many with experience in entrepreneurship, remote work or freelancing. They are not tourists with expired visas or adventurers without a plan.
Most:
- Are under 45;
- Come from Western and Northern Europe (Germany, the Netherlands, France, Switzerland, the Nordic countries), but also from the UK and Canada;
- They are not in a hurry to apply for permanent residency immediately – which suggests that they were already in country for several years with another type of permit or legal status (nomads, volunteers, investors, etc.);
- They appear in waves: initially an adult (or couple) comes, then – after 1-2 years – their children also appear in the statistics, which suggests family reunification after stabilization and possibly opening a business.
However, people choose Costa Rica. Not for luxury or high salaries, but for a different lifestyle. One who puts family, balance and personal security before sterile performance.
We are not talking about retirees who come “to live out the rest of their days under the sun”, but professionals under 45, young families with children, freelancers, entrepreneurs and specialists who leave Europe altogether. Not temporarily. Permanently.
These people do not come “to see what it’s like” – they come with clear plans, with documents in order and, most of the time, with financial resources and above-average education. In short: they are not fleeing hunger, but the system.
How is the "changing of the guard" seen in
European migration to Costa Rica
EU/Europe sub-region
North & West
(Germany, France, Netherlands, Switzerland, UK, Belgium, Austria, Scandinavia, Ireland, Luxembourg …)
Total residents 2024* – 15,982
Share in Europe %* – 57 %
Strong growth; economic centers & high-skill/remote professionals.
Latin South
(Spain, Italy, Portugal, Greece, Mediterranean micro-states + Vatican)
Total residents 2024* – 10,013
Share in Europe %* – 36 %
Latin “pioneers” remain numerous, but no longer dominate; slower growth rate.
East & Southeast
(Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, former Yugoslavia, Balkans, Russia, Ukraine, Baltics …)
Total residents 2024* – 2,299
Share in Europe %* – 8 %
Small volumes; barriers to income, language, logistics.
What do the numbers say:
1. North-West Europe has clearly surpassed the Latin South.
- Germany (5,099), France (3,037), the Netherlands (1,748), the UK (1,707) and Switzerland (1,757) push their group over the 16,000 resident threshold – 60% more than Spain + Italy combined.
- Spain (5,492) and Italy (4,135) still account for almost half of the Latin total, but their growth rate is below that of the North-West.
2. Age profile: <45 years old, work/investment oriented.
- “Rentier pensionado” migration is no longer the driving force.
- Demands in the North-West are predominantly Special Category + Temporary (remote freelancers, investors, entrepreneurs), then gradually convert to permanent.
3. Factors that attract young labor force from the North & West
- 15% flat tax on foreign income (the “renta de fuente extranjera” regime) compared to 35-50% at home.
- Cost of living in urban areas still below major European capitals, plus affordable bilingual private schools for incomes >$4,000/month.
- Climate and civil liberties: WFH on the beach is more attractive than an office in Frankfurt or Amsterdam.
- Investor/“Inversionista” program simplified in 2023 ($150k, faster).
4. Why does the East remain marginal?
- Lower average incomes ⇒ difficult to reach the financial thresholds for “special” or “inversionista”.
- Low familiarity with Spanish/English in the extended family.
- Priority for emigration remains the Schengen EU / UK, not a long-haul destination like the CR.
Who will "climb the top" if the trend continues (2025-2027)
Germany
+21% compared to 2021; already has German/IB school infrastructure in San José.
Netherlands & Belgium
They have grown by over 60% in four years; networks of tech/green energy entrepreneurs.
Switzerland + Austria
Stable pace, many leave on “limited remote” (max 183 days), then decide to settle down and bring their children.
One-sentence conclusion
Costa Rica is no longer the Latin colony of hammock-clad retirees – but, increasingly clearly, the magnet for 30-45-year-old Northwestern European professionals, who bring family, capital, and know-how.
Migration in waves
Profile of the New Generation of Migrants
Dominant typologies
If in the past Costa Rica mainly attracted retirees, digital nomads without obligations or “paradise seekers” in the solo formula, the data of the last four years shows a radical change.
