Costa Rica: Special Permit for Colombian, Cuban, Nicaraguan and Venezuelan Nationals Introduced

Costa Rica’s General Immigration Directorate has introduced a special humanitarian permit that will allow eligible Colombian, Cuban, Nicaraguan and Venezuelan nationals to reside and work in the country for an initial period of up to two years. Applicants must meet the following criteria to qualify for the permit: 

• • • Must have filed for refugee status between June 2, 2014 and May 7, 2026 and their application has either been denied or is pending; 
    • Remained in Costa Rica since they filed for refugee status; 
    • Must not hold any approved immigration status in Costa Rica, have any pending immigration regularization applications (other than an asylum application), or qualify for another immigration category under Costa Rican immigration law; and 
    • Have a clean criminal record. 

Applications may be submitted between September 1, 2026 and September 1, 2027. Permit holders must register with the General Immigration Directorate within 90 days of approval. The permit may be renewed if the holder has not entered or exited Costa Rica illegally after receiving it, among meeting other eligibility requirements. Interested applicants should contact their immigration professional for more information and case-specific advice. 

This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen.