300.000 Foreigners Live in Costa Rica Legally
Statistics by the Departamento de Migración y Extranjería reveals that some 300.000 foreigners live permanently in Costa Rica. That number does not include those living under refugee or tourists status, nor illegals.

Costa Rica is the first country of choice in Central America by many foreigners, now representing 8% of the total population that could reach 12% if the illegals are included, which is heavy immigration burden for the country.

Americans, followed by Nicaraguans and Colombians make up the largest group of foreigners who have decided to make Costa Rica their home.

Costa Rica is known around the world for it's stable political, economic and social conditions, along with respect for human rights and natural beauty.

According to the United Nations, Costa Rica places ninth in countries with a high level of immigration based on it's total population. Ahead of Costa Rica are countries like Australia, the United States, Canada, France and Germany.

It is for this reason that the immigration service has been pushing hard for changes and applying more strictly the Ley General de Migración and sending it's Policía Especial de Migración - immigration police - to visit factories and businesses to check on illegal immigrants.

The immigration department - la Oficina de Migración y Extranjería - was created on June 7, 1940. In 1976, the name was changed to Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería.

During it's history it has had to combat waves of illegals making their way to Costa Rica. In the 70's it was the Chileans and Argentenians. The 80's saw a large number of Salvadoreans, while the in the 90's COsta Rica was been invaded by the Nicaraguans.

All left their country looking for a better place, escaping violence in their home country. In 1986 the current Ley General de Migración y Extranjería was enacted which was seen as a great achievement for the time, however, in fact it gave the immigration department few tools to maintain immigration order.