The General Directorate of Migration in Costa Rica will be extending the length of tourist Visas to Nicaraguan citizens from three to  six months with the purpose of giving them additional time to remain in Costa Rica legally considering the critical situation affecting Nicaragua.

Raquel Vargas, director of Migration said, that the extension from three to six months for tourist Visas to Nicaraguans will be applied “for as long as the conflict in Nicaragua continues”.

The change will go into effect the moment the modification is published in official daily La Gaceta, which could happen as early as next week.

In the meantime, hundreds of Nicaraguans, many of which already live in Costa Rica, continue to crowd the main offices of Migration in La Uruca to obtain an appointment to request refugee status.

The General Directorate of Migration in Costa Rica grants 1000 appointments every week on Mondays (200 people a day receive attention). According to migration authorities, the majority of the requests are rejected since they do not gather the necessary requirements to qualify for refugee status in Costa Rica.