CR Law

Costa Rican Residency and Immigration law: status, requirements and procedures.

Rights and obligations of foreign individuals in Costa Rica, as well as immigration and residency procedures are regulated by Law Nº 8764 (the “Law”) enacted by Parliament in September 2009, and in force since March 2010. This law replaced the previous laws Nº 8487 of November 2005 and Nº 7033 of August 1987. The 2005 law had been criticized for having discriminatory principles and cumbersome procedures. The 1987 law was regarded in 2005 of being too liberal and out of date with the times. The purpose of the current Law is to provide a modern, human rights oriented and technology based legislation, that articulates, orders and promotes the integration of foreign migrants to the sustainable development of Costa Rica, fostering the principles of the social rule of law. Another aim of the Law is to reach a balance between public security and foreign individuals´ human rights.