Comments on: The New Costa Rica Immigration Law

By: Costaricafinca

Costaricafinca — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 16:31:36 +0000

No a ‘common law relationship’ is not recognized here for residency purposes. You will be required to apply independently of each other so both of you will need at least the $1000 per month pension.

By: Francine Miller

Francine Miller — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 21:08:05 +0000

I have been in a common law relationship for the past 10 years. Does Costa Rica recognize common law relationship as “married” for the purpose of pensionado residency? If so, what kind of document do they require since I don’t have a marriage certificate?

Thank you
Francine

By: Tim

Tim — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 19:52:34 +0000

You should contact a residency attorney here for this information.

By: Ramon

Ramon — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 18:20:40 +0000

I believe I to qualify for a pensionado but in addition to my spouse I support a dependant with disabilities who is over 18 years of age. Would I be able to bring her with me to CR as pensionado?

By: Tim

Tim — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 16:59:24 +0000

Please rad this carefully.

http://www.therealcostarica.com/residency_costa_rica/working_costa_rica.html

By: Travis

Travis — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 20:53:23 +0000

Hello Tim,

I am the head of a small family(Wife and Son) in Austin, Texas. I have read through the blog and to be honest I am somewhat confused. My family and I have a few thousand dollars saved up and were looking to make the move to CR soon. I would still need to bring in some source of income while down there to make student loan payments etc. here in the United States. My wife and I really don’t have a designated time we would like to stay, but with the economy being as it is and me unable to make the right moves towards my career we would like to do something like this now while we are young and don’t have too many obligations.

I speak Spanish and have experience in the service industry as well as a college degree, but it almost seems impossible to be able to establish a life down there for my family and I. Although it seems like a lot of things fall through the cracks with the Govt. down there I want to do it the right way, especially for the sake of my son who is 1 and a half. I have looked into being certified to teach English in Costa Rica and noticed it would cost about $2,000 U.S., but it only pays out about $400-$800 monthly and from what I understand….. I need to make $2,500 monthly or is that just the amount I need to deposit when I get there? Do you have any advice on what my “Best Bet” would be if I wanted to move my family down there for more than a couple months?

Thank you,

Travis

By: Tim

Tim — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 17:15:16 +0000

1. Laws are never published in English. Spanish is the language of Costa Rica

2. I have covered this in detail many times in many locations. I amnot going to do it again here. Believe as you wish.

3. Nothing has been defined as of yet. Wait and see.

By: Tim

Tim — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 16:40:40 +0000

Sorry. There are no residency plans that require income. One requires a source of funds (not income) and another requires a deposit. Permaenet residency requires neither but is NOT automatic by marrying a Costa Rican citizen.

By: Joe

Joe — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 02:36:07 +0000

I am assuming that if you marry a citzen and the gov can verify that it is true, you can be exempt from the income requirements??

By: Wren

Wren — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 02:27:45 +0000

Tim, your blog is very informative. Thank you for the information.

A few questions:

1. In regards to the new law, has it been published online anywhere in English? The actual text of the law, I mean?

2. How is “perpetual tourism” not legal? Where does it say it’s not legal? It seems to me that if they issue you a new visa, it’s a new visa and legal for another 90 days.

3. Also in regards to the new law—I’ve heard that it sets a limit (2 times only) to the number of times you can reenter the country/renew a 90-day tourist visa. Is this true or just more rumour?