The profile of the modern migrant has moved into a completely different area: young, professionally active people, entire families and, increasingly, parents with minor children who come not for a tropical getaway, but for a new long-term start.
Under 45 and professionally active
Data from the General Directorate of Migration and Aliens shows an overwhelming majority of people under 45 in new applications for temporary or permanent residency.
This is not just a demographic coincidence – it is the result of rational choice. Those who come are changing their professional lives, not just the climate. Many are freelancers, entrepreneurs, IT professionals, consultants or work remotely for companies outside of Costa Rica.
Families, not just individuals
One of the clearest trends observed in the raw data is the increase in applications for residency for minors. This would not be possible if they were not preceded (or followed) by applications from one or both parents. In many cases, the process follows a strategic logic: one of the adults comes first, opens a business or obtains a legal form of residence, then applies for family reunification.
Migration in waves
These “wave” patterns are visible in the figures: in year X the adult appears, in year X+1 or X+2 the applications for children appear. This pattern is not an exception – it is becoming the new rule. It reflects a thought-out, not impulsive migration. We are talking about people who plan their relocation, who seek stability and who decide to build their future in a system that, although different from the European one, offers something else: a more humane balance.
I don't come "empty-handed"
These migrants do not fall into the category of “needy”. Costa Rica is not a cheap destination, and the costs of legal relocation are considerable. That is why the massive presence of young families and professionals suggests a medium to medium-high socio-economic level. Many have already chosen to invest: in real estate, in local businesses, in the education of children or even in the formation of a stable community.
Dominant typologies
We can already outline some recurring profiles:
- Entrepreneurs who open small businesses, especially in tourism, sustainable agriculture or services
- Remote professionals: developers, marketers, architects, educators, coaches
- Blended families (Costa Rican husband or wife) who choose to settle definitively
- Expatriates “with vision” – people who consciously leave European comfort in exchange for a more balanced environment
Goal achieved: the profile of the migrant in Costa Rica has completely changed. We are no longer talking about relaxation, but about strategic relocation.
Processed and centralized statistics
integration opportunities
Why Costa Rica? What are these people doing here?
If you just look at the tourist brochures, you’d think they’re coming for the beach and tropical birds. But the reality is different. Those who move here with their families, children, and personal businesses aren’t on vacation, they’re looking for something very specific
A more relaxed but functional system
Costa Rica has a cumbersome legal and administrative system, yes, but not aggressive. The bureaucracy is not easy, but not suffocating like in Europe. The state leaves you alone if you don’t make mistakes. Many Europeans, especially entrepreneurs, flee the regulations that suffocate their businesses at home.
Safety and neutrality
In an increasingly tense world, Costa Rica seems like a calm enclave. No army, no international conflicts, no hysterical media attacks. It’s a deliberate choice for families who don’t want to raise their children in fear and propaganda.
Nature, climate, health
The air is breathable. The food is fresh. The pace of life is slower. No one comes here to escape hunger, but to recover their mental and physical health. Many say directly: “I came for balance and for a different kind of life.”
Affordable for those with decent incomes
It’s not a cheap country, but it’s more affordable than Canada, the US, or Western Europe. For a remote professional, an entrepreneur, or a family with decent savings, Costa Rica becomes feasible.
Decent education and integration opportunities
There are international schools, homeschooling options, private education, and an expat community to help. Those who settle here are looking for continuity for their children, not just an exotic break.
Western Europe is losing part of its workforce
Countries That Leave (and Never Look Back)
Official data clearly shows that migration to Costa Rica comes mainly from Western and Northern European countries, not from the East.
Most emigrants come from Germany, the Netherlands, France, the United Kingdom and Italy — countries with a high GDP and a medium to high standard of living.
This confirms that we are not talking about people looking for “economic refuge” or minimal opportunities, but about a wave of professionals and families with resources, education and financial stability.
The percentage increases between 2021 and 2024 in these countries are significant and support a clear trend of relocation of those under 45, who come with minor children.
