Accredited Companies Eligible for Streamlined Identification Card Appointment

Costa Rica

Effective immediately, immigration authorities (Dirección de Migración y Extranjería) have implemented a streamlined process that will allow accredited companies to schedule registration appointments in order to obtain an identification card for initial and renewal residency card applications, change of employer or change of status processes on behalf of their foreign employees for a much sooner date than before.

Previously, it took over two months to obtain an appointment for such processes.  Accredited companies will now be able to obtain appointments for qualified foreign nationals within three to four weeks of submitting an appointment request.

Eligibility for New Appointment Process

To be eligible for the streamlined scheduling process, foreign workers must have an approved Temporary Residence, change of employer or change of status application or their current identification card must expire within the next three months.

Employers must meet the following conditions:

• The company must be duly accredited by the immigration authorities prior to requesting an appointment. The accreditation process is completed prior to the application or renewal request and accreditation must be renewed every two years; and
• Companies must schedule an appointment by emailing a specifically-formatted request to [email protected].

Once an appointment is scheduled, the foreign worker must submit their local identification card application with the specific requirements for the process at one specific Banco de Costa Rica office on the date of their scheduled appointment.

What This Means for Employers and Foreign Nationals

This new process should streamline the local identification card application process.

Fragomen will assist with the appointment scheduling, document preparation and can accompany the foreign national to the appointment.

Foreign nationals who are not able to attend their appointment must inform Fragomen at least 72 hours in advance so their appointment can be cancelled.

This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen or send an email to [email protected].

© 2017 Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, LLP, Fragomen Global LLP and affiliates. All Rights Reserved.