Beginning on April 21, 2020, the Immigration Office will start charging fines and penalties to those people whose authorized period of stay authorized has expired. This charge is regulated in article 33 of the General Law of Immigration.

Who does the fine apply to?

• Non-resident people.
• Tourists.
• People with short term visa (once the term approved by Immigration has expired).
• People with migratory categories of temporary residents and special categories with an expires DIMEX.
• Those who have been denied and notified of a regularization process, and have not filed an appeal.

Who does the fine not apply to?

• Minors.
• Refugees, asylum seekers, and stateless persons.
• People of legal age with disabilities.
• Cross-border workers.
• Tourists with authorized stay up to date.
• Permanent residents with an expired DIMEX.
• Foreign who has been extended or renewed their stay.
• Foreigners who have made a change of immigration category.
• Foreigners who have been denied the procedure but at the time of departure have not been notified.
• Foreigners who have been denied the procedure, and have been notified but have filed an appeal.

Types of penalties

• Economic fine: as indicated in article 33, a fine of US$100.00 is applied for each expired month during which the foreigner remained in the country irregularly. The sum of the fine is retroactive as of March 1, 2010.
• Prohibition to enter the country: if the person cannot or does not want to pay the fine, the Immigration officer will impose a prohibition of entry at the time of departure, for triple the time that the person remained in the country irregularly.

The Employment & Labor and Immigration practice of Dentons Muñoz Costa Rica offers legal advice relating to:

• Legislation review to determine the types of immigration fines and penalties.
• Drafting of legal opinions on immigration topics.
• Practical and strategic tips to prevent future legal issues.