The long-awaited Digital Nomad visa option: Last year, the government announced the Digital Nomad visa option for legally staying past the traditional 90-day visa in Costa Rica. While, in principle, a viable option for those seeking to live and work virtually in Costa Rica for 1 or 2 years without having to do onerous border runs, the program, as initially announced, had flaws. It was left to thi...

By Laura Gutierrez of Immigration Help Costa Rica What follows is a much-needed update on situations that stressfully impacted ex-pat migrants at the various stages of the residency process. We are emerging from two mutually exclusive events. The end of covid (sort of) and the installation of a new government handed a solid mandate to fix constipated bureaucracies here in Costa Rica. BUT FIR...

By Laura Gutierrez of Immigration Help Costa Rica How to choose where to live in Costa Rica. So, you are contemplating a move to Costa Rica after being intrigued by the promise of its unique beauty and livability. Going back to 1500, Christopher Columbus gave it the name which translates into "Rich Coast." It had nothing to do with gold, despite that being a major preoccupation. Without drif...

By Laura Gutierrez of Immigration Help Costa Rica DIMEX Renewals: This information is a bit dated, but since many of you are still emailing me about renewals of your DIMEX (residency) cards, I thought it timely to post this review. Due to urgent needs to be outside of Costa Rica during COVID, some of you had/have not been able to renew your DIMEX (residency) cards. Or you just let it slip...

By Laura Gutierrez of Immigration Help Costa Rica Until 2018, the immigration (residency) process was relatively straightforward. Even though the DGME (Immigration) mandate was to process correctly prepared and submitted applications in 90 days, they went past that deadline. Still, my application approvals (and that of other competent service providers) averaged 4 to 7 months. Then came the cri...

By Laura Gutierrez of Immigration Help Costa Rica CAJA sticker shock. For those who don't yet know, one of the requirements for residency here in Costa Rica is that you must enroll in our national healthcare system (CAJA) upon approval of your residency application. You will be means-tested to assess "fairly" what you can afford to pay—the greater your income, the higher your CAJA premium. A...

Former tourists and foreign residents have chosen to live in Costa Rica for many good reasons, not the least of which is the breathtaking beauty, fantastic weather, and an idyllic lifestyle measurably better than those left behind. Most experience significant improvements to their health after living in Costa Rica only a year. Fewer pills, or none at all, tremendous stress and weight reductions. T...

By Laura Gutierrez of Immigration Help Costa Rica Elections in the home countries of the U.S., Canada, and E.U. (and other countries) have been painfully divisive affairs these past decades as the social engineers behind the curtain pull on the levers of influence. As such, many of us are tempted to avoid the subject. We are either preaching to the choir or engaged in hostile exchanges with tho...

By Laura Gutierrez of Immigration Help Costa Rica We all love tax cuts. Therefore, it is understandable that many of you got very excited when you heard about the new laws governing importation and investment incentives designed to stimulate post-COVID investment in Costa Rica. It did not help that many trigger-happy lawyers, and certain media hyped it up as though it would take effect the n...

By Laura Gutierrez of Immigration Help Costa Rica The following is the latest update from the Costa Rica Ministry of Health (Ministerio de Salud CR): Gradual opening will mark the last quarter of the year. 1. From October 16 to October 31, the sanitary vehicle restriction will be from 10 pm to 5 am from Monday to Sunday and the establishments may operate until the same time. 2. If the evol...

By Laura Gutierrez of Immigration Help Costa Rica Due to COVID, rules and procedures continue to change and evolve regarding travel and how one remains legally in Costa Rica. For tourists and those of you preparing for or waiting to have your applications for legal residency submitted (by appointment) or for those of you awaiting approval on submitted applications, the dreaded border runs ar...

By Laura Gutierrez of Immigration Help Costa Rica There is a significant and welcome change to the entry requirements to Costa Rica. Good news for the vaccinated amongst you. The change is effective August 1, 2021. Those of you who can provide proof of complete vaccination with either the Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech, AstraZeneca, and Johnson & Johnson vaccines will no longer be required ...

By Laura Gutierrez of Immigration Help Costa Rica In response to some emails requesting clarification to my previous article, the following is a brief synopsis regarding visa expiries, the validity of foreign drivers' licenses, and border runs. 1. If you have been in Costa Rica on a Tourist Visa extended several times throughout 2020 and 2021, that visa expired on June 1, 2021. You need to d...

