Frequently Asked Questions
This section offers
a good answer to the most frequent questions asked for our Travelers regarding
our services, migration or labor affairs and more. We hope this resource meets
the most of your accurate information demands, but feel free to contact us with further
consultations regarding Costa Rica, this company or any other particular.
Table of Contents
1. I am interested in Retire in Costa
Rica. What I have to do for getting this Status?
2. Your Intercultural Programs includes
Learning Spanish Programs Alone?
4. What are the most frequent
experiences living an Intercultural Program participant?
5. I would like to study a college
career in C.R? Is that possible?
6. I am interested in a Family Exchange?
¿Is that also possible?
7. I want to travel covered for a Travel
Insurance. Do you offer this product?
8. Is possible to get a job and earn some
extra money while I traveling around C.R.?
9. Do I need a passport to go to Costa
Rica?
10. Do I need a Visa to visit Costa Rica?
11. May I enter to Costa Rica with a One way
Ticket?
12. Do I need an international drivers
license to drive in Costa Rica?
13. Can I get married in Costa Rica? What
documents do I need?
14. Is the water drinkable in Costa Rica?
15. Is there a Train Service in Costa
Rica?
16. What is the currency in Costa
Rica?
17. Are All Major Credit Cards
accepted in Costa Rica?
18. What kind of Inoculations do I
have to take if am planning to visit Costa Rica?
19. Do I need an electric adapter to
use my home or beauty care appliances?
20. What documents are required to enter
with a pet to Costa Rica?
21. How much is the Departure Tax?
22. How can I get a Working Visa?
23. What are the requirements to
become a Resident Pensioner in Costa Rica?
24. Are the National Parks wheel
chair accessible?
25. Is there an American or other
Nationalities Legion in Costa Rica?
26. If I decided to stay longer, can
I get a visa being there?
27. What should I bring when going
to the Rain Forest?
28. Is there a Domestic Airline
offering local trips within the country?
29. What is the Sales Tax in Costa
Rica?
30. What number should I dial in case
of Emergency?
31. Are there local newspaper
written in a language different to Spanish?
32. When do you celebrate Carnival?
33. Which are Costa Rica natural
boundaries?
34. How is Costa Rica politically
divided?
35. Where can I get more
information about Costa Rica?
1. I am interested in Retire in Costa
Rica. What I have to do for getting this Status?
Thousands of
foreigners call Costa Rica home. More
than 25,000 North Americans alone are living here. They have come to enjoy a slower pace of life and a lower cost of
living. Foreigners are free to own
property in Costa Rica. If you are
retired and receive a monthly income, obtaining residency as a “pensionado” is relatively simple. A dependable attorney can be hired to help
you with the paperwork. We can provide
you with names and telephone numbers of good lawyers upon request or a list can
be obtained at the U.S. Embassy.
You must prove that
you receive a minimum of $600 per month of lifetime income from outside of
Costa Rica. Social Security retirement
income qualifies for this. Social
Security or Private Pension income must be verified. You can own and operate a business, but cannot work for a
salary. Parents, siblings, spouse and
children of pensionados can obtain residency as your dependents. After two
years as a pensionado permanent residency can be acquired.
You will need to
complete an application, which can be obtained at the Department of Resident
Pensioners. However it is advised to
have an attorney help you with the application, which he or she can also
provide to you. Along with standard
information, it will ask for the origin and amount of your monthly
“pension”. The application needs to be
signed by you, your spouse and any children over 18 years and less than 25
years of age. Applicants must have no
criminal convictions, pending charges or investigations against them at the
time of the application. You will need
a police report verifying this as well as a birth certificate for yourself and
all dependents, as well as photocopies of your passport and the passports of
your dependents and four passport size pictures of yourself as well as of all
of your dependents.
Your attorney can
notarize the application for you and present it for you. Approval should be granted within thirty
days. You are required to inform the appropriate authority of any change of
your residence address. A pensionado
must reside in Costa Rica a minimum of four consecutive or alternate months per
year.
Feel free to contact
us if you would like any additional information regarding retirement living in
Costa Rica.
2. Your Intercultural Programs includes Learning
Spanish Programs Alone?
No. If you prefer to learn others languages as
english, italian, german or french is also possible. Some courses are offered
through our academy. Other ones through other academies but no all programs
include Home stay with a native speaker local family. Prices of packs use to vary
with language to learn.
Is not a problem. If you or children are minor(s) must
to obtain the respective permission of your parents or any other competent
authority in your country and must to accept by writing the Rules of Behavior
fixed for agency for this cases.
4.
What are the most frequent experiences living an Intercultural Program
participant?
v Return to visit his/her host family and friends time
after time
v The second and/or next trips use to be total or
partially free.
v His/Her host family and friends use to return visit to
participant at home
v Is very frequent to make a boyfriend or girlfriend
during program
v Will make new friends both local and many other
countries of the world.
v Very probably will take a voluntary program(s) as
well.
v Your trip will extend for longer time than you
originally planned.
5.
I would like to study a college career in Costa Rica? ¿Is that possible?
Yes, it is possible. You only will need to present your
previous school attestations and request a “Student Visa” in nearer Costa Rica
Embassy or Consulate to you. Additionally must to let us know what career do
you want to study and most probably time to start and will make all
arrangements for you. Our services includes advice and support in your moving
process, Hotel, House, Apartment or Local Family searching and reservation,
transfers around the city, advice and support on your College registration
process and more. College careers use to start on January, May and September
every year. This option is also available for High School students…
6.
I am interested in a Family Exchange? ¿Is that also possible?
