Jasper10

A warning, my daughter recently was deported from Costa Rica. Her crime? The immigration officials neglected to stamp her passport on crossing at the Panamanian border. When she tried to take an internal flight they discovered her lack of a stamp. They were going to throw her into a co-ed jail. She was at the immigration police for 13 hours. Although they admitted that the officers at the border had made a mistake, they were going to put her in jail for five days until she could appear before the immigration judge. All this despite the fact she had the exit stamp from Panama and an outward ticket in 3 weeks back home. She managed to talk them into letting her fly home the next day, 3 weeks early. Our embassy said fly out because the immigration authorities were 'impossible'. God knows what would have happened to her if she had been thrown into the jail. We are one family that won't be going back to CR.

Jeff_Costa_Rica

About 10 years ago, I arrived at SJO airport, and the passport officer mistakenly stamped a SALIDA (exit) stamp in my passport. I noticed it a couple of days later. It made no sense why he even had an exit stamp to use to begin with, but there it was. It took about two weeks to straighten the problem out, although no one threatened me with jail. Ever since then, I immediately look at the stamp the moment the officer hands me back my passport.

Jasper, I'm glad things worked out for your daughter. Do you know if this was at Sixaola or Paso Canoas?

julrustica

Jeff, could you, please post a link to the "30-day" change for the passport expiration? All I can find is 6-months..

BTW, if you're not from US, Canada and EU/GB, be careful. Though the government website says you don't need a visa if you stay for under 30 days, YOU DO! The only exception is if you have a permanent residency in US, Canada or EU/GB (and few other countries).

Jeff_Costa_Rica

Sure. I can't post a direct link to the exact page, but go to the webpage of the Costa Rican Embassy in Washington:

www.costarica-embassy.org

Click on CONSULAR SERVICES at the top of the page, and then TOURIST VISA in the pulldown menu. Then click on the NATIONALITY link. That takes you to a list of countries. Select yours, and there is the information.

I don't quite understand what you're saying in the second paragraph. USA, Canada, EU, Japan, Australia, New Zealand all get 90 days, but citizens of several countries can stay for 30 days without a visa.

julrustica

Thank you Jeff!

Jeff_Costa_Rica

I would still never let my passport get that low because I don't think everyone in Costa Rica knows about the 30-days rule. I think some airlines still have the six-months notation in their computer system. If they turn you away at check-in, you wouldn't even get to board the plane. Bottom line for me: I would never chance it. It would be time for me to get a new passport.

jayne1973

Great information. So is the best plan to get the stamped passport copied at the hotel?

densueno

Hi!
What I really recommend if live your passport in the a safe place in the hotel and always carry a photocopy of it. If you have any problem you can show that and they will give you time to go pick up the original.

Make a copy of the first page and the entrance day also.

Have a great time in your holidays!!!!

densueno

Hi!
What I really recommend if live your passport in the a safe place in the hotel and always carry a photocopy of it. If you have any problem you can show that and they will give you time to go pick up the original.

Make a copy of the first page and the entrance day also.

Have a great time in your holidays!!!!
http://www.eventproductionscr.com

Jeff_Costa_Rica

Who does this certification, julrustica?

It's important to emphasize that if you're using a passport copy, you have to copy the page that has your entrance stamp too, and you can't do that before you arrive. If you are stopped and asked for ID, you need to be able to show how long you have been in Costa Rica.

dweissnj

I have traveled in and out of Liberia many times and the immigration officers always stamp my photocopy. I have been in many traffic stops and would never hand over my passport to the officer. Once he has it in his hand, it is impossible to get by without a bribe. Learned this the hard way.

I also have the scanned copy encrypted on a thumb drive, along with my drivers license, health ins. card and dive certification cards...