CrflagMany have been waiting a long time to see what was going to happen with the changes that were pending for the Immigration Law. Well on December 12th the newly approved law 14269 was finally published, and will actually go into effect eight months later.

According to the ARCR, the main reason for the new law is supposedly public security for Costa Rica, and criminalizes aspects such as smuggling people into Costa Rica illegally or providing them with lodging.

Sadly, we still don’t have all the exact details on the new law as they are still in the process of writing the rules. Nor do we know once the law is in effect, how it will really be enforced.

This is what we do know, however:

Pensionados
Those who were looking to apply for residency under this category will be happy to know that the amount required to qualify for this category has remained the same at $600/month from a permanent pension source or retirement fund.

Rentistas
This category was in danger of going away completely. But due to the hard work of the ARCR lobbyists, it looks like this category will remain. However, the dollar amount required to qualify for married folk and families has gone up severely. Individuals are still required to come up with $1,000 monthly, but it looks like spouses will have to meet this $1,000 monthly requirement, as well as $500 per child. So a family of four would need $3,000 a month. Yikes!

These new details, such as required amounts, will not affect those of us who already have residency (or those who apply before the new law comes into effect). Another plus, however, is that the new law specifically allows for those with 3 years residency to be able to change to “Permanent Residency Status.” Again, the details are still not complete, but many find this status easier to manage. I for one would love to get a license-looking cedula (ID card) instead of this bulky passport-looking one!

According to Ryan Piercy of the ARCR, there is another really important point for those who already have, or plan to have residency. It has to do with proving the minimum amount of time you must spend here each year. Piercy says:

“It is now necessary to know that, due to a resolution at the Constitutional Court and the increase of false Immigration stamps, you need to keep all airline boarding passes, personal vehicle exit permits, bus tickets or other proof of entry/exit. The Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería has informed that in case of lack of migratory movement in their computers for Entry or Exit, it will not be sufficient to simply show the stamps in your passport.

In case the medium of transport you use does not have any of the above (or you don’t have them for prior trips), you will need to present a letter from that company. This letter can be difficult to obtain for past trips, especially as airlines only keep flight records for 6 months, so if you don’t have proof, get it now. Again, KEEP YOUR TRAVEL BOARDING PASSES along with your exchange receipts to be presented at renewal time. The responsibility falls to you to prove you were here.”

For more information on the ARCR and their fantastic list of services, please see their website, call (506) 233-8068 or e-mail them.