24 Sep 2007, 10:48 am

Hello Ashley,

I signed up awhile ago, but just starting to become more active there. For someone in your circumstances, you can make a passable living if you want to teach English in many of the private schools and universities. They usually ask for a six month or year commitment.

As you get closer to your date to travel there, if I can be of help with suggestions for websites, contacts, etc., please do not hesitate to contact me here.

01 Mar 2007, 7:53 am

Ashley. If you don't have enough cash saved up to sustain yourself for the period of time you would like to stay here in CR or anywhere else for that matter you should think twice about making a move. Even if you were relocating to another state in the USA you would find challenges that will be more costly than in your hometown. When you consider a move to a foreign country where you do not fully understand the language or the culture you are setting yourself up for a tough adventure. There are many individuals here from different countries living a meager existence but they were raised that way. An American woman faced with lack of money and little understanding of how things really work in a third world country is putting herself in a dangerous position. Think twice and be careful.

28 Feb 2007, 5:44 am

Hi Ashley. I am happy to tell you that once you have US citizenship and a passport you cannot loose your citizenship under any circumstances.
Unless you have a job established with a large CR company it will be difficult to obtain a work permit on your own. I know several Americans working for large international corporations, ie: Intel & Proctor & Gamble, who never had to file one document in order to receive a work permit. It is all done by their respective employers.
As far as having to travel outside of CR every 90 days for a 72 hours, it's not that big of a deal. Many people travel to David or Bocas del Toro, Panama or Granada, Nicaragua on inexpensive bus tours for a weekend. It gives you a chance to see the neighboring countries and absorb some of their culture.
As far as working in CR is concerned. One might ask how are all these foreigners that you see offering products and services getting around all these immigration regulations. Many are not and run the risk of being deported if and when the CR government would crack down. As far as I know from being here since 1992 the government only cracks down on targeted areas of business like those that cater to illegal activates such as prostitution or bars that cater to drug users or minors. About once every year the immigration police operate a sting in popular beach towns to catch foreigners staying here beyond the legal 90 day term. These illegals usually are working in some sort of business to sustain their lifestyle in CR and technically they can be deported without the possibility of returning to CR for 10 years. I have not heard of anyone being deported except those that have been involved in illegal activities.
Most foreigners that you may come into contact with here who are offering products or services probably formed a CR corporation and as an officer of the company are conducting business on behalf of the company (sociedad anonima). Technically a CR company (SA) translates to anonymous society. You can place Costa Rican nationals as the officers of your SA then they become your partners, unless your lawyer writes the by-laws of the SA to give only you as President the power to conduct business on behalf of the company. Additionally, large corporations such as Intel and Proctor and Gamble have a full time department in human resources that obtains the legal work permits for the foreign employees they wish to employ in CR. Here are a few legal details concerning foreigners working in CR and the CR Employment and Occupational Law.
First the law prohibits employment while someone is a tourist or in one of several types of residencies favored by foreigners. But here too, there are the laws that closely control professionals and certain job categories. For example, a tour guide must be a Costa Rican national, according to a 2003 law. And anyone who wants to be a trucker has to have a registration from one of the Central American nations. No motor vehicle, trailer, or tractor-trailer with foreign license plates outside of Central America may transport goods within the territory of Costa Rica.
The summary of Costa Rican employment and occupational laws is part of an annex negotiation between the government and the United States as part of the free trade treaty. The annex summarizes existing Costa Rican laws, and the United States agrees to respect the measures. For example, according to the annex, foreign nationals who wish to act as captain of a vessel with Costa Rican registry must post a bond equivalent to at least half of the value of the vessel under his/her command. And only Costa Rican nationals or enterprises may supply domestic air transport services, whether regular or non-regular. And only Costa Rican nationals may act as customs brokers, according to the law.

The law also said that directors and administrators of enterprises supplying radio and television services must be Costa Rican by birth or must have been naturalized Costa Ricans for at least ten years. A lot of foreigners who are considering Costa Rica are members of recognized professions. But simply being a professional does not mean a person can work in Costa Rica. Each profession is governed by legislatively sanctioned professional societies or colleges. To join the professional associations of public accountants, pharmacists, geologists, agricultural engineers, physicians and surgeons, veterinarians, dental surgeons, journalists, medical and surgical technicians, computer and information technology, nurses and official translators and interpreters, foreigners must be residents in Costa Rica at the time of applying for membership, as well as have a certain minimum number of years of residence, said the summary. There are special rules for medical personnel. All physicians and surgeons, dental surgeons, microbiologists, pharmacists, nurses, and nutritionists must perform the equivalent of a one-year continuous, for-pay mandatory social services requirement, the annex text notes. In other words, work for the government. Foreign professionals in political sciences and international relations specialists may only be hired by public or private entities when they are active members of the professional association and there are not enough Costa Rican professionals said the annex. Being a university teacher might be difficult, too. No less than 85 percent of the faculty, administrative faculty, and administrative staff of a private institute of higher education must be Costa Rican nationals, according to the laws here. And mass media and advertising services may only be provided by enterprises incorporated in Costa Rica under Costa Rican law, the summary notes.
Foreigners might also find difficulty in going fishing. Catching shrimp or fish commercially is only allowed in Costa Rica with vessels built in the country with wood obtained in Costa Rica and made by Costa Rican nationals, according to the law.
Of course, laws are enforced irregularly and usually when there is some economic pressure. And some professions can give temporary licenses for those who seek to work here. Still the legal hurdles are substantial and different for each profession.

Good Luck with your new life in CR

27 Feb 2007, 5:03 pm

Welcome to Yourville, Ashley. I hope you'll enjoy all of its features and benefits while you make new friends and explore new places. Try our Forums, or Polls. Check out our classifieds. And don't forget to complete your member profile so we can get to know you better. Once again, welcome, and if you should have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Regards,
-Tim-