Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Costa Rica Immigration Department (Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería Costa Rica) has implemented new guidelines for processing residency applications and extended the validity of residency documents that show the legal migratory status of…
Costa Rica is reopening many business and social activities in the month of September, under the model "Costa Rica trabaja y se cuida" (Costa Rica works and takes care of itself), placing the bulk of the responsibility to slow the…
At CRIE we get a lot of questions about the local rules and guidelines regarding quarantine in Costa Rica. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there are temporary quarantine and isolation measures in place in the country. As of this writing…
Costa Rica is a small, rather insignificant and out of the way middle-income Central American country. Yet in many respects it punches above its weight class. Two examples come to mind: the abolition of a standing army in 1949, and…
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Costa Rican borders have been closed since March 19. Entry to the country has been limited to citizens and residents with mandatory 14-day quarantine, and other limited exceptions. As of this writing, the border closure…
My gym is open. The barber shop is open -- I can go get my hair cut and beard trimmed. I can head over to San José Saturday morning and go to the weekend markets, or to one of the…
Pura Vida! We have some URGENT NEWS to share... Starting April 21st, 2020, Costa Rica Immigration (La Migración) will start charging fines for people trying to leave the country with an: - Expired DIMEX with Temporary Residency/Special Categories* (WE CAN…
The "Pura Vida" vibe in Costa Rica is contagious. The Costa Rica Holidays are a great time to really enjoy the taste of good typical food, make new friends and learn more of the rich culture that is celebrated throughout…
In November, the immigration department of Costa Rica (known as DGME - Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería, or often just as Migración) put into place some updates to the residency application process. These changes are intended to streamline the…
Great news for entrepreneurs and small business in Costa Rica! A new regulation that allows very small businesses (5 workers or less) to reduce their social security contributions for its workers is now in place. Check out the press release…
