Costa Rica to Review Visa Requirements for Chinese Citizens
Costa Rica's government is reviewing its visa restrictions on Chinese citizens now that the two nations established diplomatic relations, an immigration official said on Wednesday.

"We will meet officials from the President's Office and the Foreign Ministry to hear new instructions," said Mario Zamora, the Director de Migración y Extranjería  (immigration).

He added that the change in diplomatic relations does not necessarily mean a change in visa requirements.

At present Zamora, as immigration director, is the only person who can grant a visa to a Chinese citizen, as China is in the "restricted visa" category.

Authorization can take three months.

China expects Costa Rica to move to a more flexible regime, with the intention of boosting trade and investment.

Costa Rica's vice ministra de Seguridad Pública,  Ana Duran, told media that the Vias Commission, made up of Foreign Ministry and Public Security Ministry officials, are studying the visa issue.
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