Thus, we see a real migration of the active force and young families, not a simple temporary “escape” or an exodus of retirees.
More,
This migration is not done in chaotic waves, but in an organized manner — an adult moves first, settles down, and then brings the rest of the family, after laying the foundations for a new life in Costa Rica.
This trend shows a structural change: Western Europe is losing part of its young and skilled workforce, and Costa Rica is becoming a strategic destination, with major development potential thanks to these newcomers.
Why are they leaving? Why Costa Rica?
The answer is not simple, but data and observations help us better understand what motivates this migration. First, Costa Rica offers political stability and a solid democratic system, a major contrast to the increasingly frequent instabilities in many Western European countries.
Then, the pace of life is slower, closer to nature, and personal and family safety are essential criteria for those who choose to move here. It is not necessarily an easy choice — costs and distance matter — but many consider it worth the sacrifice for quality of life.
The recent international context (COVID-19 pandemic, political crises, overregulation, social tensions) has accelerated the desire for change, and Costa Rica is positioning itself as an attractive option.
In addition, Costa Rica does not require a visa for many Europeans and offers multiple legal paths to obtain residency — including through investment, entrepreneurship or special status for professionals.
An important detail: the birth of a child in Costa Rica brings automatic residency to the parents, thus facilitating family reunification and long-term integration.
In conclusion, it’s not just an escape from European comfort, but a calculated choice, based on the desire for stability, security and a future to match.
Key Observations (confirmed by 2021–2024 data):
✅ The typology of the emigrant has changed radically.
- In 2010–2015: pensioners (the “rentista” or “pensionado” category) dominated, with individual or couple applications.
- In 2021–2024: a new wave, predominantly young, has formed, with clear signals:
- Many files are for adults between 30 and 45 years old;
- The secondary wave of juveniles appears, 6–18 months after adults;
- The share in the categories “investor”, “worker”, “family relationship” – that is, people who work or invest – increases.
⚠️ Real retirees do not come with minor children. Where there are 2–3 minors after 1–2 years = family in transition, not tourism with a pensioner visa.
✅ Minors ≈ clear sign of "economic backbone"
- A whole family does not emigrate if they do not have a solid financial base and a long-term plan.
- Families with children apply only when the parents are accepted as legal residents, and possibly already have:
-
- an active small business (salon, cafe, e-commerce, small agriculture);
- a formal job (difficult, but some have contracts at private schools, clinics, etc.);
- a educational strategy (children already enrolled in a school in the Republic of Moldova);
- or real estate property registered in their name (rare cases, but clear for Italians, Israelis, Americans).
-
Don’t apply for 3 children if you don’t have a place to send them to school and something to feed them. So these people are not “adventurers”.
✅ Europe is losing exactly what it cannot afford: the working class.
The flight of the young workforce is especially visible in countries with a rigid public or economic system:
-
- Romanians, Bulgarians, Croatians – few but constant;
- Italians, French, Spanish – new waves, but constantly increasing in numbers;
- Germans, Dutch, Belgians, English, Swiss – more numerous and mostly with minors = families complete.
Some of these people:
-
- have professional training;
- want autonomy (give up a career in corporations or dependence on the state);
- want safety for children;
- involuntarily refuse to be “cogs” in a system that no longer represents them.
✅ Delayed family reunifications = a sign that they are not "poor people fleeing on the waves"
✅ Delayed family reunifications = a sign that they are not "poor people fleeing on the waves"
Exactly as I said: John and Mary with €500 and 5 children don’t get here. They can’t apply to any of the 35+ legal categories;
Those who arrive are either:
-
- self-employed professionals, IT freelancers, doctors, therapists, etc.;
- small entrepreneurs who open businesses (restaurants, guesthouses, handicrafts);
- or local partners, who they enter into a “vínculo familiar” after they marry.
The fact that they reunite their family after they settle down shows strategic intelligence, not migratory impulse.
