Immigration Administration has new, easy-to-remember information hotline

High call volume has prompted Costa Rica’s Immigration Administration to update call center services starting this week, including a shorter and easier-to-remember information phone number: 1311.

A  previous number, 9000-767266, caused problems because some calling plans do not allow calls to 900 numbers. The number also was hard to remember, immigration spokesman Allen Ulloa said.

“The new service complements training we have been providing our staff to allow us to provide better and more accurate information regarding immigration procedures and regulations,” Immigration Administration General Director Kathya Rodríguez said.

Twenty service agents currently field calls at the center from Monday to Sunday, 7 a.m.-10 p.m.

However, the calls aren’t free, and per-minute rates increased from ₡372.90 to ₡390 ($0.71-0.74).

The call center’s old number (9000-767266) was disabled last Sunday.