Us Work Visa For Costa Rica
There are certain situations where you would need to apply for a US work visa for Costa Rica to be able to stay in the country. The main reason why this is required is because of the nature of your job, i.e., if you are doing work that requires you to stay longer, in most cases, this processing is required.
Now, if you are planning on relocating to Costa Rica and have been reading up on a bunch of stuff about this beautiful country, then you might be aware of what Costa Rica has to offer in the tourism sector. And another thing that garners quite a lot of attention is the fact that it’s an all-American country.
Us Work Visa For Costa Rica
If you’re looking for a way to work in Costa Rica, then you’ve come to the right place.
We can help you get the visa that will allow you to live and work in Costa Rica, while enjoying all of the benefits that come with living there.
We know how much it means to be able to live somewhere that offers so much beauty and culture, as well as a wonderful climate. Our team is here to help you get started on this amazing journey!
The United States has the most rigorous set of requirements for obtaining a work visa. However, if you are going to Costa Rica on a business trip or to live permanently, then you may want to consider applying for an L1 visa instead.
An L1 visa is a temporary work visa that allows companies and employees from one country to work for another company or organization. You can apply for an L1 visa if you have been working with your employer for at least one year and have been employed by them for over one year. You must also be able to prove that your employer has an established business in the United States and that they are not employing you as a way of avoiding immigration requirements by hiring someone from another country.
How Can I Get a Work Permit in Costa Rica?
If you have been offered a job by a Costa Rican company, your employer should apply on your behalf. Keep this in mind as you continue to read. Everything you need to submit for the work permit, you will instead give to your employer.
To obtain a work permit in Costa Rica, you must first apply for either temporary or permanent residency. Permanent residents may take up employment in Costa Rica without any restrictions. Temporary residents will have a harder time and must prove that their position in Costa Rica could not have been filled by a Costa Rican resident or citizen.
As a special note: expats should be aware that applications are not accepted on the last Friday of the month.
For more on how to obtain temporary or permanent residence in Costa Rica, see our section below.
Applying for the Costa Rican Work Permit: Special Category Residency
If you are interested in moving to Costa Rica and are unable to support yourself through unearned income means (i.e. income that is not the result of a salary or wages), then you will need to apply for a Special Category Residency permit. This is a work visa and a form of temporary residence that allows foreigners to take up employment in the country.
How to Apply for Special Category Residency
You will apply for the Special Category Residency in the same way you will any temporary residency. You must first apply for a provisional visa through a Costa Rican consulate. Once you receive this visa, you have 60 days to enter the country and apply for your temporary or permanent residency. You can read more about this in our Residency Permits: Temporary and Permanent section below.
Costa Rican Work Permit Types
Once you have secured your Special Category Residency, you will need to apply for a separate work permit. Occupations that can apply to work in Costa Rica under the Special Category Residency include
- athletes;
- artists and entertainers;
- inter-company transfers;
- professional and technical guests;
- self-employed individuals;
- temporary and seasonal workers;
- academic researchers, professors, and teachers;
- interns.
Costa Rican Work Permit Eligibility
Eligibility to apply for a Costa Rican work permit will depend upon your specific case, but the greatest hurdle all foreigners will have to cross is proving that they are the most qualified candidate for the position. Costa Rica places great importance on hiring nationals before foreigners. You and your employer will need to provide sufficient evidence as to why you are better suited than a citizen.
Other eligibility requirements include an Apostille seal and/or notary stamps on all of your documents. Everything you submit should also be translated into Spanish. These translations should also have a notarized stamp.
Costa Rica Work Visa Requirements
Because you will not be able to apply for a work permit until you arrive in Costa Rica, you should make sure you bring all of your required documents with you. Make sure that all documents are translated into Spanish, and they should be notarized or contain an Apostille seal.
Documents needed to apply for the work permit:
- work permit application form;
- two passport-sized photographs;
- birth certificate;
- copies of your passport pages, including the ID page and even blank pages;
- employer statement with details of your salary, length of employment, and job description;
- Registration Documents and the Legal Constitution of the hiring company;
- proof that workers insurance has been paid;
- proof of sufficient financial means;
- police clearance from your country.
- proof of registration with a Costa Rican consulate (your provisional visa).
Other documents may be required on a case-by-case basis. For example, if you are married, you will need to include your marriage certificate.
You should also submit a letter with your application stating that you are applying for the work permit and the reason why. In this letter, you need to include your contact information, passport number and issue and expiration date, your nationality and date of birth, your occupation, and date in which you arrived in Costa Rica.
Applying for a Work Permit in Costa Rica
When you arrive in Costa Rica, you will submit all of these documents in-person to the Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería (Immigration Department). Keep in mind that you must have all of these documents with you before you arrive in the country. You will also need to visit the Ministerio Seguridad Pública (Ministry of Public Security) to register your fingerprints.
