Deadline in Costa Rica for temporary work permits is next Tuesday

Foreign workers needing to obtain or renew temporary work permits in Costa Rica must do so before next Tuesday, Sept. 17.

Immigration Administration officials said they expect to receive some 20,000 applications by next week’s deadline, but so far the agency has received only 1,500.

Most of the applications – 922 – were filed by domestic workers, followed by construction workers (421) and farmworkers (158).

Immigration Administration General Director Kathya Rodríguez said foreign workers should normalize their immigration status, adding that “all [workers] need is to prove they were hired before last Dec. 31, and that they are still employed when applying for the permit.”

Those interested in applying for a temporary work permit must request an appointment by phone at: 9000-767266.

Reforms passed last year to Costa Rica’s Immigration Law punish companies that hire foreign workers without immigration documents with fines of up to 12 base salaries (some $17,000).