Those who remain under an irregular migratory status will have to pay a fine of $ 100 that will be in force as of April 20th.
The Directorate General of Migration and Foreigners (DGME) made the announcement on Monday at a press conference. According to Gisela Yockchen, director of that entity, $100 will be charged for each month the person is in the country irregularly.
If they do not cancel the debt, foreigners are exposed to a prohibition of entry into Costa Rican territory for a term equivalent to three times the time they were in an irregular migratory status.
These measures are stipulated in Article 33, paragraph 3 of the General Migration Act.
The fine will not be imposed solely on people entering the country as non-residents, but rather on foreign people who hold a migratory category of temporary residence and special category. And, that at the time of leaving the country they have an expired Immigration Identity Document for Foreigners (DIMEX),”
cites an extract of the law.
How does the economic fine work? For example, if a person only had permission to stay 30 days (1 month) in the country and they stay here for another three months irregularly, they will have to pay $300.
How does the entry ban? If the foreigner has a pending fine and does not want to pay, they cannot enter national territory. For example, if you spent one month in irregular migratory status you will not be able to enter for three months.
The institution calls for people with an expired migrant status to try to renew as soon as possible, not only so that they are not subject to fines in case they have to leave the country, but so that they can have access to health, educational, financial and other services that will be denied with an expired DIMEX. Also, to foreigners who enter the country as non-residents, we ask them to respect the authorized time to remain in Costa Rica, leaving or requesting an extension or migratory category,”
said Yockchen.
Where can you pay?
Bank agencies of Costa Rica (BCR) throughout the country.
BCR toucan points from all over the country.
Website of the General Directorate of Migration and Immigration, which will be enabled for online cancellation of the fine.
Branches of Costa Rica Post Office in La Cruz, Liberia, Paso Canoas and Alajuela.
The accounts to which the deposit must be made are the following:
Account in colones
80051-1.
Client account in SINPE colones
15201001008005117.
Account in dollars
80054-6.
Client account in SINPE dollars
15201001008005465.