Refugee and Asylum Status

To apply for refugee status in Costa Rica, you must be physically present in the country. You cannot apply from abroad. The process is managed by the Unidad de Refugio (Refugee Unit) of the Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería (DGME).

Step 1: Requesting an Appointment

As soon as you enter Costa Rica or within one month of your arrival, you must request an appointment to formalize your claim.

• By Phone: Call 1311 (from a Costa Rican line) to schedule your appointment. Note that there is a small fee per minute for this call.
• Online: You can also request an appointment through the DGME Appointment Portal.
• At the Border: If you express your fear of returning to your country at the point of entry, border authorities will provide you with a temporary document and instructions on how to proceed.

Step 2: The Formal Application (The Interview)

On the day of your appointment, you must go to the Unidad de Refugio office (usually in San José or Upala).

• Biometrics: Officials will take your fingerprints and a photograph.
• The Form: You will fill out a formal application detailing why you cannot return to your home country.
• The Interview: An officer will interview you to understand your situation. You should bring any evidence you have (documents, photos, reports) that supports your claim.
• Provisional Document: After this meeting, you will receive a Carné de Solicitante de Refugio (Refugee Applicant ID). This document protects you from deportation while your case is pending.

Step 3: Work Authorization

Your initial applicant ID does not automatically allow you to work.

• You must wait three months after receiving your applicant ID to apply for a work permit.
• Once eligible, you can request a Permiso de Trabajo (Work Permit) which must be renewed periodically.

Step 4: The Decision

The Comisión de Visas Restringidas y Refugio (Commission for Restricted Visas and Refugee Status) will review your file.

• If Approved: You will be granted "Refugee Status" and can apply for a DIMEX (Identity Card for Foreigners).
• If Denied: You have three business days to file an appeal (Recurso de Revocatoria) to ask the Commission to reconsider.

The application for refugee status itself is free of charge. However, there are administrative costs associated with the identification documents and phone calls.

Item	Cost
Initial Refugee Application	Free
Appointment Call (1311)	Approx. ₡390 per minute
Refugee Applicant ID (First time)	Free
Work Permit Issuance	$50 USD
DIMEX Card (If status is granted)	$98 USD - $123 USD

Total Estimate: Approximately $100 - $150 USD spread over the course of the process. Does not include: Costs for legal representation, translations of supporting documents into Spanish, or travel expenses to the Unidad de Refugio offices.

The refugee process in Costa Rica currently faces a high volume of applications, leading to significant wait times.

• Appointment Wait Time: It can take 1 to 3 months just to get your initial interview date.
• Work Permit Eligibility: You must wait 3 months after your formal application is filed.
• Final Decision: Legally, the process should take a few months, but in practice, it currently takes 12 to 24 months for a final resolution.
• Document Validity: The Carné de Solicitante (Applicant ID) is typically valid for one year and must be renewed at the DGME offices before it expires.