By Laura Gutierrez of Immigration Help Costa Rica After repeated visa extensions throughout 2020 and 2021, June 2, 2021 (coming up soon) is the last extension date on visa expiries if you are here in Costa Rica on a tourist visa alone. As a reminder, tourists who enter Costa Rica with a passport from the U.S, Canada, and EU, plus several other countries in the approved country groups, automa...

By Laura Gutierrez of Immigration Help Costa Rica In my March 14th article about the validity of foreign drivers’ licenses used by tourists, I also mentioned that it was pending an official resolution. At long last, we finally have that resolution, and it will be published in the official newspaper La Gaceta in the next few days, according to the MOPT website. The resolution covers two categ...

By Laura Gutierrez of Immigration Help Costa Rica While unofficial at this writing, MOPT (Costa Rica Ministry of Public Works and Transportation) has issued a recent communication. The validity of foreign drivers’ licenses for TOURISTS with valid visas has been extended to June 1, 2021. This is in keeping with the recent TOURIST visa extensions from March 2, 2021, to June 1, 2021. The offici...

By Laura Gutierrez of Immigration Help Costa Rica If you go to the MOPT (Costa Rica’s Ministry of Public Works & Transportation) website (English translation), you will see a very misleading headline: “Drivers can use foreign license for 6 more months.” https://www.mopt.go.cr/wps/portal/Home/inicio/ We wish. Not true for those of you who just had your TOURIST visa extended to Ju...

By Laura Gutierrez of Immigration Help Costa Rica As mentioned again in my February 24 article here, throughout 2020, the Costa Rica government repeatedly extended visa expiry dates. That last extension, up until last night, was until today: March 2, 2021. They had announced that there would be no further extensions. The previously announced land border openings to tourists were also push...

By Laura Gutierrez of Immigration Help Costa Rica With the impending March 2 visa expiry looming, people are understandably getting very stressed out. Due to fear of COVID, many do not wish to move about unnecessarily, let alone leave Costa Rica to get a renewed visa stamp. Understandably, the idea seems preposterous and counter to so-called COVID safety initiatives. Foreigners also wish to ...

By Laura Gutierrez of Immigration Help Costa Rica Tensions are running high as we continue to endure COVID and its impact on tourists and those seeking legal residency in Costa Rica. Readers under stress are least capable of absorbing reams of information, so I will be as concise as possible in addressing or re-addressing some key issues. March 2 visa expiry date: Out of compassion for tour...

By Laura Gutierrez of Immigration Help Costa Rica Happy New Years Everyone Costa Rica Entry Requirements… For entry requirements and recently announced new restrictions within Costa Rica, please click on the links below and also read part one "How COVID-19 Changed Costa Rica Immigration in the Eyes of Residency Expert Laura Gutierrez" a recently published article on December 29th. You ...

By Laura Gutierrez of Immigration Help Costa Rica Celebrating Christmas certainly felt different this year. It followed many fears, anxieties, adversities and loss of the past 10 months, all of which still weigh heavily upon us. Many were not able to be with family, neighbors and friends as in years past. There are still so many sick and under strain as some of us tearfully recall those who ...

Photo Source : PuroMotor  Alex Barquero Canadian native Mikyle Pike at 12 years old, dominated the entire 2020 Costa Rican Karting season competing in the VLR 100 JR category in his first complete year of karting. According to ACEK (Association de Corredores de Kartismo) the VLR category is brand new in Costa Rica for the 2020 race season and has shown promising potential as a stepping stone in...

By Laura Gutierrez of Immigration Help Costa Rica On my phone consultation with MOPT, it was confirmed that the validity of foreign driver's licenses has finally been extended to March 2, 2021. The official notice has not yet been posted on the MOPT site as of this writing, but it is official. For those of you whose validity would have expired today (November 18, 2020), you are free to drive le...

By Laura Gutierrez of Immigration Help Costa Rica Based on a significant number of emails I receive, there are still many despondent or hesitant travelers to Costa Rica who have not yet heard that the onerous 72-hour negative COVID test is no longer required to enter Costa Rica. The entry requirements of carrying COVID medical insurance and filling out the health survey are still in place bu...

By Laura Gutierrez of Immigration Help Costa Rica As of Oct. 15: Residents of Florida, Georgia and Texas will be allowed into Costa Rica. As of Nov. 1: All U.S. citizens and residents will be allowed into Costa Rica. Please click here for Laura's personal travel experience from Costa Rica to the USA and back during the COVID-19 Pandemic. For a comprehensive list of all originating coun...

By Laura Gutierrez of Immigration Help Costa Rica Once again, the Department of Immigration (DGME) re-opening date has been moved back from September 18th to December 1, 2020, just as I had cautioned in previous articles. Also, as I predicted, this will be a by-appointment-only program on a first-booked, first-served basis. The DGME will begin receiving bookings on October 19th. How those booki...