👉 General conclusion
Costa Rica attracts – without planning it – exactly what Europe risks losing: active, educated, initiative-minded, family-oriented people who do not want to be assisted, but to contribute to a society – even if more disordered, but freer.
How "dangerous" is European & North American migration, judging by deportations (2021-2024)
Although the absolute number of deportations is small, the rate has doubled in four years. Behind the figures are not Europeans or Canadians, but, in a proportion of over 95%, migrants from “Other Nationalities” (categories that include regional neighbors, stateless people and irregular entrants).
What the numbers tell us (in brief)
Who is at risk of being deported?
– Mainly migrants without a clear legal basis, coming from Central America, the Caribbean, Asia or Africa, grouped under “Other Nationalities”.
– Residents of the EU/UK, USA, Canada, Australia & co. have very high compliance rate; when they appear on the list, it is almost always a voluntary overstay or a criminal offense.
-
- The northern border (Nicaragua) has become a post-pandemic “hot route” again; DGME and the Migration Police have recorded several forced readmissions in the statistics.
- “Status clearing” operations: DGME carried out checks on construction sites, farms and coastal bars → many people without a residence permit were repatriated.
Who is at risk of being deported?
– Mainly migrants without a clear legal basis, coming from Central America, the Caribbean, Asia or Africa, grouped under “Other Nationalities”.
– Residents of the EU/UK, USA, Canada, Australia & co. have very high compliance rate; when they appear on the list, it is almost always a voluntary overstay or a criminal offense.
-
- The northern border (Nicaragua) has become a post-pandemic “hot route” again; DGME and the Migration Police have recorded several forced readmissions in the statistics.
- “Status clearing” operations: DGME carried out checks on construction sites, farms and coastal bars → many people without a residence permit were repatriated.
official figures
The Data That Speaks for Itself
Behind this migration are not just impressions or rumors, but official, concrete figures that show clear trends:
The total growth in temporary and permanent residents in Costa Rica between 2021 and 2024 is over 11%, significant for a country with a stable population.
The countries with the highest increases in migration are Germany, the Netherlands, France, the United Kingdom and Italy — that is, states with high GDP, a clear indicator that we are talking about a middle and upper-middle social class.
The profile of migrants is dominated by people under 45, professionally active, and the family often comes complete or in waves — one adult settles, and then the rest of the family comes, including minor children.
The rejection and deportation rate is very low for Europeans and North Americans, a sign that the migration process is legal, well-organized, and that Costa Rica really wants them.
The data on minors confirm that we are not talking about a massive migration of unskilled workers with large families, but of people who plan for the long term, with a stable life and involvement in the community.
Migration to Costa Rica
Reflection
Migration to Costa Rica is no longer about a temporary escape or an extended vacation, but a permanent relocation of an active, educated social class motivated to build a new life.
Europe is losing young people, professionals, and entire families who have the strength and desire to contribute to society, while Costa Rica is becoming a magnet for these people — a strategic choice, not a simple exotic destination.
In the long term, this trend could have profound effects for both the countries of origin and Costa Rica.
The question that remains: What does the loss of these people mean for Europe and how will it respond to this brain drain?
And, yes, there is no “John with 5 children and 500 euros in his pocket”. There are stable people coming, with vision, clear plans and real potential to change for the better both their lives and the communities in which they choose to live.
This is an ending that leaves the reader with something to think about, but also with a solid conclusion, not just a simple statistic.
The analysis is based on the Annual Statistical Reports issued by the DGME.
Personal Conclusion
This article is not just an analysis of migration. It is an X-ray of a trend that is taking root. Europe is losing – and not just anyhow. It is losing competent young people, entrepreneurs, specialists who want more than economic stability: they want meaning, peace, balance, freedom.
It is not a manifesto, but it can become an alarm signal. It is not a tourist guide, but it can be an open window for those who feel that the system they live in no longer belongs to them. And it is not a plea for Costa Rica – it is just a mirror: whoever has eyes to see will understand.
I just did what I know how to do: I took the raw data and let it tell the story. The rest is up to each person.
The analysis is based on the Annual Statistical Reports issued by the DGME.
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