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 countries as well as entry requirements, please see the link: https://www.visitcostarica.com/en/costa-rica/statement-costa-rica-tourism-board-covid-19

A significant number of emails pouring into my inbox of late are about, Travel, renewals, driving privileges, and various other residency related tasks impacted by COVID. Some of you have been “stuck” in Costa Rica, while others have been away and concerned about the cancelation of your residency cards because you could not return in time to renew them. Not to worry. Here is a synopsis covering the most common situations.

1) Visa Extensions:
If you entered Costa Rica between December 17th, 2019, and up to November 30th, 2020, the visa you received, or will receive upon entry will be extended automatically out to March 2nd, 2021. Suppose you enter Costa Rica on December 1st, 2020, or after, its back to the standard length of the visa stamp. IE: If you entered Costa Rica on December 1st, 2020, with a passport from Canada, U.S., U.K., EU, and many other countries that are automatically granted 90-day visas, you must leave again by March 2nd, 2021. Check with your nearest Costa Rica embassy about the length of visa stamps given if you enter with a passport from a country other than those just listed.

2) Driving Privileges:
Once again, I remind readers that foreign driver’s licenses may be used while in Costa Rica. But their validity is always tied to the length of days indicated on your last visa stamp. Those have been automatically extended several times since March of this year. Still, it has yet to be confirmed by the Ministry of Transport that the validity of your foreign driver’s license is extended to March 2nd, 2021. But it is a safe bet. We will update you when we hear a definitive word.

3) Residency Card Renewals.
Expiries of Temporary and Permanent residency cards have been extended out to January 11th, 2021. Strong suggestion: Don’t wait until January 11th, 2021. Beat the last-minute rush and get it done at your earliest convenience.

Pensionado
A) If you are trying to complete the final steps of your recent Pensionado application approval (Resolucíon), you can complete those at the nearest participating Correos de Costa or BCR by appointment only by dialing 1311 or online at www.migracion.go.cr

B) If you are trying to renew a Pensionado residency card, you can also do that at the nearest participating Correos de Costa Rica or BCR. By appointment only by dialing 1311 or online at www.migracion.go.cr

Vinculo (Residency based on marriage)
A) If you are trying to complete the final steps of your recent application approval (Resolucíon), you can complete those at the nearest participating Correos de Costa or BCR by appointment only.

B) If you are trying to renew a Vinculo category residency card, you can also do that at the nearest participating Correos de Costa Rica or BCR. You will need an affidavit duly notarized in Costa Rica, confirming your marriage’s validity that will include all your vital information. Otherwise, you can do the renewal at any Immigration office in San Jose or any regional offices once they open without said notarized documentation. By appointment only by dialing 1311 or online at www.migracion.go.cr

4) Rentista and Inversionista Residencies:

A) If you are trying to complete the final steps of your recent application approval (Resolucíon) on either a Rentista or Inversionista residency application, those can only be completed at the primary Immigration Center in San Jose or one of the regional Immigration offices in Liberia, Puntarenas, Perez Zeledon. (No longer at the Correo de Costa Rica or BCR.)

B) If you are trying to renew Rentista or Inversionista cards, you can also only do so at the primary Immigration Center in San Jose or one of the regional Immigration offices in Liberia, Puntarenas, Perez Zeledon. By appointment only by dialing 1311 or online at www.migracion.go.cr beginning on October 19th.

As a friendly reminder to all those hesitant to get your Costa Rica residency, the border run option is no longer. With the south and north borders to Nicaragua and Panama sealed shut indefinitely, trying to beat the 90-day visa restrictions with border runs is a thing of the past. Even if they do open, it has become dangerous at worst, and offensive to the Department Of Immigration in the least. If you overstay your visa, and you are illegal and subject to deportation. Adios for 10 years minimum. For maximum enjoyment of your lived experience here in Costa Rica, residency is a must.

Start now by gathering all your required documents while still in your home country, or even if you are here in Costa Rica and be ready for submissions of your applications in the coming weeks and months. Start the clock ticking down to your residency approvals as soon as possible and beat the inevitable influx expected into Costa Rica as this pandemic dissipates. No matter the outcome of the U.S. election, post-election flight is expected to be brisk into Costa Rica. Costa Rica remains one of the most remarkably healthy environments of the planet to thrive.

If your in need of immigration assistance Laura can be reached by clicking here, Toll free at 1-833-733-6337, Locally at or by sending a email to [email protected].