I know that the wages are typically a lot lower in CR than they are here in the sates. But, I also know that most of the Online gambling sites hire foreigners for specialized positions. My question is: if I wanted to get a part-time job, say, as a marketing copy writer for an online casino, would I have to have a work visa or could they pay me through alternate channels? I currently have a job that pays me through the US, but I frequently only have to work 20-30 hours per week. It would be nice if I could supplement my income in CR.

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A new year a new life

 I don't know if you checked into the requirments of living in Costa Rica how ever you can't earn money while under a tourist visa. It is illegal and if caught you will be deported and with the new laws fined high fines.

I hope this helps you.

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Pura Vida!

Thanks for the info. I have done a little bit of research on employment in Costa Rica. However, the one thing that I don't quite understand is how some of the bigger companies have American employees. Every time I'm in Escazu, I meet someone that works for Paradise Poker or Intel or some other company. How are they earning a wage? Is it because the companies they work for pay the CR government for a work visa? I don't even have to really work, but it would be nice to do something on a part time basis that would give me some social interaction.

"scottbenson" wrote: I don't know if you checked into the requirements of living in Costa Rica how ever you can't earn money while under a tourist visa. It is illegal and if caught you will be deported and with the new laws fined high fines. I hope this helps you.

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A new year a new life

The only way they can get a position there is two ways.

One to have a tempory employment and the employer has to show that the person that they are hiring has special skill that a Tico can't fill. You would have to start with the employer in the states. This is becoming harder and harder since most of the Ticos that are applying for postions in those companys have back grounds that can fill them such as computor programers and networkers. One of my wifes friends works for Cieco in networks and travels all over Central America to other companys.

Second is to be married to a Costa Rica which will give you the right for residence and work permit.

How ever very few of employees of the companys that you state are gringos! The bookies are differnt because they would hire illegal workers as long as they would work for the same wages as the Ticos but most of the bookies are closing or are closed.

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Pura Vida!

Hi. I thought I would pass along a few 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.   One might ask how are all these foreigners that you see offering products and services getting around all these 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. I know of several Americans working for large international corporations who never had to file one document in order to receive a work permit. It is all done by their respective employers.Good Luck with your new life in CR. Tuanis! Tom@costaricahomebuilder.com 

 

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Experienced Builder with CR residency since 94

Yes you are correct about the above information,

How ever as we have seen with the new laws that came into affect the penalties of over staying your tourist visa has become much more strictor.

Also my understanding with people around the system is that the president is planning on devoting more attention to this issue and supplying more funds to stop the problem of tourist illegals.

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Pura Vida!