INSIDE COSTARICA | Tuesday 28 September 2010

Tourist Overstay Fine Not Yet Being Applied, December Is The Deadline



Leaving Costa Rica for foreigners who have overstayed their "tourist" visa period could be costly and be barred from returning to Costa Rica for a period of up to three times they overstay. Although that is the law, immigration officials have yet to enforce it, which could be anytime between now and December 13.



Visitors from North America and Europe typically are given a stay of up to 90 days, while many other nationals are only given 30 days, when they must leave the country or their stay in Costa Rica becomes illegal and are subject to sanctions and expulsion.



Under the new immigration law that went into effect on March 1, 2010, tourists are required to pay a fine of us$100 for each month they over stay their visa period and must stay out of the country for a period of up three times their overstay before they are allowed to return.



Immigration officials can easily check the passport and their database to see when a person entered the country by land or air and can also determine if a person is not permitted re-entry. The rules are usually stricter at the country's airports than at land border crossings.



However, the immigration service has yet to enforce this overstay rule and according to immigration officials tourists who have overstayed their visa period will not be required to pay. Not yet anyways, but will be required to do so when the law is expected to be enforced before the middle of December.



Currently, Costa Rican authorities at the San Jos� airport are checking the entry stamp at the security check point which occurs after paying the exit tax and given a boarding pass by the airline.



AvenidaClassifieds

Buy, sell, rent & trade

anything in Costa Rica for FREE!

Click here!

