About 120,000 foreigners from the United States choose Costa Rica as their permanent residence. Only about half of these foreign residents from the U.S. have followed the legal path of residency, while the rest live in a state of “perpetual tourism.” However, long-term tourists have seen their lives become more complicated in the past few years.
Law 8764, concerning Immigration and foreigners, unintentionally creates the “perpetual tourist” immigration status of many foreigners take advantage of. The relevant section of the law is Article 33, section 3, which directs all foreigners to exit the country upon the expiration of their visas. That section states tourists must either leave the country upon expiration of their visa or pay a fine equivalent to $100 USD for each month overstayed. Failure to abide by this section could prevent the tourist from getting a visa for a period equal to three times the amount of time overstayed.
Residency: The Alternative to Perpetual Tourism
Constant Visa runs to bordering Panama, and Nicaragua gets old fast. There is a better solution to all this hassle and uncertainty, and it involves applying for resident status. There are plenty of strategies and approaches to residency.
Costa Rica offers feasible options for foreigners who wish to become legal residents. There are different immigrant categories, including students and workers who are contracted for specific projects by companies doing business in Costa Rica. Click here to see what category fits your needs best. www.crie.cr/residency-categories
If you would like to apply for legal residency in Costa Rica and have all of your immigration questions answered, please get in touch with us HERE or complete our free assessment questionnaire.
-Written by Glenn Tellier (Founder of CRIE and Grupo Gap).
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Article by Glenn Tellier (Founder of CRIE and Grupo Gap)