Foreigners in possession of a residence card or a valid refugee card may work without applying for a work permit. 
Being a permanent resident, temporary resident or duly authorized refugee, allows them to work and be subject to all labor rights and duties

All residency applications must be made when the foreigner is legally in the country, i.e. his or her visa has not expired

General Requirements   

• Request of legal permanence where the qualities of the interested party, pretension, current address and the means to attend notifications are indicated, which must be signed by the foreigner in the presence of a public official of the Platform of Services or of the respective regional administrative office or duly authenticated by a Lawyer.

• Proof of payment in favor of the Government for the concept of fiscal species (¢ 125 + ¢ 2.50 for each folio) in accordance with the Law for the Financial Balance of the Public Sector, which must be deposited in account #242476-2 of the Bank of Costa Rica.

• Two passport size photographs, front view and recent date of the foreigner.

• Birth certificate of the foreign person issued in the country of origin, duly legalized and authenticated or apostilled. The birth certificate of the applicant will be considered valid if it is duly translated into Spanish by an official Costa Rican translator and apostilled or legalized before the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Worship, even if it has an issue date of more than six months, as long as the information contained in said document agrees with the information contained in the passport of the foreigner and it is in perfect condition, without erasures, erasures, overwriting, nor is it torn, pasted with adhesive tape or any other alteration that makes doubtful of its legitimacy. In case of discrepancy between the passport data and the birth certificate, the foreigner must be warned to clarify the divergence, by means of the corresponding documents that justify the reason for the difference, or by presenting duly corrected documents (according to resolution DJUR-0180-10-2021-JM).

• Certification of criminal record of the foreigner from his/her country of origin or the place where he/she has legally resided for the last three years, duly legalized and authenticated or apostilled. For such purposes, the legality of his/her stay in that country must be additionally demonstrated by means of a certified copy of the migratory document obtained within the indicated term.

• In the case of applications for legal residence of nationals of Mexico, Brazil, the United States, Canada or other countries that have criminal systems comprised of a local and federal jurisdiction, certifications must be required that include a criminal record check by name, identification number and fingerprint (when the country so issues), to definitively guarantee that the person does not have a criminal record in the entire territory of his country of origin or where he has resided legally during the last three years. In the event that the federal criminal record certification indicates arrests or pending proceedings, the user must also provide criminal record certification from the locality where the court case is being processed, indicating the outcome of the proceedings.

• Photocopy of the pages of the passport where the foreigner's qualifications, the stamp of entry to Costa Rica and the entry visa are found, in case the foreigner's nationality requires it, which must be certified by a notary public or be compared with the original by the official of the Service Platform or regional headquarters where the procedure is presented. (The previous paragraph was amended by Article 2 of Executive Decree No. 42389 of January 17, 2022).

In the case of categories in which economic solvency must be demonstrated, any of the following documents may be considered valid:

1. Employer's order in force or letters from employers with letterhead and company seal indicating gross and net salary, years of service and position.

2. In the case of retired persons, receipts or certification issued by a competent authority indicating the amount and time of retirement.

3. In the case of students, certification issued by an authorized public accountant, indicating the origin of the economic solvency. If the applicant is a scholarship student, he/she must provide certification from the institution providing the scholarship indicating the amount, term and expenses involved.

4. Certification from a Certified Public Accountant detailing the income and expenses of an individual or audited financial statements of a legal entity, both from the last fiscal year. If necessary, the Foreigners Management may request the complete file of the information with which the certified public accountant generated the certification.

5. Photocopy of the volunteer program where the financing is detailed.

6. In case the financing of the studies or volunteering is by means other than those mentioned above, the corresponding documents must be provided.

7. In case of impossibility to present any of these documents, a sworn statement will be admitted, in which the reasons for which he/she cannot provide any of the above documents, that he/she has the necessary resources for this and detailing the origin of the income. However, this General Directorate reserves the right to verify the data contained in the declaration. In the case of minors and economically dependent adults, the affidavit must be made by the person who will be responsible for the expenses of the foreigner.

Important Notes

• Proof of fingerprinting must be presented at the time of documentation. Temporary workers and indigenous persons are exempted from this requirement.

• The above in accordance with Article 61 bis of the Alien Regulations.

• Any request for legal permanence that implies a change of category from non-resident to any of the categories established by the Law, must be accompanied by proof of payment in the amount of two hundred dollars (US$200) or its equivalent in colones at the BCCR reference exchange rate, which must be deposited in account #242480-0 of the Banco de Costa Rica.

