June 27, 2020 — Update
NOTE: CURRENT AS OF 06/26/2020. INFORMATION SUBECT TO CHANGE ON SHORT NOTICE.
We write to provide an update on the effects Corona Virus (CV-19) is having in the application for residency process. The information provided is based on (a) 06.26.2020 Health Dept. news press release, and (b) the latest Migracion bulletin, published in La Gaceta, the official newspaper of the government of Costa Rica, on May 31, 2020, and as listed in Migracion’s webpage ( http://migracion.go.cr ) and Facebook page.
CURRENT STATUS:
Migracion offices Closed: Migracion continues closed to the public (since March 17, 2020). Reopens to the public July 20, 2020
The closure applies to all Migracion offices, including headquarters in La Uruca and regional offices (Migracion’s Facebook page, 05/14/2020).
Expected date of Migracion reopening for residency application business: Monday, July 20, 2020.
Borders – Reopening date for tourists: July 31, 2020 at 23:59 hours – airports open ONLY to specific countries, based upon how successful the country is in controlling CV19. Assume the US is not going to be in the first opening date.
https://www.facebook.com/migracioncostarica/
See also US Embassy website’s facts, at the end of this message.
In-bound commercial flights
According to the Costa Rican Consulate in Los Angeles, there is currently one in-bound flight from United Airlines, from Houston to San Jose, once-a-week. Other clients report available flights from other airlines, but I cannot confirm that information.
Pending Applications – delay in processing: We expect at least a 45-60-day delay in the processing of applications already filed. We have not received any new communications from Migracion via e-mail regarding status of applications since about April 14th.
Most frequently asked questions:
- MOST ASKED QUESTION: If I have my application for residency in process, BUT I have not yet been approved, can I enter CR now, prior to the borders being opened?
- Answer: Most likely NOT. In the original announcement of the closing of the borders back in March, the ability to enter CR by a person whose application is pending was not addressed.
- But, on Migracion’s website there is a paragraph (even now, also in the US embassy website) that says that someone with a filed application and who has the application number can enter Costa Rica prior to the opening of the borders. https://migracion.go.cr/Paginas/Cierre-de-Fronteras.aspx Item No. 2; https://cr.usembassy.gov/covid-19-information/
- However, this issue has NOT been mentioned in the last three most recent announcements—see below. Thus, we are not 100% certain of the answer but if I were to guess I would say there is at least a 98% probability that you will NOT be allowed in without being a legal resident. We sent emails to Migracion asking clarification to this question. Its answer, on 06/01/2020 was the highlighted info below, from the 05.31.2020 announcement.
05.31.2020 Announcement: Individuals with pending applications are NOT included in the very specific list of individuals who are able to enter Costa Rica prior to the reopening of the borders on July 1st:
“ARTICLE 5.- The restriction measures established in article 2 of this Executive Decree, as well as the sanitary actions that the Ministry of Health will carry out.
In this sense, they will be applied to foreign persons who have an
authorized legal stay under the immigration categories of Residence
Permanent, Temporary Residence, Special Categories or Non-Residents under the “Estancia” subcategory, that leave the country between 23:59 hours on March 25 and 11:59 p.m. on June 30, 2020, both dates inclusive…” (Google translation)
TIME LINE, AS OF 06.26.2020 – Subject to changes on short notice
| Event | Old Date | NEW DATE |
| Migracion reopens for specific emergencies only: issue passports to Costa Ricans, permit for a minor to exit CR, etc.
|
04/18/2020 | May 18, 2020 |
| Appointments to obtain residency card –DIMEX—for the first time are made ONLY thru Correos Nacionales or Banco de costa Rica. | ONLY Pensionado to get first DIMEX card, and renewals: Appointments at BCR or Correos Nacionales can be made now.
|
|
| Airports schedule to re-open, allowing travelers from countries who are controlling the number of CV cases.
|
06/15/2020 | August 1, 2020 at 00:01 hrs.
|
| Migracion reopens to the general public, starts to accept new residency applications, get copies of files, etc.
|
04/18/2020 | July 20, 2020 |
| All scheduled appointments at Migracion are postponed to a date after:
|
July 18, 2020 | |
| Tourist visas extended. The tourist visa of a tourist who entered Costa Rica after 17 December 2019 is extended until:
|
Varies | August 18, 2020
|
| Driving with a non-Costa Rican driver’s license extended for the same amount of time of the tourist visa extension:
|
Expires when the tourist visa expires | August 18, 2020
|
| Expiration date of any document (birth certificates, FBI reports, income letters, etc.) is extended to. | 6 months after issue | September 18, 2020
For example, the document was issued October 1, 2019, but could not be filed prior to its expiration date of April 1, 2020 because Migracion was closed, will now be valid and accepted until September 18, 2020.
|
| Time to respond to a “prevencion” – a request from Migracion to the applicant to present additional information or documentation, most commonly an FBI report – is extended.
|
Varies | September 18, 2020
|
| Attorney appointments at Migracion are re-scheduled for dates after:
|
Varies | September 18, 2020
|
| Validity of Permanent Resident DIMEX cards that expired after December 18, 2019 is automatically extended until
|
Varies | September 30, 2020
|
| Validity of Pensionado, Rentista, Inversionista and all special category DIMEX cards that expired after December 18, 2019 is automatically extended until
|
Varies | September 30, 2020
|
| The time to renew all expired DIMEX card is extended without penalty for:
|
Varies | Up to 90 days after September 30, 2020
NOTE: “estancia” DIMEX cards have different rules/deadlines
|
