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I had the opportunity yesterday to introduce a friend to the attorney who processed our residency. In the course of the conversation, he (the attorney) related that in a recent meeting with the head of Immigration he learned that they are cracking down on perpetual tourists.
In particular, if you have too many entrance and exit stamps in your passport, it may receive a special stamp next time that bars you from re-entry for one year. And if you violate the term of your tourist visa (stay longer than ninety days), they will bar you from re-entry for five years.
Apparently, Immigration is getting serious, so if you want to stay, get your residency application going.
The information I am getting from Costa Rican attorney Roberto Umaña is that the ‘perpetual tourist’ status will only be a serious problem for people who insist on overstaying past the 90 days mark.
It is 100% legal to stay in Costa Rica as a tourist for 90 days and then leave the country for 72 hours and then return to Costa Rica.
The people that will have legal problems will be those who remain in CR for six months, than leave for 72 hours and then re-enter and stay for nine months etc.
The consquences can be extremely serious in some cases – For example if that person is involved in a car accident and somebody gets injured, this will not be a simple car crash investigation, it would actually be a criminal procedure.
And because this person would not have any legal credentials in CR, no domicile and no legal conditions whatsoever which would mean that he/she would have nothing to tie him/her to CR.
So according to attorney Umaña, the authorities would therefore most likely be forced to LOCK THAT PERSON UP until the hearing to face any possible liabilities which would probably be for a period of no less than 16 to 20 months.
So I agree, it’s good to get your status fully legal. No matter how complicated that might be, it’s less complicated than being locked up in a Costa Rican jail for nearly two years (in the above example).
Scott Oliver – Founder
WeLoveCostaRica.com
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