This deposit must be made in the name of the foreign applicant. The above in accordance with article 89 of the General Law of Migration and Foreigners and 40 of the Regulation of Foreigners.

• Any document that has not been issued in Spanish, must provide the corresponding literal translation to this language, which must be elaborated by an official translator or translation of a notary who knows the language.

• All public documents coming from abroad must be duly apostilled or legalized by the Costa Rican Consul in your country and authenticated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Worship of Costa Rica, the latter option in case the document comes from a State that is not a contracting party to the Convention for the Elimination of the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents.

• In the case of countries that issue a birth certificate of the foreign person concerned, without indicating the name of the parents, a notarized affidavit to this effect must be submitted together with this certificate.

• A tax stamp of ₡20 colones and an archival stamp of ₡5 colones must be affixed to each photocopy of an original document, when confronted before an official.

• The presentation of the documentation must be done through an appointment by calling the Immigration Call Center, 1311.

• Likewise, you will be able to present some of the procedures through Digital Migration, Trámite Ya, with the opening of your digital file. For more information about this, click here.

Migratory subcategory of Worker and Remote Service Provider Stay

To complete the whole process follow this link, here.

Artist, Athlete and Member of Public Shows, Professional and Technical Guests

Requirements

• Application for legal permanence where the qualities of the interested party, pretension, current domicile and place or means for notifications are indicated; which must be signed by the foreigner in the presence of a Public Official or duly authenticated by a Lawyer.

• Proof of payment in favor of the Government for the concept of fiscal species (¢ 125 + ¢ 2.50 for each folio) in accordance with the Law for the Financial Balance of the Public Sector, which must be deposited in account #242476-2 of the Bank of Costa Rica. For this payment you must go through the appraisal process, so click here to know the process: Payment of the fiscal species.pdf Link of Banco de Costa Rica: Appraisal Fixed Amounts

• Two recent passport size photographs.

• Birth certificate of the foreign person issued in the country of origin duly legalized and authenticated or apostilled. 

• Certification of criminal record of the foreign person from his/her country of origin or the place where he/she has resided legally for the last three years, duly legalized and authenticated or apostilled. For this purpose, the foreigner must additionally prove the legality of his/her stay in that country by means of a certified copy of the immigration document obtained within the indicated period.

• Photocopy of the pages of your passport where the qualities of the foreigner, the stamp of entry to Costa Rica and the entry visa are found, in case your nationality requires it, which must be certified by a notary public or be compared against the original by the official of the Service Platform or regional headquarters where the procedure is presented. (Thus amended the previous paragraph by Article 2 of Executive Decree No. 42389 of January 17, 2022).

• Certification issued by the institution, individual or legal entity or company concerned and signed by the legal representative, stating the reasons for which the foreign person will stay in the country, the activities to be performed and the period of stay.

• Letter from the Ministry of Culture and Youth or from UNAFUT, or whoever the latter delegates for these purposes, in the case of artists, athletes and members of public shows, or from a Minister of State in the case of outstanding professionals or technicians or invited persons of importance for the country. Said document must indicate the endorsement of the activity for which the foreign persons will enter the country.

• In case of public spectacles, the authorizations issued by the Office of Public Spectacles of the Ministry of Justice and Peace and by the Office of Public Spectacles of the National Theater, both for the entire duration of the event, must be provided.

• Original and copy or certified copy of the contract signed between the artists, athletes or members of public shows and the person in charge of the event.

Transfer Staff

Requirements
 

• Application for legal permanence where the qualities of the interested party, pretension, domicile where he/she will remain in Costa Rica and place or means for notifications are indicated; which must be signed by the foreigner in the presence of a Public Official or duly authenticated by a Lawyer.

• Proof of payment in favor of the Government for the concept of fiscal species (¢ 125 + ¢ 2.50 for each folio) in accordance with the Law for the Financial Equilibrium of the Public Sector, which must be deposited in account #242476-2 of the Bank of Costa Rica. For this payment you must go through the appraisal process, so click here to know the process: Payment of the fiscal species.pdf Link of the Bank of Costa Rica: Appraisal Fixed Amounts

• Two recent passport size photographs.

• Photocopy of the pages of your passport where the qualities of the foreign person, the stamp of entry to Costa Rica and the entry visa are found, in case your nationality requires it, which must be certified by a notary public or be compared against the original by the official of the Service Platform or regional headquarters where the procedure is presented. (Thus amended the previous paragraph by Article 2 of Executive Decree No. 42389 of January 17, 2022).

