www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Answers to many of the questions expats have on how the law will be applied will be contained in the regulations that have not yet been published.

With a requirement that residents join the Caja and a beefed up police force, the possibility of a crackdown on so-called perpetual tourists is a possibility. Some in government seek to restrict tourists to two 90-day visits a year.

New Costa Rican Immigration Law Approved!

In second and final debate, the new immgration law was passed by the country's legislators Tuesday evening. But, it won't be until next year and the next government to apply the new rules.

The approval vote for the new Ley de Migración , that bolsters the powers of the Policía Migratoria (immigration police), increases immigration controls and forces foreigners to immerse in Costa Rican culture, came at 7pm Tuesday night.

Although the complete text of the law approved is yet to be made available, the main changes are the criminilization of the trafficking of persons, creates a tribunal for complaints and appeals of the immigration service decisions and forces hotel operators to maintain a register of all their guests.

The new immigration law also increases the montly financial requirements for pensionados to us$1.000 from the current us$600 and legal residents will have to join the Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social (CCSS).

The new law, once it goes into effect, will ask Rentistas to demonstrate a permanent fixed income of at least us$2.500 monthly from the current us $1.000, marriages of convenience will also come under attack, with the immigration having the authority to investigate arranged marriages for the sole purpose of obtaining legal residency.

Under the new law, foreigners will have to prove that the marriage is a bonafied union, that the parties know each other and may be subject to a joint interview by immigration officials, who will also interview people who are said to know the couple and the marriage.

Foreigners detained for immigration irregularities, under the new law, can only be held for a maximum of 24 hours, the time the immigration service has to demonstrate that the detained foreigner is in the country illegally or set him or her free.

Questions to how the new immigration law affects foreigners living in the country, who have obtained their legal residency or an in the process, as well as those considering moving to Costa Rica, can only be answered when the full text of the new immigration law is published in the official government publication, La Gaceta.

...marriages of convenience will also come under attack, with the immigration having the authority to investigate arranged marriages for the sole purpose of obtaining legal residency.

Under the new law, foreigners will have to prove that the marriage is a bonafied union, that the parties know each other and may be subject to a joint interview by immigration officials, who will also interview people who are said to know the couple and the marriage.

To the extent that this part of the law is enforced, it may have more of an effect on working girls than on gringos. There was an article in La Nación last week that discussed this aspect of the law which certainly gave the impression that it was a high priority for both the lawmakers and Migración.

I can't imagine anyone trying to live in CR on less than $1000 per month. Shouldn't impact anyone.

those pesky Nicos and Columbianos

Another feature that I had heard that the new law contained is that visitors are limited to two 90 visits. Like the rest of the details of the new law, we won't know exactly what is what until the law is published. I don't know if this is for a lifetime, for a year or what.

With a requirement that residents join the Caja and a beefed up police force, the possibility of a crackdown on so-called perpetual tourists is a possibility. Some in government seek to restrict tourists to two 90-day visits a year.

From this mornings AM Costa Rica:

For those of us that visits CR every month, if this new law is passed would it pose a HUGE problem for us?!!

The article in AM Costa Rica mentioned that some in government would like to restrict tourists to 2 ninety day visits per year

The law has passed but does not contain any restriction on the amount of 90 day visas that one can get in a year. What I posted was

Sorry ID, maybe its too much sex today or too much alcohol, my head isn't working right.

We dont need visas to come to CR from US? so that part has no affect on us.

But restricting tourist to "2" ninety days visits, wont this affect us? Does this mean we can visit CR only twice per year?

Thanks.

We dont need visas to come to CR from US? so that part has no affect on us.