Immigration Rules Eased For Investors
By executive order the government has made changes to the immigration process that will simplify the requirements for foreign investors. The change will also make it easier to obtain work permits for managers, technicians and specialists working for foreign companies in Costa Rica.

The new measures will permit the Dirección de Migración y Extranjería (immigration service) to allow companies to request visas for employees, including those from restricted countries like India and China, and provide multiple visa and temporary residency for their workers.

The changes were published in the official government publication La Gaceta on March 8.

Companies will now have a special window at the immigration offices in La Uruca that will speed up the process, which is expected to take less than 10 minutes. Before the new measures, foreign investors wanting to obtain a permit to stay and work in Costa Rica could take up to 18 months.

The government decree affects many different foreign companies operating in Costa Rica in technology and services sectors, that have grown in numbers in the last couple of years.

Johnny Marin, director of immigration, said that the change will increase foreign investment in the country.

Marin explained that some of the changes, that speed up the process, is the elimination of the requirement of a birth certificate and a criminal record, that in some cases would take months to be obtained, certified and recognized by Costa Rican immigration officials. The documents are no longer necessary for temporary work permits (visas).

Ministro de Comercio Exterior, Manuel González, added that the change is an important step forward in reducing the process time that has become a real nightmare.

Direct foreign investment was us$653 million dollars in 2005, a 9.4% increase over 2004, according to the Banco Central de Costa Rica (BCCR).