• Letter from the Company indicating the reasons for moving to the country and the work to be performed.

• Proof of payment for the amount of two hundred dollars (US$ 200), according to the provisions of article 89 of the Law.

After Sales Management Preventive and Corrective Maintenance Services Staffing

Requirements

 

• Application for legal permanence where the qualities of the interested party, pretension, domicile where he/she will remain in Costa Rica and place or means for notifications are indicated; which must be signed by the foreigner in the presence of a Public Official or duly authenticated by a Lawyer.
• Proof of payment in favor of the Government for the concept of fiscal species (¢ 125 + ¢ 2.50 for each folio) in accordance with the Law for the Financial Equilibrium of the Public Sector, which must be deposited in account #242476-2 of the Bank of Costa Rica. For this payment you must go through the appraisal process, so click here to know the process: Payment of the fiscal species.pdf Link of the Bank of Costa Rica: Appraisal Fixed Amounts
• Two recent passport size photographs.
• Photocopy of the pages of your passport where the qualities of the foreign person, the stamp of entry to Costa Rica and the entry visa are found, in case your nationality requires it, which must be certified by a notary public or be compared against the original by the official of the Service Platform or regional headquarters where the procedure is presented. (Thus amended the previous paragraph by Article 2 of Executive Decree No. 42389 of January 17, 2022).
• Letter from the Company indicating the reasons for which he/she must remain in the country and the work he/she will perform.
• Certified copy of the contract that generates the obligation of the services.
• Proof of payment for the amount of two hundred dollars (US$ 200.00), according to the provisions of article 89 of the Law.

Vinculo to Researcher, Faculty, Professional and Volunteer of Registered Institution

Persons eligible for this special category are the spouse and minor or adult children or children with disabilities who are economically dependent of researchers, teachers, professionals and volunteers of registered institutions.

Requirements

• Affiliation form duly completed; printed, legible and signed.

• Letter indicating the reasons for requesting the special category. The applicant's full name, nationality, age, occupation, address where he/she lives and place or means of notification must be indicated.

• The letter must be signed, it can be done in front of the Immigration officer or the signature can be authenticated by a lawyer.

• Proof of payment in favor of the Government for the concept of fiscal species (¢ 125 + ¢ 2.50 for each folio) in accordance with the Law for the Financial Balance of the Public Sector, which must be deposited in account #242476-2 of the Bank of Costa Rica. For this payment you must go through the APPRAISAL process, so click here to know the process: Payment of the fiscal species.pdf Link to Banco de Costa Rica: Appraisal of Fixed Amounts

• Two passport size photographs, front view and recent date of the foreigner.

• Proof of fingerprint registration, issued by the Ministry of Public Security.

• Proof of consular registration. The requirements for such inscription will be determined at the corresponding Consulate.

• Birth certificate of the foreigner; issued in the country of origin, duly legalized or apostilled.

• Photocopy of all the pages of the valid passport of the foreigner. The photocopy must be certified, either confronted with the original before the official who receives them, or by means of a notary public.

• The spouse whose marriage took place outside the national territory, must carry the marriage certificate duly legalized and authenticated or apostilled, with a date of issue not older than two months at the moment of the presentation of the application.

• In the case of disabled children, medical certification must be presented.

Occupation-Specific Worker to Work with a Natural Person (domestic employee)

Requirements

 

• Affiliation form duly completed; printed, legible and signed.

• Letter stating the reasons for requesting the special category. The applicant's full name, nationality, age, occupation, address where he/she lives and place or means of notification must be indicated.

• The letter must be signed, it can be done in front of the Immigration officer or the signature can be authenticated by a lawyer.

• Proof of payment in favor of the Government for the concept of fiscal species (¢ 125 + ¢ 2.50 for each folio) in accordance with the Law for the Financial Balance of the Public Sector, which must be deposited in account #242476-2 of the Bank of Costa Rica. For this payment you must go through the APPRAISAL process, so click here to know the process: Payment of the fiscal species.pdf Link to Banco de Costa Rica: Appraisal of Fixed Amounts

• Two passport size photographs, front view and recent date of the foreigner.

• Proof of fingerprint registration, issued by the Ministry of Public Security.

• Proof of consular registration. The requirements for such inscription will be determined at the corresponding Consulate.

• Birth certificate of the foreigner; issued in the country of origin, duly legalized or apostilled.

• Certification of criminal record of the foreigner from his/her country of origin or the place where he/she has resided legally for the last three years, duly legalized and authenticated or apostilled. For these effects it will have to demonstrate additionally the legality of its permanence in that country by means of certified copy of the migratory document obtained in the indicated term.