Costa Rica Work Visa Cost
The cost of Costa Rica’s work visa, the Special Category Residence visa, is the same as any temporary residence permit: 28,300 CRC (50 USD). Expats should also keep in mind that this is just the application fee. You should also expect to pay around 73,600 CRC (130 USD) for the application process and 169,800 CRC (300 USD) to the government.
Business Visa
Those interested in visiting Costa Rica for temporary business will also need to apply for the Special Category Visa.
Family Visa
Expats who are able to secure a work permit in Costa Rica may bring their dependents with them. Dependents include a
- spouse;
- minor-aged children;
- any-aged children who are disabled.
For more about family residency visas, see our Residency Permits: Temporary and Permanent section below.
Self-Employment Visas
When looking into a self-employment visa in Costa Rica, there are three options: The Special Category Residence permit, an investor visa, or a rentista visa. Each of these visas come with their own strict limitations. Expats should take note that obtaining the right to freelance in this country without permanent residency will be a hassle.
Costa Rica Self-Employment Visas: Types
Special Category Residence Permit
The Special Category Residence permit includes many different subcategories. Whether or not you qualify for self-employed work under this visa is sometimes dependent on how strong of a case you make and the discretion of the immigration officer viewing your application. Many expats do find ways to freelance in Costa Rica while using this visa.
One such subcategory that foreigners can look into is Trabajador de Ocupación Específica por Cuenta Propia en Sectores de la Agricultura, Construcción y Servicios: Specific Occupation Worker Self-Employed in Agriculture, Construction and Services. This allows expats to work on farms, conservation projects, and other such endeavors.
Inversionista Visa (Investor Visa)
As the name implies, this visa is for immigrants who plan to make a considerable financial investment into Costa Rica’s economy. This can be a conservational investment, such as purchasing land for preservation, home purchases, or opening up your own business. Holders of this visa must invest at least 113,187,420 CRC (200,000 USD), which needs to be already verified and registered at the time of your visa application.
If you choose to open your own business with this visa, you cannot be one of the staff members. You have to hire Costa Rican residents to work for you. You can read more about what it takes to open your own business in our Working section.
Rentista Visa (Resident Visa)
At first glance, this visa may not seem like a self-employment visa, but, depending on your situation, it can be.
The rentista visa is for expats who are able to prove 1,414,900 CRC (2,500 USD) per month of savings for the period of two years. This amount must come from unearned income such as savings, investments, or real estate property. If you can provide proof of this amount, then you are able to take up freelance work as long as you never need your earnings as part of your unearned amount.
Self-Employment Visa Requirements
No matter which visa you apply for, these will be the general documents you will be asked to submit for each:
- application form;
- two passport-sized photographs;
- birth certificate
- copies of your passport pages, including the ID page and even blank pages;
- employer statement with details of your salary, length of employment, and job description;
- registration documents and the Legal Constitution of the hiring company
- proof that workers insurance has been paid;
- proof of sufficient financial means;
- police clearance from your country.
- proof of registration with a Costa Rican consulate (your provisional visa).
You will also need to submit a letter stating the visa you are applying for and why. In this letter you need to include your contact information, passport number and issue and expiration date, your nationality and date of birth, your occupation, and date in which you arrived in Costa Rica.
Other Requirements
The process to apply for a self-employment visa varies depending on which one you choose. If you decide to apply for the inversionista or rentista visas you will need to provide financial proof that you have already invested 113,187,420 CRC (200,000 USD) or that you have a steady unearned income of 1,414,800 CRC (2,500 USD) per month for two years.
If applying for the inversionista visa, you will also need to submit the following:
- detailed business plan of your proposed business;
- letter stating how this investment will benefit the Costa Rican economy.
Self-Employment Visa Cost
You can expect the following costs when applying for either of these visas:
- application fee: 28,300 CRC (50 USD);
- visa processing fee: 73,600 CRC (130 USD);
- visa fee: 169,800 CRC (300 USD).
Conclusion
In a nutshell, the costa rica work visa is the best way to get your foot in the door with this popular and quickly developing nation in the carribean. Despite its checkered past, Costa Rica has quickly become an attractive location for americans looking to live abroad. The large number of events that take place each year allow tourists to fully immerse their senses in everything Costa Rica has to offer.
The work visa application process is a long one, taking anywhere from six months to one year. So you need to start early. The police background check will take a month or two, so plan for that and have your fingerprints taken before you get down there. You will be turning in several documents and forms to the Costa Rican consulate so plan for that as well. It took us about six months from the time we started working on our paperwork to the time we turned everything in to the consulate.