RICO’s Q—Italian immigrants and their descendants are an integral part of Costa Rica’s diverse cultural fabric, with a history that reflects themes of hope, perseverance, and cultural integration over the past hundred years.
Their story weaves through the nation’s history, a narrative of hope, resilience, and cultural blending that spans more than a century.
Italian migration to Costa Rica started in the late 1800s and early 1900s due to economic difficulties and the desire for new prospects. Numerous Italians traveled across the Atlantic to Costa Rica, attracted by the promise of a new beginning, drawn by Costa Rica’s promise of a fresh start. Many settled in urban centers like San José, bringing with them traditions, craftsmanship, and an indelible spirit of community.
Today, Italian descendants in Costa Rica represent a unique fusion of their heritage and the local culture.
This blend is evident in the nation’s cuisine, architecture, and even language, where Italian last names are common in local areas and family narratives reflect the origins of ancestors.
The community is notable for preserving its cultural heritage while also making significant contributions to Costa Rican society. Italian Costa Ricans can be found in various sectors, such as agriculture, business, arts, and education, leaving a lasting impact on the country’s progress. Maintaining family traditions is seen as a way to connect past, present, and future generations.
New rules to help descendants of Italians return and build a life in Italy
The Italian government has rolled out new rules making it easier for descendants of Italians living abroad—known as “oriundi”—to come back and work in Italy.
Now, people whose roots trace back to Italian citizens and who live in places like Costa Rica, Argentina, Brazil, the U.S., Canada, Australia, Venezuela, and Uruguay can get residence and work permits without having to wait through the usual immigration quotas.
Once they establish continuous legal residence, after a period of two years, they become eligible to apply for Italian citizenship.
This change comes despite earlier reform efforts that had narrowed citizenship eligibility, limiting “ius sanguinis” (right of blood) mostly to children or grandchildren of Italian-born citizens. The government’s aim now is to encourage the “return migration” of Italians’ descendants scattered abroad – potentially revitalizing ties with the diaspora and offering them a concrete chance to reconnect with Italy.
At the same time, Italy has updated its immigration rules with the Decreto Flussi 2026–2028, allowing up to 497,550 work permits for non-EU workers during this period. This large quota covers both seasonal roles—like those in farming or tourism—and year-round jobs in sectors such as construction, services, healthcare, and logistics.
It gives Italy the flexibility to fill labor needs across the board.
For the “oriundi,” this means their residence and work applications might skip the usual quota restrictions, making the process of returning much easier compared to other foreign workers.
The hope is that many descendants of Italians living abroad will seize this chance to reconnect with their heritage, settle in Italy, and if they want, eventually gain citizenship.
Source: Weareitalians.com; Google; Facebook
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