Job Discussion Forums

fran91 · Joined: 07 Oct 2014 Posts: 1

I have heard that the authorities are cracking down on perennial 'tourists' in Costa Rica and aren't always granting foreigners coming into the country a 90 day tourist visa. Can anyone who is currently in Costa Rica confirm whether this is true?

And if so, does anyone have any advice for how to still live and work in Costa Rica without permanent residency? Are there any jobs that provide work visas and how does this process work?

And finally, what are the penalties you face if found to be working on a tourist visa? Ie what's the worst they can do!?

Thank you very much for your help!

esl_prof · Posted: Thu Oct 09, 2014 3:08 pm Post subject:

Hopefully, somebody on this forum can give you a reply. But, given that this is not a very active forum, you might also try doing a Google or Facebook search for Costa Rica expat forums where you can connect with other expats who are not necessarily ESL teachers. Such forums are typically a good source of information regarding the types of questions you are asking.

Alternatively, you might also look for schools such as this . . .

http://www.tefl-tips.com/2014/09/the-best-tefl-jobs-in-costa-rica.html

. . . that will help you get legal permission to work.

Good luck!

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

I just got back from my first visit to Costa Rica (lovely place!).

The work visa is very hard to get and none of the language schools will assist you with it. Only the international schools are set up to do it. A friend there that has worked in ESL but is now in a unrelated field has been driven mad trying to obtain permission to work, trying for several years now.

I don't know about a crackdown though, sorry.

mtiz · Joined: 18 May 2014 Posts: 41

I lived in Costa Rica for a year as a "perpetual" tourist in 2013. Coming back for the next year, I got hassled entering from immigration and given a short ten day visa and was not granted the 90 day visa I needed. I could have fought it but I finally decided it was not worth the hassle to go through that type pf stress and left Costa Rica for good. I know lots of people who have lived there for years and have not experienced problems, and other people who have had problems. It really depends on which immigration officer you get on the wrong day.