Enforcement of New Immigration Law Difficult for Expats in Costa Rica
A little less "Pura Vida" for Perpetual Tourists at the airport these days in San Jose.
A new immigration law has taken effect and while all the provisions have yet to be enforced there are plenty of sad expat stories floating around Costa Rica. Among the nasty surprises are Perpetual Tourists who only get 30 day tourist visas in place of the customary 90 days visas.
Deportation is also being ordered for overstaying just a few days. The new procedure is to block a person with an overstay from leaving at the airport or land border crossing. The unfortunate traveler receives an order to report to the immigration police in San Jose. Departure is only allowed after signing a promise not to return to Costa Rica for five years. Expats in an irregular immigration status with property or businesses in Costa Rica are especially vulnerable.
As to what triggers the application of harsher rules it is difficult to say as these guidelines aren’t part of the new law. Some expats have had more luck returning via the high traffic Nicaragua border crossing at Peñas Blancas than at the Panama crossing at Sixaola, which leads to the popular Bocas Del Torro resort area.
Being in the wrong place at the wrong time in San Jose caused one expat to have his Passport Confiscated by the Immigration Police. In that case the entry stamp had not been recorded correctly by the immigration computer system, however he became subject to scrutiny due to a police raid of a downtown bar.
Immigration police are a much more visible sight in downtown San Jose, and its now common for foreign persons to be questioned and asked to show identification.
For many potential expatriates the increase to income requirements for retirement type residencies is a barrier. Under the old law a retiree only needed $600 in monthly pension income or a one time deposit of $60,000. The current law requires $1,000 in monthly pension income or a one time deposit of $150,000, which is especially difficult at time when the world faces an economic downturn.
Apart from the increased requirements several important points described by the English Language Media of the new law in debate never materialized.
A phantom clause that would allow “expat snowbirds” or retired people on winter vacation to extend their 90 day trip to 180 days turned out to be a total fabrication.
In fact the immigration department recently posted a set of instructions on their website debunking the 90 extension myth. The extension is only for tourists that come from countries that only receive 30 days tourist visas.
Of course with all the new rules the obvious question is why do expatriates fight to stay in Costa Rica, working jobs they would not normally do in the United States. While many expats go home there are frequently new ones entering the country.
A Houston reporter describes Costa Rica as a place to “Ride Out the Recession” and interviews two expatriates. The first is Charlie Ogondo who describes Costa Rica as a great “out” for him as he tends bars at the upscale Jaco bar, Le Loft. He acknowledges that he might not stay long but is open to ideas.
Dan Wagner, however has been in Costa Rica for eleven years and made a living in Real Estate. While the real estate market has been down for this expat there is “no picking and going home”.
Costa Rica family connections tend to be the most enduring for expatriates here and apart from being the fast track to Legal Residency a wife and children make roots that last a lifetime.
Some people have asserted that Panama is now more welcoming than Costa Rica, however a recent article by Don Winner addresses that fact that the system is not perfect Panama either.
If you have recently had problems with immigration please feel free to leave a comment here of if you prefer Contact Us and we might be able to publish your story.
If you are considering residency in Costa Rica, then please take a look at our new detailed guide to Legal Residency. The many articles explain the requirements and steps required to apply for residency in Costa Rica.
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Filed Under: Expat Living