By Laura Gutierrez of Immigration Help Costa Rica On September 3, United Airlines flight 1080 non-stop to Newark was the first commercial passenger flight out of Costa Rica in six months. I was on it to visit family in New Jersey. In reviewing those trips to Newark and back to Costa Rica seven days later on September 10, I hope to answer persistent questions still coming to me from stress...

Costa Rica based cutting-edge provider of 3D design and rendering services 3D.CR (www.3D.CR) recently announced its expanded offering of dynamic 3D animations, walk-throughs, and fly-overs with the release of the new 2020 REEL summarizing the enhanced capabilities. For year's architectural 3D rendering is the smart, contemporary choice for developers, architects, designers, general contractors,...

By Laura Gutierrez of Immigration Help Costa Rica Prominent newscaster to a famous virologist: “Doctor, how long do you think this pandemic will last?” Doctor: “How would I know? I’m not a politician.” With the many emails I receive from dear clients trying in vain to set some travel dates either in or out of Costa Rica, often to coordinate with submissions dates for their residency applica...

As we all know Costa Rican economy is suffering especially in the area of tourism. Costa Rica is currently sitting at a historic high 24% unemployment rate which has left hundreds of thousands of people without work and without a means to take care of their families. As of Aug 1st Costa Rica has reopened it's doors to select countries in an attempt to "Reactivate" tourism and for obvious COVID ...

Location: Escazu, San Jose Events: Temporary Suspension of Municipal Police Services in Escazu (San Jose) Embassy contacts have confirmed the Policia Municipalidad Escazu (Escazu Municipal Police or PME, which is the largest police force in Escazu) has temporarily suspended public services after staff tested positive for COVID-19. PME officials have reported that all PME staff are observing ...

By Laura Gutierrez of Immigration Help Costa Rica In response to many emails from concerned clients wrestling with travel plans, I would like to address how the most recent adjustment to travel into Costa Rica impacts anything to do with residency. The best summary of the new program can be found in English on the Costa Rica Embassy Washington D.C. website here: http://costarica-embassy.org/...

So we all have heard that there are new requirements to travel to Costa Rica once the airports reopen to select countries August 1st.  Tourists that plan to visit Costa Rica during the upcoming weeks will have to follow all sanitary measures in place and comply with certain requirements, such as taking a Covid-19 test 48 hours prior to the flight, filling out a form with the information for epi...

With baited breath everyone in the tourism sector of Costa Rica is awaiting the official reopening of the country. The List of authorized countries will be reevaluated on a bi weekly basis to ensure the safety of Costa Rica and all of it's citizens. At this moment in time commercial flights from the following countries will be allowed to begin arriving starting August 1st. Canada, United Kin...

By Laura Gutierrez of Immigration Help Costa Rica As mentioned in my previous article, navigating through this crisis is like driving with one foot on the brake and one on the gas. The Costa Rica Department of Immigration has once again hit the brakes with Resolution N° DJUR-0105-07-2020-JM. Don't get nauseous or someone will think you caught COVID. Immigration was scheduled to be open to th...

Costa Rica registers 360 new cases this Friday, July 10 for a total 6,845 confirmed cases, 2110 of these have already recovered. The country registers 26 deaths of Covid-19 positive patients. Currently, there are 128 people hospitalized, 17 of these are in the intensive care unit with ages ranging from 43 and 78 years. President Carlos Alvarado informed during the press conference new restri...

By Laura Gutierrez of Immigration Help Costa Rica People sufficiently frightened, lose their ability to think for themselves, and can become overwhelmed. So it is not just these constant changes to resumption of dates for travel and government services that stress us out. Tough decisions must be made about personal logistics in this intrusive state of fear and uncertainty. One foot on the gas. ...

The Ministry of Health in Costa Rica confirmed 152 new cases this Friday, for a total of 2,836 positive cases of Covid-19 of the country, out of which, 1,280 have already recovered, while 36 are hospitalized 6 in the intensive care unit. 26,866 people have tested negative. Pilar Garrido, Minister of Planning, referred to the reopening of economic activities in the country: -Counties and d...

Moody's Investors Service, ("Moody's") has today changed the outlook on the Government of Costa Rica's ratings to negative from stable. Concurrently, Moody's has affirmed Costa Rica's B2 long-term issuer and senior unsecured bond ratings. The negative outlook reflects Costa Rica's increased funding risks due to higher borrowing requirements resulting from pandemic-related economic and fiscal sh...