The Sunday, January 12, 2014 electronic edition of The Costa Rica Star, a local English-Language publication, contained an article titled “New Law in Costa Rica for Perpetual Tourists.”
While we, at Residency in Costa Rica, do not condone or encourage being a perpetual tourist, those inaccuracies have caused undue concern and worry to individuals currently living in Costa Rica as perpetual tourists. The article is not accurate in many respects. The statements attributed to Mario Zamora are from the year 2010, and are not effective in 2014.
Here is a link to the Costa Rica Star article (and its explanation as to why the article was published, as it appears in the January 13, 2014 edition: http://news.co.cr/new-law-in-costa-rica-for-perpetual-tourists/31555/
Here is a link to the original story, published February 19, 2010 by amcostarica.com See also our archives for February 19, 2010: http://www.amcostarica.com/021910.htm
We wanted to correct some of the inaccuracies of the article and to put to rest some of the fears and concerns created by the article. Please read a Letter to the Editor of Costa Rica Star sent to the Editor this morning.
Saludos cordiales,
Residency in Costa Rica
Dear Editor. I write to call to your attention that the article “New Law in Costa Rica for Perpetual Tourists” that appeared in the 1.12.2014 edition of your publication is not only almost four (4) years old but it is inaccurate in many respects. It’s great for my business but you are causing unnecessary panic amongst the many perpetual tourists residing in Costa Rica. Strongly recommend you check your sources and information more closely.
I have no idea why The Costa Rica Star published today, January 12, 2014, an article that almost four (4) years old yet it is made be to current. I strongly suggest you read the amcostarica.com edition of February 19, 2010 (also reprinted with permission in our website), a more accurate newspaper where they write their own stories. Please feel free to search the archives of amcostarica.com for the quote from Mario Zamora.
ERRORS AND INACCURACIES – PARTIAL LIST
- “Costa Rica’s new immigration law goes into effect March 1.” That was correct back in 2009, but not in 2014. The changes to the Ley de Migracion were approved on August 2009 and the new Law took effect on March 1, 2010.
- “Mario Zamora, the director general of Migración y Extranjería,” ==Mario Zamora has not been the director of Migracion for almost three years. He has been the Ministro de Seguridad Publica in the Chinchilla Administration since April 28, 20113
- “Mario Zamora, the director general of Migración y Extranjería, said Thursday that a tourist will not be able to go to the same country twice and that after two trips to renew a visa a tourist will have to stay out of Costa Rica for a minimum of 15 days.” ==Zamora made those off-the-cuff remarks in a radio interview almost four years ago. It is NOT the law. It was never in the law and it is not effect now.
- “Instead of traveling to another country to renew a tourist visa, a foreigner can go to any immigration location and renew another 90 days for $100.” ==NOT so. US, Canadian and most Western European tourists who enter Costa Rica on a 90-day tourist visa DO NOT qualify to renew their visas by paying the $100. That method of renewal is available ONLY to tourists who enter Costa Rica on a 30-day visa.
- “The rule that a tourist cannot renew a visa by traveling to the same country twice is new.” ==This NOT the law – it doesn’t exist anywhere. This was part of the radio interview remarks.
Please use caution when reprinting articles from unreliable sources. You are creating great harm to the community.
Saludos,
Javier Zavaleta
Residency in Costa Rica
Box 86352, Los Angeles, CA 90086
Tel (323) 255-6116 – Fax (323) 344-1620
In Costa Rica: Tel 506.2226.0755 – En español
On the Web at www.residencyincostarica.com