Job Discussion Forums

[justenanderson]

I'm planning on leaving to CR next July, but have some concerns about obtaining a visa. My understanding is that I can get a 90-day tourist visa but that getting a temporary residence permit (a visa for 6 months) will require employer endorsement. However, to get employer endorsement, you have to be legally cleared to work - kind of a catch 22.

My impression is this: We leave for CR and arrive on a tourist visa. Then, we job hunt, find a job and apply for a temp residence permit allowing us to remain in the country.

Is this accurate? If not, what do I do?

Gracias

[OleLarssen]

Your impression is correct. The alternative is finding a good job with a company that will help you get a work permit before you arrive, which will not happen unless you're connected with one of the bigger international companies here and transferring in.

When you deliver the application for a work permit you supposedly get a date for an interview with Migracion. That date - an official paper - is good enough for most companies as far as I understand.

The problem is, as you already have surmised, getting an endorsement from a company. There's a number of work-arounds, some legal, some grey zone. I would suggest that you talk to a local lawyer about it and see what you can find out. I can suggest one if you don't have any clue. Depending on the resources you have available upon arriving here, you will probably have to settle for working illegally for a company, who will endorse you for a residency permit, and then you push papers for, oh say anywhere between 6 months to 3 years, depending on the skills of your lawyer.

Hope this helps. Welcome to the third world. :)

[justenanderson]

Thank you very much for your response; it was very helpful.

[OleLarssen]

Glad I could help. Hope you don't feel discouraged!

[deessell2]

I stayed in CR for a year on a tourist visa. I overstayed by 4 months on my first three month visa, then I flew to the DR and there were no problems leaving or coming back in. The only time I had my passport checked was on a bus at Liberia, close to the border of Guatemala. I was lucky, at the time my visa was current.

Costa Rica is a very beautiful country but it's not a viable, long term destination for teachers. I found it very expensive, after being in Asia for so long and I met a few expat teachers that were essentially 'stuck' there, they couldn't afford to leave.

I also found the local cuisine quite bland, which was disappointing!

But Arenal Volcano made it all worth while. This is my number one 'must see', of all my travels. Nothing can compare to drinking a beer in a hot pool, watching red lava erupting from a live volcano.

[PuraVidas]

You can cross into Panama for 72 hours every 90 days and renew your visa. I did it for a number of years before I became legal. Panama is almost 50% cheaper than CR and the Bocas del Toro make a great spot to take your forced vacation. Immigration just cracked down on people overstaying their visas this year, so be sure to stick to the 90 days schedule or you could find yourself paying some fines.

[jdickies]

Hey,

I'm in a similar situation to justenanderson. I'm leaving for Costa Rica shortly and will arrive on a 90 day tourist visa. From there I hope to land a job and get a temporary residence permit.

However, what I'm confused about is what documentation I need to bring with me to Costa Rica. What supporting documents do you need to get a temporary residence permit? Do you just need an employer to endorse you, or do you also require a police background check from your home country, a copy of your birth certificate, a copy of your degree, etc. Everyone I've spoken to has advised something different, so it's a little confusing...

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