• Photocopy of all the pages of the valid passport of the foreigner. The photocopy must be certified, either by confronting it with the original before the official who receives it, or by means of a notary public.

• Letter from the employer guaranteeing the permanence of the foreigner in the intended migratory condition.

• Certified copy or, failing that, original and copy to be checked by a public official, of the employer's valid identity document.

• Duly authenticated job offer, indicating at least the functions, schedule, salary to be earned, signed by the employer.

• Proof of the economic solvency of the employer by means of one of the following documents:

1. Certification of income issued by Certified Public Accountant.

2. Proof of salary.

3. Employer's order in force or letters from the employers with letterhead and company stamp indicating gross and net salary, years of service and position.

4. Retired persons must provide proof of pension, presenting receipts, or certification issued by competent authority indicating the amount and time of retirement.

Specific Occupation Worker to Work with a Legal Entity

Requirements

• Affiliation form duly completed; printed, legible and signed.

• Letter stating the reasons for requesting the special category. The applicant's full name, nationality, age, occupation, address where he/she lives and place or means of notification must be indicated.

• The letter must be signed, it can be done in front of the Immigration officer or the signature can be authenticated by a lawyer.

• Proof of payment in favor of the Government for the concept of fiscal species (¢ 125 + ¢ 2.50 for each folio) in accordance with the Law for the Financial Balance of the Public Sector, which must be deposited in account #242476-2 of the Bank of Costa Rica. For this payment you must go through the APPRAISAL process, so click here to know the process: Payment of the fiscal species.pdf Link to Banco de Costa Rica: Appraisal of Fixed Amounts

• Two passport size photographs, front view and recent date of the foreigner.

• Proof of fingerprint registration, issued by the Ministry of Public Security.

• Proof of consular registration. The requirements for such inscription will be determined at the corresponding Consulate.

• Birth certificate of the foreigner; issued in the country of origin, duly legalized or apostilled.

• Photocopy of all the pages of the valid passport of the foreigner. The photocopies must be certified, either by confronting them with the original before the official who receives them, or by means of a notary public.

• Duly authenticated job offer indicating at least the functions, schedule, salary to be earned, signed by the employer.

• Certification of income, balance sheet and income statement, issued by a Certified Public Accountant.

• The employer must be up to date with its obligations before the CCSS, according to the terms of article 74 of the Constitutive Law of the Costa Rican Social Security Fund, its Regulations and reforms.

• Certification of the corresponding insurance company, which indicates that the company is up to date in the payment of the labor risk policy or proof of payment duly certified or compared with the original.

• Certification of legal status of the company or institution with date of issue not more than one month prior to the presentation of the request for temporary residence for the foreigner.

• Proof that the company or society is up to date with the payment of municipal and tax taxes.

Worker linked to Specific Projects and Projects of Public Interest

Requirements

• - Affiliation form duly completed; printed, legible and signed.

  - Letter stating the reasons for requesting the special category. The applicant's full name, nationality, age, occupation, address where he/she lives and place or means of notification must be indicated.

  - The letter must be signed, it can be done in front of the Immigration officer or the signature can be authenticated by a lawyer.

  - Proof of payment in favor of the Government for the concept of fiscal species (¢ 125 + ¢ 2.50 for each folio) in accordance with the Law for the Financial Balance of the Public Sector, which must be deposited in account #242476-2 of the Bank of Costa Rica.

• For this payment you must go through the APPRAISAL process, so click here to know the process: Payment of the fiscal species.pdf Link of Banco de Costa Rica: Appraisal of Fixed Amounts

  - Two passport size photographs, front view and recent date of the foreigner.

  - Proof of fingerprint registration, issued by the Ministry of Public Security.

  - Proof of consular registration. The requirements for such inscription will be determined at the corresponding Consulate.

  - Birth certificate of the foreigner; issued in the country of origin, duly legalized or apostilled.

  - Photocopy of all the pages of the valid passport of the foreigner. The photocopies must be certified, either by confronting them with the original before the official who receives them, or by means of a notary public.

  - Letter from the Ministry or State institution or Company for which the work or project will be carried out, detailing the importance of the project or work and its scope.

  - Certified copy of the contract for the work or project, duly countersigned if required.

  - If applicable, a certified copy of the publication of the award or a certified copy of the declaration of public interest.

  - Certification issued by the insurance company, stating that the company has a risk policy and that it is up to date with the payment thereof.

