Late News: Extension Granted for Tourists on Tico Time
Last-minute change!! - This has now been confirmed by Resolution N° DJUR-0031-03-2021-JM published on March 3rd, 2021. Costa Rica’s Board of Tourism ICT has published on their Facebook page, followed by Immigration a last-minute announcement saying
Last-minute change!! – This has now been confirmed by Resolution N° DJUR-0031-03-2021-JM published on March 3rd, 2021.
Costa Rica’s Board of Tourism ICT has published on their Facebook page, followed by Immigration a last-minute announcement saying that entry stamps for tourists who entered the country between December 17, 2019, and November 30, 2020, will now be extended until June 01, 2021.
To stay until such a date, the tourist will need to send an email to seguros@ict.go.cr with their insurance details. The email must be sent before the June 01, 2021 deadline. ICT will then confirm if the insurance is valid and allow the tourist to stay until June 01, 2021.
This is a last-minute announcement, and this is the information at hand. Hence, we will seek further clarification in the next few days and weeks.
A few things to consider:
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A request has been sent to Transportation asking them to extend drivers’ license privileges until June 01, 2021. We are also working on a proposal to change this drivers’ license madness for people who apply for Residency. We will report on that as things progress.
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If you are interested in Residency, the advice would be to continue working towards that goal, particularly since they will continue to accept applications for the majority of categories by appointment only. Appointments are scarce, the next available one in San Jose is now for January 2022. Attorneys will continue to have the privilege of filing applications through the exclusive attorney window where the turnaround time to secure an appointment is much faster.
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Whilst this is a welcomed measure, it comes at the very last minute and many expats may have already completed border runs. Nonetheless, the document does state that this is the last time these extensions will be granted.
We will continue working to seek clarity and assist our clients with this new request.
James March 1, 2021
Thank you for this update. Question: Does this mean that tourists that entered CR in early 2020 that have started the process with your office (inversionista program) but have yet to receive an application date with Migracion will have to obtain insurance now for the remainder of the process? And if so, from what date and until what date/timeframe? Assuming a January 2022 date is the earliest available and a possible end of the immigration process now being pushed into 2023!? If so is it only for the primary applicant or do the dependants need insurance as well? 2 years… Family of 7.
Comment: If this is the case, sadly it sounds more like an ongoing tax greater than the Caja itself.
Stacey Jennings March 2, 2021
Hello. We currently do not know how to answer that question as Immigration has not posted it’s official decree. We are suggesting that people obtain the insurance in order to be on the safe side. As soon as we receive more updated information we will post.
Eroc March 1, 2021
Nice!
Terry March 2, 2021
Just after everyone’s done a border run costing between $500 – $1000. How nice of them!
Jeremy Blanz March 2, 2021
Awesome news. Thanks for sharing. I will look forward to hearing what happens with the permission to keep using a foreign license.
ivette March 2, 2021
hello, what is the penalty if you stay past your visa date ? i’m married to a tica and my daughter was born here however i haven’t had the chance to go to the states and get the necessary paperwork. what is the worst thing that can happen, a fine?
Stacey Jennings March 2, 2021
The fines have been suspended but can be reimplemented at any time and will be retroactive. They can also ban you from entering costa rica for 3x the length of your overstay or you can be held for deportation. We would be happy to help you with your residency process when you are ready!
Gene Thomas March 2, 2021
If I have an appointment to file for residency(Dec 2021), I can stay until my appointment and I do not need to purchase insurance, correct?
Would the request for driving privilege extensions that you are requesting from transportation, also apply to people in my situation?
Stacey Jennings March 2, 2021
Thank you for your question! We have spoken to DGME and they did not have an answer regarding the insurance. We will have to wait for their answer. We also suggest extending your insurance to cover you until the day of your appointment. This is not featured in any written guideline, but it would be good to be covered, just in case.
And yes the driving would apply to you. We will advise once we hear anything from MOPT.
Gene Thomas March 2, 2021
Thank you.
As to the insurance, I have not had any covid insurance to this point, as my last entry stamp is January 26th, 2020. Those of us in this category were not required to purchase covid insurance up to this point, correct?
Thank you for all of you help with this issue. The many of of us affected, really appreciate it.
Stacey Jennings March 2, 2021
That is correct. There are a lot of people wondering the same as you – we are hopeful they clear up the confusion sooner than later.
Tara March 2, 2021
Good morning! We have applied for residency, so we are legally allowed to remain in the country despite these regulations… However, I am confused as to whether we need to send proof of insurance in order to keep driving legally (assuming Mopt agrees to extend privileges until June 2). We so appreciate your outreach and are very thankful for your work to solve this driving issue for those with expedientes.
Stacey Jennings March 2, 2021
Thank you for your question! We have spoken to DGME and they did not have an answer regarding the insurance. We will have to wait for their answer. We also suggest extending your insurance to cover you until the day of your appointment. This is not featured in any written guideline, but it would be good to be covered, just in case.
Diane Pansky March 2, 2021
Thank you! These updates are very helpful. Even more so, your advocacy on behalf of those affected by Immigration and Transportation rulings is greatly appreciated.
Stacey Jennings March 2, 2021
Thank you for your message Diane. We really appreciate it
Ben March 2, 2021
So we will need to email confirmation of our insurance prior to June 2nd or is that supposed to be March 2nd?
Stacey Jennings March 3, 2021
We are still awaiting the official decree from immigration regarding all the details. As soon as we receive the information we will post.
Ron March 3, 2021
We came into the country in Jan 2021 and we’re here prior to that in 2020 on extensions. Our current Visa stamp expires April 17th. Tico times article states extension wouldn’t apply in my scenario. Is that right? Canada asked it airlines to cancel flights here until April 30 so interesting if it doesn’t apply as I can’t rebook my flight back. Hoping the article is incorrect or needs to be updated?
I wish the CR gov would just let folks pay a fee to redo the visa without needing to leave. Think about all the risk of flying out and back it exposes the country to. Also some folks who are here spending money and contribute to the economy may not return . Seems silly to force people or families to fly back and forth to get a stamp given the circumstances.
Stacey Jennings March 3, 2021
We are still awaiting the official decree from Immigration that will hopefully clarify all the missing details. As it stands now, you are correct. You would not benefit from the latest extension of June 2, 2021. If you are unable to fly back directly, you may have to fly via another country first then continue on to Canada or do a border run via air to a country like Mexico and then wait for flights to start again back to Canada. You can find more information here As soon as we have new information we will be sure to post.