www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Aren't there all manner of expat-oriented organizations (Democrats Abroad, etc. etc.) that could use your intelligence and organizational skills without running afoul of the CR labor laws? You hadn't mentioned needing to work for wages. Just a thought. I personally plan to work in animal shelters albeit in SWFla.

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"A man accustomed to hear only the echo of his own sentiments, soon bars all the common avenues of delight, and has no part in the general gratification of mankind"--Dr. Johnson
"Amen, brother"-ED

To actually earn wages in Costa Rica, you will need to have "permanent residency without conditions". This is usually only accomplished through marriage, a Ch*ld OR through other categories and a certain number of years. Otherwise, for all other residency categories, you will not have the right to work. Well, let me qualify that, you can't work for wages. Working for free is not a problem I don't think...
Also, if you can find a 'virtual office' job for a U.S. company and earn wages paid in the U.S., you can actually do the work here legally. The laws are mainly to try to prevent immigrants without the proper residency from doing work that citizens can do. Like the Del Rey raids, gotta stop all the illegal Colombian and Dominicans from stealing the Ticas business. LOL
However, the 'loop-hole' is you can own a business and manage that business just not do any actual 'work'. Take a hotel manager, he is welcome to greet guests, help with their comfort etc. but he can NOT make up the beds.
I can tell you from first-hand experience, wages even for a 42-year old university graduate from the U.S. who speaks almost fluent Spanish and good job history are not much, like $800 a month was the best offer I had.
Best suggestion would be your own business...

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The only thing that matters is happiness in all it forms...

Many gringos work in sportsbooks in CR there must be around 200 of them.

You can make some good money 2k-3k in high season . For some reason though some gringos cannot cut it even though they know sports. Papers not required at some books.

You can plan on making $2 per hour. Those organization prey on lost idiots that cannot put anything together in in their home land.

I'm legal to work in CR. The highest paying jobs are software development. They can make over $50K per year. Nothing much more.... Doctors don't make this much, unless they own their own practice.

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http://TipsCostaRica.com for pratical advice on living in Costa Rica.
In order to write about life, first you must live it! - E. Hemingway.

In CR anything over $2k per month, is considered big bucks. Most make half that.

_________________
http://TipsCostaRica.com for pratical advice on living in Costa Rica.
In order to write about life, first you must live it! - E. Hemingway.

Permiso de trabajo is what is needed, and it's hard to get. One doesn't necessarily have to be a permanent resident to work. When needed, noon-citizen English-speakers are hired by call centers. Teaching English by private schools and paying off the books is done all day long. And telemarketing, internet skills are paid under the table as well.

Additionally you can start you own business under a tourist visa. And it can be self-employed.

What you don't want to do is work in a public place where you can be questioned.

You're not going to get into a sportsbook unless you know an owner really, really well. Once upon a time it was plausible, not now. Even with papers it's unlikely as it's a devastated industry with a large pool of experienced, qualified Ticos more than willing to take work should it become available.

Still a lot of sports books that will hire gringos. They prefer native English speakers to bilingual Latinos. But more importantly gringos work off the book so they do not have to pay CAJA health and pension contributions, they do not have to pay for working a holiday and they do not have to pay aguinaldo. Gringos working off the books also have no recourse if they are terminated or cheated on pay as they can not file an action with the labor ministry. All in all a lot of advantages to some operators to hire gringos with no right to work in CR.

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Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

Exactly correct ID, incorrect Bookie. The industry is not devastated either, it is booming. Even with the poker thing, the phones are ringing off the hook with people trying to find another place to play. And you can make 2-3k a month in high season.

Actually ID people do have a recourse if the sportsbook screws you. The ministry of trabajo will take to court any sportsbook over labor issues whether or not the employee is legal or not. The books like to keep a low profile and always settle during the mediation phase. Although most gringos do not know this , do not speak enough spanish to make it happen or sign something to that effect, not knowing you cannot sign your rights away. CR is very strict in this regard.