Yes, it is. We have some options in this line but to
participate on program must to be an active member of Mercy Travelers Club. The
program it has an affiliation cost or membership and once registered on
program, you will have access to info about family prospects.
7. I want to travel covered for a Travel Insurance. Do you
offer this product?
Many of our Travel Offers include on the regular price
a local Travel Insurance that protect you in case of Accidental Death, Body
Repatriation, Permanent Incapacity and/or Medical Assistance throughout your
stay in C.R. Being covered for a Travel Insurance is a mandatory rule to may
participate of some of our packages as Volunteering or Interns. But if you
prefer, you may hire a Travel Insurance with your local Insurance Agent.
8. Is possible to get a job and earn some extra money
while I am traveling around C.R.?
Normally is necessary to have a work permission to
work in country. This permission is emitted for respective embassy or consulate
of C.R. on your area and to get it easier is necessary to have a formal offer
of job in country and a college degree. Sometimes is possible to get an
informal job in a hotel or restaurant for instance at exchange of free lodging
and/or meals.
9. Do I need a passport to go
to Costa Rica?
A valid passport is mandatory to enter to Costa Rica.
10. Do I need a visa to visit
Costa Rica?
Depending on your country of origin, you may enter
Costa Rica without a Visa. Citizens from USA, Canada and most of European
countries have this privilege.
11. May I enter Costa Rica
with a one way ticket?
To have a round trip ticket is an Entry Requirement.
12. Do I need an international
drivers license to drive in Costa Rica?
You are allowed to drive with your
normal drivers license for three months.
13. Can I get married in Costa Rica? What
documents do I need?
Foreigners can get married in Costa
Rica. The documents needed are: - original birth certificate - affidavit of
single status - police record - valid passport - divorce decree (if applicable)
- These documents need to follow the authentication procedure before being
taken to Costa Rica.
14. Is the water drinkable in Costa Rica?
The water is potable in most of the country. We recommend using bottled water,
specially in areas around the coast.
15. Is there a train service
in Costa Rica?
There is a Public Train Service
covering the main points of San Jose City. Cost of the service is around $ 0.60
per person / each way and it offers monday to friday. There is a Train Tour
going from San Jose City to Caldera Port, at the Pacific Coast on weekends. For
more information and reservations feel free to contact us.
16. What is the currency in
Costa Rica?
The Costa Rican currency is called Colon. US dollars and Euros are widely
accepted.
17. Are All Major Credit Cards
accepted in Costa Rica?
All Major Credit Cards are widely accepted. You will find ATM machines
distributed throughout the country.
18. What kind of inoculations
do I have to take if I am planning to visit Costa Rica?
No vaccines are required to enter Costa Rica.
19. Do I need
an electric adapter to use my home or beauty care appliances?
Outlets are 110 V, with standard US two prong plugs.
20. What documents are required to enter with a
pet to Costa Rica?
Dogs and cats entering Costa Rica must
having a health certificate issued by a licensed veterinarian, and endorsed by
a veterinarian service (VS). The examination for the certificate must be
conducted within the two weeks prior to the Arrival Date. The required
vaccinations are: distemper, hepatitis, lestospirosis, parvovirus and rabies
(for animals 4 months or older).
21. How much is the Departure
Tax?
Departure tax is $26 and it can be paid on US Dollars, C.R. Colones or using
your Credit Card.
22. How can I get a working
visa?
You must apply for a working visa at the Costarican Consulate.
23. What
are the requirements to become a Resident Pensioner in Costa Rica?
Costa Rica warmly receives the more of good proven reputation citizens coming
from the more of countries on the world interested in becoming a permanent
Resident Pensioner. If you are interested in applying for this Status, please
check the information contained on the question number 1 of this
questioner.
24. Are the national parks wheel chair
accessible?
The Poas Volcano National Park is the only one that offers accessing facilities
for wheel chairs.
25. Is there an American or other Nationalities Legion in Costa Rica?
There is an American Legion for people who went to the army. You can also
contact The Association of Residents at (506)233-8068.
26. If I decided to stay longer, can I get a
visa being there?
You just have to leave the country for 72 hours, upon returning to Costa Rica
the permit will be renewed automatically for 90 more days.
27. What should I bring when going to the rain
forest?
All you need is insect repellent, a rain coat with a hood and hiking boots.
28. Is there a Domestic Airlines offering local
trips within the country?
There are several local airlines that
offers flight services within the country. Some of them are Sansa, Nature Air
or Aerobell. Feel free to contact
us for further information or bookings.
29. What is the sales tax in Costa Rica?
C.R. Sales tax is 13%
30. What number should I dial in case of
emergency?
Dial 911 for immediate assistance. Service offers 24/7/365.
31. Are
there local newspaper written in a language different to Spanish?
Most popular No Spanish written
newspaper is The Tico Times. Updated info about C.R. and the world in English.
32. When do you celebrate Carnival?
There is a carnival in San Jose City on December 26th. Limon
Carnivals are celebrated in October 12th and Puntarenas City it has yours from
February 21 to March 3rd.
33. Which are Costa Rica natural boundaries?
North: Nicaragua - South:Panama - East:Caribbean Sea - West: Pacific Ocean
34. How is Costa Rica politically divided?
Costa Rica is divided into 7
provinces: San Jose, Heredia, Alajuela, Cartago, Limon, Puntarenas and
Guanacaste.
35. Where can I get more information about Costa
Rica?
Visit our C.R. Info Page available
on Home Page for getting complete info about the Costa Rica Climate, History
and other issues.