This past spring, there was a lot of anxiety swirling about the ex-pat community in Costa Rica over vaccines in relation to residency in Costa Rica. It all started with an article in a major Spanish national news outlet and echoed into other minor publications and blogs. The Costa Rica Ministry of Health (Ministerio de Salud) and Ministry of Immigration (General de Migración y Extranjería – DGMIE) was going to require all new applicants for Costa Rica residency or citizenship to receive vaccines as of July 1, 2019. These included vaccines for up to 17 diseases such as mumps, measles, rubella, Hepatitis B, flu, diphtheria, tetanus, HPV, rotavirus, and more.

Immigration specialists like Laura B. Gutierrez From Immigration help Costa Rica have received several frantic calls and emails from clients still in the stages of residency preparations or awaiting approvals.

July 1, 2019, has come and gone without a peep out of the Costa Rica Health Department or from Immigration.
According to Dr. Roberto Arroba, Head of Immunization for the Costa Rica Ministry of Health, and the Esquema Nacional de Vacunas (National Vaccination Program), no one from that Health Ministry or Immigration would have given that date. He suspects it was pulled out of thin air by participants in the news chain. He called it irresponsible, as it created unnecessary panic amongst the ex-pat community, particularly the elderly and those vulnerable to ill effects of late immunizations. Such a demand is something no ministry would ever foist on that community. Dr. Arroba has also received calls from the U.S. Embassy for clarification on the issue as a result of the fictitious date of July 1.

He went on to say that it will be at least a year or more before any new Immigration protocol will be in place.
This new initiative is in response to two separate incidents of measles outbreaks earlier this year. One emanating from a French national and another by an infected female visitor from the U.S. Those infected included 9 visitors, and one Costa Rican national acting as a translator for a missionary group. It is also well documented that the flood of illegal migrants into the U.S. from Central and South America has also resulted in diseases showing up in the U.S. unseen in decades.
The Ministry of Health realize that they need to amend existing guidelines as a means to stay ahead of this troubling trend and avert any possible epidemics in Costa Rica. This process will entail new data collection and dialogues with the CDC in Atlanta, World & Pan American Health Organizations and meetings amongst Ministry policymakers leading up to a presidential decree. Such processes are traditionally very lengthy.

Dr. Arroba reiterated that Costa Rica’s current policies involve the same logic as those of the U.S., Canada, and, EU. He points out that Costa Rican citizens who migrate north to those countries are all asked to show proof of immunizations received in Costa Rica, particularly for children or teens entering into schools and universities. Likewise, Costa Rica also demands proof of vaccination against diseases. Immigrants from countries like Brazil, Colombia, and some other South American and African locales also produce proof of immunization against Yellow Fever… same as does the U.S., Canada and the EU.
With regards to requirements of ex-pats seeking residency or citizenship here in Costa Rica, immigration Specialist Laura B.

Gutierrez breaks it down in simple terms as to what the Ministry of Immigration is responsible for confirming:

1) Are you law-abiding and pose no criminal threat to the populace?
2) Are you financially capable of supporting yourself and your family?
3) Do you have all the proper immunizations?

Immigration asks for authenticated proof of all these assertions except for #3. Currently, residency applicants do not need to show proof of immunizations except in the case of children entering schools in Costa Rica and adults engaged in work in specific fields. (IE: Health, Education.)

New policy amendments will require ALL residency/citizenship applicants to show proof of immunizations. Such proofs will need to be authentic copies of original records from the source that have been properly authenticated and officially translated to Spanish. Both Ms. Gutierrez and Dr. Arroba say this is only logical to responsibly ensure the health and safety of both native Ticos and ex-pat residents.

What if you cannot obtain your records should your former doctor be retired or deceased?
Dr. Arroba said that there are blood tests that can be done here in Costa Rica to show the presence of most vaccines in the blood. The applicant would have the option to submit to such blood analysis by the Ministry of Health. Refusal to do so will result in an invitation to leave the country. Dr. Arroba does not think these demands for proof of immunization will ever apply to those only coming to Costa Rica as tourists.

As a means to side-step these future demands, some ex-pats might be tempted to adopt the diminishing practice of perpetual tourism and do border runs indefinitely. This long-time practice is still tolerated by Costa Rica border police. But Ms. Gutierrez knows first-hand that U. S. Homeland Security pressures through the U.S. Embassy here in San Jose will eventually curtail border running as a way of living in Costa Rica. She has already received many reports from the ex-pat community of border runners being refused 90-day stamps upon trying to re-enter Costa Rica after several trips. Others received only 30-day visa stamps and are sternly warned by border police to apply for residency or leave Costa Rica.

Dr. Arroba and his colleagues are very well aware of all the controversies surrounding vaccines and possible side effects. They are taken aback by such protests that are still put forward as though no one in the Ministry had ever heard of them. The benefits of these vaccines have been proven for decades. Most of the negativity against vaccines is fueled by misinformation from individuals or organizations with either sinister motives, or the simple need to sound like the smarter person in the room. Dr. Arroba assures everyone that Costa Rica will continue to intelligently and soberly pursue safe practices to protect its citizens and those who seek to relocate to Costa Rica.