Q COSTARICA — Thousands of Nicaraguans, Venezuelans, Cubans, and Colombians in Costa Rica will be able to access legal residency and the labor market starting in September, thanks to the new “categoría especial temporal complementaria (special temporary complementary category) announced by Costa Rica’s immigration service, the Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería (DGME).
According to the text published in La Gaceta, this is a complementary protection system with a humanitarian focus aimed at foreigners from Nicaragua, Venezuela, Cuba, and Colombia. The document will take effect on September 1, 2026.
Who is eligible?
To obtain this category, applicants must have applied for asylum in Costa Rica between June 1, 2014, and May 7, 2026, and must have resided continuously in the country from the date they submitted their application until the date they apply for this new category.
Furthermore, their asylum application must be pending resolution, have been definitively denied, or have been declared unfounded at the time this regulation comes into effect. They also cannot have another approved or pending immigration status.
What are the benefits?
Those who obtain this status will be able to work legally in any paid activity, whether self-employed or for an employer. In addition, they will not need a special permit to leave the country; they will only have to comply with the standard departure and re-entry requirements. That is leave and return to the country legally.
The permit will be granted for two years and may be renewed indefinitely for two-year periods, provided that the established requirements continue to be met.
Who will be denied?
According to the text, this status will not be granted, or may be canceled, to individuals with a criminal record for intentional crimes within the last 10 years or who represent a threat to public safety.
Likewise, if a person enters or leaves Costa Rica irregularly after receiving this status, they will not be able to renew the permit unless they can justify the situation with conclusive evidence.
Another important point is that this benefit does not extend to the beneficiary’s family members, so each applicant must submit their application individually.
The Application
Applications will only be accepted between September 1, 2026, and September 1, 2027, by appointment. Some of the documents required to process the permit are:
- Affiliation form.
- Birth certificate.
- Criminal record certificate from the country of origin or the country where the applicant has resided for the last three years.
- Identity document: passport, national identity card, or consular certification with a photograph.
- Proof of fingerprinting issued by the Ministry of Public Security (MSP).
Documents proving legal residency in Costa Rica.
Path to regularization
The “special temporary complementary category” offers a path to regularization for thousands of people who, until now, have lacked legal alternatives to remain and work in the country.
The mechanism will be renewable indefinitely unless a higher-level regulation dictates otherwise.
Costa Rica attracts a diverse migration of Nicaraguans, Venezuelans, and Cubans, driven by its political stability and economic opportunities. However, this appeal coexists with a strained asylum system and thousands of unresolved cases.
The largest volume of applicants is from Nicaragua: between January and September 2024, 414,123 regular movements of Nicaraguans were registered at the Costa Rican borders, a 9% increase compared to the same period in 2023. This influx adds to an already consolidated presence in the country and a sustained demand for international protection.
An estimated 500,000+ Nicaraguans live in Costa Rica as of recent demographic reports, tracking alongside Statista data on the country’s rising immigrant and refugee population.
Nicaraguans
In terms of residency, more than 296,000 Nicaraguans lived in Costa Rica in 2020, making them the largest foreign community in the country, according to Statista.
From 2014 to April 2025, Nicaraguans filed 195,512 asylum applications in Costa Rica, and only the 5% received a resolution.
The total population of Costa Rica stood at 5.37 million people in 2025. Between 1980 and 2025, the total population rose by 3.07 million people, though the increase followed an uneven trajectory rather than a consistent upward trend.
Nicaraguans make up approximately 7% to 10% of Costa Rica’s total population and constitute nearly three-quarters (71–75%) of all foreign-born residents in the country.
Nicaraguan migrants represent a crucial labor force, particularly in the northern border towns and central regions. They make up approximately 60% of the seasonal migrant agricultural labor force (such as coffee bean pickers) and drive key sectors like construction and domestic services.
There are approximately 25,000 to 30,510 Venezuelan nationals living in Costa Rica, with demographic data and migration figures monitored by platforms like Statista.The Venezuelan diaspora in the country includes a mix of registered asylum-seekers, refugees, and those with temporary or permanent residency.
Some demographic studies and migration boards estimate the total figure, including non-registered or transient migrants, could reach up to 58,000. While a small percentage of Venezuelans are in irregular situations, a large majority hold regular statuses, with nearly 32% registered as refugee applicants.
Around 6,000 to 7,000 Cuban nationals reside in Costa Rica, representing a smaller fraction of the country’s total foreign-born population.
In the broader scope of Latin American migration, Cubans historically used Costa Rica as a prominent transit country en route to North America. However, recent data from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) points to a notable shift: Cubans are increasingly opting to stay in Latin American host countries and are among the top nationalities requesting asylum in Costa Rica.
For comprehensive breakdowns of migration statistics, labor force integration, and specific demographic reports, you can explore the Statista Demographics of Costa Rica portal.