With border controls getting tighter in many parts of the world, should perpetual tourists in Costa Rica worry about their legal status?

According to Marcela Gurdian, founder of Immigration Experts Costa Rica, some incidents in 2015 should be carefully reviewed and considered by foreigners who have not formalized their legal status in our country.

In 2015, the exacerbation of the European refugee crisis prompted some countries to implement strict border controls that had not been enacted in decades. Later, terror attacks in Europe and the United States prompted airports and seaports around the world to tighten their vigilance.

Costa Rica saw its own share of situations that prompted concerns at the border. From Syrians entering the country with fake passports to Cuban migrants being denied passage by Nicaragua, Costa Rica was forced to increase vigilance at the border crossing points in Peñas Blancas and Paso Canoas, which happen to be frequently used for visa runs by North American and European tourists who wish to extend their vacations in our country.

Now that the entry points in Costa Rica are subject to greater scrutiny due to security concerns, it is a good time for perpetual tourists to think about their long term plans in our country. Immigration rules are more likely to change whenever situations such as the ones described above occur. This is when legislators who do not have a friendly opinion about perpetual tourism begin to suggest amendments to the status quo.

Most foreigners who engage in long-term perpetual tourism in Costa Rica are not aware that residency options extend well beyond marriage to a citizen. Once a foreigner start his or her residency process in Costa Rica, he or she does not have to leave the country every 90 days, therefore saving time and money by not having to endure visa runs.

When a request for legal residency is submitted to the Immigration Directorate in Costa Rica, applicants are given a file number that identifies them as going through the process. This means no longer having to exit the country every three months on visa runs. Requests are approved approximately after 10 months, as long as all the requirements are complete; the only snags in the process come from extensive criminal backgrounds.

If you would like more information about legal residency options in our country, please contact the law offices of Immigration Experts Costa Rica, located in San Jose, Playas del Coco and Tamarindo.

San Jose Office:
Tel: (506) 2290.8050 / 2290.2794
Fax: (506) 2290.8055
Address: One block west of Princesa Marina Restaurant, Sabana Oeste, San Jose, Costa Rica. P.O. BOX: 226-1200
Email: [email protected]

Playas del Coco Office:
Tel: (506) 26702021
Fax: (506) 2290.8055
Address: Pacifico Village Shop, Suite 20, Playas del Coco, Guanacaste
Email: [email protected]

Playa Tamarindo Office:
Tel: (506) 26530050
Fax: (506) 2290.8055
Address: El Sol Center, in front of Automercado, first floor beside Wellness Center
Email: [email protected]