Costa Rica News – The Costa Rican government has passed an amnesty to provide working foreigners with a ten-month extension for them to get all their migratory paperwork in order. This amnesty will apply to those undocumented visitors or those tourists who have an expired visa. Only those who can prove their working contribution to the country will benefit from this extension.
Vice minister of governance and police, Freddy Montero Mora expressed that this is a social justice act for those who are contributing to the country. The same laws that protect Costa Rican workers will protect anyone who qualifies for this amnesty. It is expected that many people including agriculture, domestic and construction workers will benefit from it.
Those who may qualify for this pardon must show proof that they have been working in the country from the 18 of September of this year (2013) and forward. People will be asked for their birth certificate and additional paperwork to proceed with the legal migratory process. The last day to submit all paperwork is July 31, 2014. After July 31st, 2014 any undocumented workers or people with an expired visa working in Costa Rica will be given a fine of $100 dollars. Employers providing work for undocumented people will also be fine.
According to the 2011 census there is more than 250 thousand Nicaraguans living in Costa Rica and thousands more who are undocumented. This numbers does not include the large community of immigrants from other parts of Central America like Panama, El Salvador, Honduras and Colombia.
Costa Rica is one of the most diverse countries in the world due to the amount of foreigners living in the country. The natural beauty is paradise for many people. The number of visitors who decide to make Costa Rica their permanent home continues to increase; amnesties such as this one makes it easier for those searching of a way to stay in the country.
By Brenda Sotelo
