Hotels and landlords may soon be checking immigration status based changes to Costa Rica's immigration laws. Following a one-year extension to the implementation of the laws, landlords and hotels may be asking tenants and guests to show their visa or cedula in order to ensure that they are in the country legally. The new laws, which went into effect on August 1, businesses or individuals providing accommodations to persons without a valid visa could be facing hefty fines. As such, the new laws appear to be applicable to landlords renting property as well as hotels. This could mean that landlords and hotels may soon begin checking immigration documents and visas prior to renting properties or providing hotel accommodations. While some landlords and hotel owners have indicated they disagree with the new laws, there is no doubt that the onus of immigration enforcement is now on property owners and landlords. There has also been some question regarding whether church-operated shelters would be subjected to the new laws and fines.
Expats seeking to settle down in Costa Rica will need to pay careful attention to the need to apply for residency categories. New rules have also been put into place for individuals who overstay their visas. Fines will also be imposed on employers with workers in domestic service or the construction industry if they are not able to prove the legal residency of the worker. The laws are not actually anything new and were first established under the General Migration Law, which became valid on March 1, 2010. To date, the collection of such fines has not been enforced, largely due to an amnesty as well as an extension period.