Due to the numerous restrictions the Costa Rican government has put in place to make sure that foreigners do not take the jobs that Costa Rican citizens are eligible for, getting a work visa in Costa Rica is, to put it simply, nearly difficult.
Furthermore, although Costa Rica provides temporary residency cards to visitors who wish to stay for longer than three months, these licences do not immediately grant the holder the right to work. Working in Costa Rica without a permit is only permitted for Costa Rican nationals and those with permanent residency. But this does not mean that those with Temporary Residence Permits cannot legally work in Costa Rica.
Once you have received your Special Category Residency, you will need to apply for a separate work permit. The following professions are eligible to apply to work in Costa Rica under the Special Category Residency: athletes; artists and entertainers; inter-company transfers; professional and technical guests; self-employed individuals; temporary and seasonal workers; academic researchers, professors, and teachers; interns. Obviously, if you have been hired by a Costa Rican company, your employer should be the one to apply on your behalf.
The most difficult obstacle that all foreigners will have to overcome is demonstrating that they are the most qualified applicant for the position. Your eligibility to apply for a Costa Rican work permit will depend on your unique situation. In Costa Rica, recruiting locals before foreigners is of utmost importance. You must offer sufficient justification, together with that of your company, for why you are more qualified than a citizen. The Apostille seal and/or notary stamps on all of your documents are additional eligibility requirements. You must also translate anything you submit into Spanish. Additionally, these translations must bear a notarized stamp.
Another noteworthy thing is that you will not be able to apply for a work permit until you arrive in Costa Rica which means that you need to make sure that you bring all the required documents with you. You will need these documents to apply for the work permit:
- work permit application form
- two passport-sized photographs
- birth certificate
- copies of your passport pages, including the ID page and even blank pages
- employer statement with details of your salary, length of employment, and job description
- Registration Documents and the Legal Constitution of the hiring company
- proof that workers' insurance has been paid
- proof of sufficient financial means
- police clearance from your country.
- proof of registration with a Costa Rican consulate (your provisional visa).
Along with your application, you should provide a letter explaining why you're requesting the work visa. You must include your name, address, phone number, passport number, issue and expiration dates, nationality, date of birth, occupation, and date of arrival in Costa Rica in your letter.
Last but not least, The Special Category Residence Visa, which is required for employment in Costa Rica, is priced at 28,300 CRC (50 USD). Additionally, expats should remember that this is only the application fee. You could also plan to pay roughly 73,600 CRC (130 USD) for the application process and 169,800 CRC (300 USD) to the government.