  - Certification of legal status of the company or corporation with an issue date no more than one month prior to the presentation of the application.

  - Proof that the company or corporation is up to date with the payment of national and municipal taxes.

  - The company must be up to date with its obligations before the Costa Rican National Social Security Fund (Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social).

Temporary Workers

Requirements

1. Affiliation form duly completed, printed, legible and signed.

2. Letter signed by the legal representative of the company or employer, explaining the salaried activities to be performed by the foreigner, the season and the area where he/she will work.

3. Recommendation issued by the Ministry of Labor authorizing the company or employer to hire foreign labor, such authorization must indicate the authorized amount, work area and activity.

4. Photocopy of all the pages of the valid passport or safe-conduct of the foreigner. The photocopy must be certified, either by confronting it with the original before the official who receives it, or by means of a notary public.

5. Two passport size photographs, front view and recent date of the foreigner.

6. Proof of consular registration. The requirements for such registration will be determined at the corresponding Consulate.

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Important Notes

• All requests for residency must be made when the foreigner is legally in the country; that is to say, that his/her visa has not expired.

• The authorization as a temporary worker can be for up to one year and can be extended.

• Persons requesting permission as temporary workers who are under the bi-national agreements signed by Costa Rica and third countries, are exempt from the above requirements. Otherwise, they must comply with the requirements established in such agreements.

Cross-Border Worker

Requirements

1. Affiliation form duly completed; printed, legible and signed.

2. Identity card of the foreigner.

3. Two passport size photographs, front view and recent date of the foreigner.

4. Letter from the employer or job offer, indicating the functions and place where the foreigner will work. In case the employer is a legal entity, he/she must provide the legal status of the company.

5. Proof of the economic solvency of the employer by means of a reliable document such as a certificate issued by an authorized public accountant, proof of salary, among others.

6. Identity document of the employer.

7. Document issued by the Delegation of the Ministry of Public Security, of the place of residence, in which the applicant's domicile is certified.

 

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Important notes

• Cross-border workers will be the foreigners neighboring the border areas with Costa Rica, authorized by the General Direction of Migration to enter and leave the national territory, in order to perform salaried activities.

• The request for Special Category as Cross Border Worker must be processed before the Regional Offices of the General Directorate of Immigration and Foreigners.

• The neighboring geographic area on the Costa Rican side allowed for this type of permit will be the following:

• Peñas Blancas, from the central canton of La Cruz to the border line with Nicaragua in Peñas Blancas.

Los Chiles, in the central canton of Los Chiles

• Sixaola, central canton of Sixaola

• Sabalito, central canton of Coto Brus

• Paso Canoas, canton of Corredores

All services offered by the Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería are free of charge, only the taxes established by law must be paid.

Go only to the personnel duly identified to consult about requirements, appointments and attention quotas.

Change of Employer: if you are a migrant and changed employer (contracting person)

• If you have a migratory category linked to an employer, and at this moment you have a different employer or you are going to change it, you must inform the General Directorate of Immigration and Foreigners of the change, since whoever responds as your employer must be registered as such in your migratory category file.

• If this is the case, you must verify that your special or temporary category document is valid. If it is not, you will have to do a new procedure.

• In order to change your employer, you must submit the following:

• A written request for the change of employer, indicating the name of your new employer and information such as identification number.

• A duly authenticated job offer, indicating at least the functions, schedule and salary to be earned, signed by the employer.

• Proof of the economic solvency of the employer by means of certification issued by an authorized public accountant, proof of salary Employer's order in force or letters from employers with letterhead and company seal indicating gross and net salary, years of service and position o Retired persons must provide proof of pension, presenting receipts, or certification issued by competent authority indicating the amount and time of retirement, or any other document indicated in article 22 of the Alien Regulations. 

• It is important to consider that you must continue to comply with the conditions and requirements established for the category or subcategory you have approved.

• There is no additional cost for the change of employer, you will only have to pay the amounts indicated by Law and regulations. 

Important notes

• Remember that all services offered by the General Directorate of Immigration and Alien Affairs are free of charge, only the taxes established by law must be paid.
• Go only to the personnel duly identified to consult about requirements, appointments and attention quotas.

• Refugee claimants: you must request an appointment by calling 1311 or  Whatsapp 6196-2411 and make your inquiry.

Find each of these categories here on the official website of the Dirección de Migración y Extranjería.

Change of migratory category: as we know when entering as a tourist, a regular stay permit is granted in the country; If the person at this time decides to make a change to apply to any of the above categories, he must make the payment of $200 for said change.

More information here.