If you’re traveling to Costa Rica on a standard tourist visa (Passport), you are only allowed to remain in the country for three months (90 days). However, if you want to extend your stay, then you have to make a “border run” to either Nicaragua or Panama.
As an expat living in Costa Rica since January 2015 I can tell you that coordinating and paying exit and entry fees for border run can be challenging. Mainly the laid back lifestyle can make you have memory lapses concerning time. Thankfully I have never over stayed my 90 day visa.
In December, 2017 I made the decision to apply for Temporary Residency in Costa Rica. I hired an immigration consultant instead of an immigration attorney solely based on the recommendation of a friend and the cost. Below is a list of documents that I had to obtain to present with my application for residency.
- A copy of my New York City Birth Certificate (complete with official seal) *
- Marriage certificate/Divorce Decree*
- FBI Criminal Background Check (Fingerprint card from VA State Police)*
- Income Verification
- Three Passport size photos
A trip to VA was required to obtain a fingerprint card and to secure marriage and divorce documents. Because these documents could only be mailed within the USA I enlisted the help of 2 family members. The shelf life for all documents is 6 months. The documents and residency application had to be turned in before the documents shelf life expired. My documents expired June 28, 2018.
Apostilled documents were sent via Overnight Mail to my consultants’ courier in Florida on May 20, 2018 and delivered to Costa Rica on May 28, 2018. My consultant was extremely helpful in pointing out ways to save a few dollars here and there. My documents were then translated into Spanish and my fee to change my Visa status to residency and my application fee were paid. I turned in my completed application to Migracion Costa Rica on June 4, 2018. At that time I was give an Expediente number which meant my application was filed and I didn’t have to leave the country every 90 days as I waited for final approval of my residency.
As I prepared to wait anywhere from 6-8 months for my approval Nicaragua, the country which borders Costa Rica to the north was thrown into chaos causing Nicaraguans to flee into Costa Rica to seek asylum. Migracion Costa Rica put residency application on hold to deal with the asylum seekers most of whom fled with out any identification.
My residency was approved in October, 2019! I signed up as required for the national health plan, Caja, paid my fee for my Cedula (Costa Rican ID card) and my Security deposit (in case I’m deported the government uses this fee to purchase my ticket back to the US). On to the Magracion office at the post office to have my picture taken and to pay my fee for mailing and processing of my ID card. My card information and a facsimile of my new ID card was emailed to me. My actual card would be available at the post office in 3 to 4 weeks.
Two weeks later my consultant called me to say the Migracion Officer was trying to reach me but had written down the wrong phone number – my cedula was ready to be picked up. This is where things went sideways….. My card had part of my hyphenated last name listed as my first name. Oh that can easily be changed. Wait 3-4 weeks. Week 5 finds me picking up my new cedula. My card had the numbers in my birth date transposed and my gender as a male. Oh that can easily be fixed after the Christmas week closing of Migracion. January 10, 2020 I was back at the post office – no new card. I tried to check several times but the line to the Migracion office was always at least 10 deep – wait for hours to be told no new card yet! Finally on February 25 I stopped by the post office after having lunch with friends next door and my first shock was there was no one in line for the Migracion Officer. He waved in into the office asked for my passport, disappears for a couple of minutes and came back with my new cedula. We both kept looking at the card before I signed for it. Could it be? NO ERRORS!
For the record …..
- I am a legal temporary resident of Costa Rica. I have to renew in 2022 but after 3 years I can apply to become a permanent resident and legal citizen after 5 years.
- I have not renounced my US citizenship nor do intend to (costs too much).
- I still travel on my US Passport but would be eligible for a Costa Rican Passport should I choose to become a Costa Rican citizen.
- Pura Vida mean “simple life” or “pure life” but in Costa Rica, it more than a saying – it is a way of life!
Update: The Costa Rican government shuts down for Christmas and there is usually a backlog through the month of January. I applied early for my temporary resident renewal on November 15, 2021. I paid my fees at the Bank of Costa Rica and took my documents to the Migracion officer at the Correos (Post Office). I picked up my new cedula on December 14, 2021.