Visa and permit application requirements eased for Venezuelan nationals

IMPACT – MEDIUM

What is the change? The Costa Rican Immigration Directorate has eased visa and residence permit application rules for Venezuelan nationals.

• Effective date: June 27.
• Visas/permits affected: Visas and residence permits.
• Who is affected: Venezuelan nationals applying for visas and residence permits.

New regulations:

• Venezuelan nationals in the country legally will be able to file visa and residence permit applications with an expired passport.
• Venezuelan nationals will be able to use apostilled birth certificates issued at any time, instead of needing to follow the requirement that they be issued within six months of the visa or residence application.
• Venezuelan nationals will be able to use apostilled police clearance certificates up to one year after their issuance, instead of the previous six-month maximum.
• Venezuelan nationals will not need to apostille digital police clearance certificates but rather will be able to certify them through a Venezuelan consular post in Costa Rica.
• Venezuelan nationals will be exempt from the post-arrival consular registration requirement.

Background: The new regulations were published in the official gazette on June 12 and will take effect June 27.

Analysis & Comments:  The eased application rules provide relief to Venezuelans seeking to apply for visas and residence permits.

Source: Deloitte LLP. Deloitte LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales with registered number OC303675 and its registered office at 1 New Street Square, London EC4A 3HQ, United Kingdom.