Some Good News for CR Residents

Recently The Jaco Times wrote how travelers should expect to bit of a process with restrictions and protocols over the next few months, but here is definitely some good progress for residents in Costa Rica.

Decree 42527-MGP-S was published this morning, August 15th, 2020.

These are the new dispositions (good news):

FOREIGN NATIONALS RELATED TO COSTA RICAN NATIONALS 

Parents of minor Costa Rican children, minor children of Costa Rican nationals or children of legal age with disabilities, spouses of Costa Rican nationals, minor siblings of Costa Rican nationals or siblings of legal with disabilities that wish to enter the country as tourists may do so as long as they carry the corresponding birth or marriage certificates that prove the link between the foreign national and the Costa Rican national. In addition, people entering the country based on this family relation may enter from any country through air and must present the following documentation:

• Passport

• Round-trip ticket or reservation showing an eventual departure from Costa Rica.

• Insurance that covers hospitalization and accommodation in case you require quarantine due to COVID-19.

• Completed Health Pass.

• Foreign nationals related to Costa Rican nationals will be required to complete a 14-day quarantineperiod unless they are coming in from one of the authorized countries, can prove that they have been there for the past 14 days and carry a negative COVID-19 test. The only acceptable test is the real-time polymerase chain reaction test, also called PCR-RT for COVID-19. Rapid test kit results, serological tests, or immunity tests will not be accepted as valid. The sample needs to be taken no more than 48 hours before their flight to Costa Rica.

The details of the test, the insurance and how to complete the Health Pass can be found here.

COSTA RICAN NATIONALS & RESIDENTS 

Costa Rican Nationals: May enter the country via air regardless of where they are coming from and will need to complete the Health Pass. 

Costa Rican nationals will need to complete a 14-day quarantine period unless they are coming in from one of the authorized countries, can prove that they have been there for the past 14 days and carry a negative COVID-19 test. The only acceptable test is the real-time polymerase chain reaction test, also called PCR-RT for COVID-19. Rapid test kit results, serological tests, or immunity tests will not be accepted as valid. The sample needs to be taken no more than 48 hours before their flight to Costa Rica.

Temporary Residents, Permanent Residents, People with Special Categories or Estancias: May enter the country via air regardless of where they are coming from and must present the following documentation:

• Passport

• Valid DIMEX card or, if expired after December 17, 2019, we would suggest carrying a copy of Resolution N° DJUR-0105-07-2020-JM that has extended the validity of the cards until September 30, 2020, for Residents and Special Categories and until October 18, 2020, for Estancias that expired after March 17, 2020.

• Prove that the CAJA is up to date. This applies to every person trying to enter, including Resident spouses and children. If your spouse is the main applicant, and he/she is registered in CAJA and pays every month, that does not mean that the dependents’ CAJAs are up to date. They can appear as suspended in the system. You can check the system here and carry a print-out, per person, of the results.

• Completed Health Pass. The instructions on how to complete the Health Pass can be found here.

• Temporary Residents, Permanent Residents, people with Special Categories or Estancias will need to complete a 14-day quarantine period unless they are coming in from one of the authorized countries, can prove that they have been there for the past 14 days and carry a negative COVID-19 test. The only acceptable test is the real-time polymerase chain reaction test, also called PCR-RT for COVID-19. Rapid test kit results, serological tests, or immunity tests will not be accepted as valid. The sample needs to be taken no more than 48 hours before their flight to Costa Rica.

Entry-bans will not apply for Residents who comply with the requirements mentioned above.

TOURISTS & PEOPLE WITH APPLICATIONS IN PROGRESS 

The dispositions for tourists and people with applications in progress, aside from what has been mentioned about foreign nationals related to Costa Rican nationals, have not changed.

Therefore, tourists and people with applications in progress may enter the country as long as they comply with the following:

• You must be flying in from one of the authorized countries. There are now 44 authorized countries*.

• You must be able to evidence that you have been in one of the authorized countries for at least 14 days.

• You will need a negative COVID-19 test. The only acceptable test is the real-time polymerase chain reaction test, also called PCR-RT for COVID-19. Rapid test kit results, serological tests, or immunity tests will not be accepted as valid. The sample needs to be taken no more than 48 hours before your flight to Costa Rica.

• You will need insurance that covers hospitalization and accommodation in case you require quarantine due to COVID-19.

• You will need your valid passport.

• You will also need a round-trip ticket or reservation to show an eventual departure from Costa Rica. Immigration can ask to see this as tourists and people with application in progress have never been allowed to enter using a one-way ticket. Carry this to avoid inconveniences.

• You will need to complete your Health Pass.

• The details of the test, the insurance and how to complete the Health Pass can be found here.

Tourists and people with applications in progress will not be required to complete the 14-day quarantine period.

Any Resident, people with Special Categories, Estancias, tourists, or people with applications in progress that does not comply with the requirements set upon in the law will not be allowed to enter.

OTHER MATTERS 

While many expats, mainly home and business owners have reached out demanding that they are also considered, this is yet to be taken into consideration.

As mentioned in our latest article here (efforts done so far), we continue to work with Authorities to advocate for the expat community. As you can see from today’s news, things are progressing. Even the Constitutional Authority sided with us, as it ruled in our favor.

We cannot predict when certain countries, such as the US, will be included in the list of authorized countries, however, luckily there are options to enter after spending 14 days in one of the currently authorized countries. This may not appear as much, but while we continue advocating, it is at least an opportunity.

AUTHORIZED COUNTRIES

*1. Australia 2. Canada 3. Swiss Confederation 4. Vatican State 5. Grand Duchy of Luxembourg 6. Ireland 7. Japan 8. New Zealand 9. Principality of Liechtenstein 10. Principality of Monaco 11. Kingdom of Belgium 12. Kingdom of Denmark 13. Kingdom of Spain 14. Kingdom of the Netherlands 15. Kingdom of Norway 16. Kingdom of Sweden 17. Kingdom of Thailand 18. United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 19. Czech Republic 20. Cyprus 21. Republic of Austria 22. Republic of Bulgaria 23. Republic of Korea 24. Republic of Croatia 25. Republic of Slovenia 26. Republic of Estonia 27. Republic of Finland 28. Republic of Hungary 29. Republic of Iceland 30. Republic of Latvia 31. Republic of Lithuania 32. Republic of Malta 33. Republic of Poland 34. Republic of San Marino 35. Republic of Singapore 36. Slovak Republic 37. Federal Republic of Germany 38. French Republic 39. Hellenic Republic (Greece) 40. Italian Republic 41. The Oriental Republic of Uruguay 42. People’s Republic of China 43. Portuguese Republic 44. Romania

ORIGINALLY POSTED HERE

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