How to find a job in Costa Rica
Costa Rica is a country in Central America, covered with tropical forests and washed by the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. Traveling to Costa Rica is something that will definitely be remembered for a long time! The nature in Costa Rica cannot be compared with any other country. Unique flora and fauna are concentrated here. The state also includes three large, absolutely uninhabited islands, one of which Jacques-Yves Cousteau recognized as “the most beautiful place in the world”.
Costa Rica is the only country in America that is completely neutral. There is no army in the country and all power powers are entrusted to the police. The standard of living of the population ranks second in Central America, the literacy rate is 96%. Above all according to the statistics of the International Happiness Index for 2012, the inhabitants of the country turned out to be the happiest people in the world!
Due to the wild nature reserve, production in the country is very limited. This is mainly the manufacture of microprocessors and medical equipment. Exports of coffee, bananas, tuna, and small food factories. But 70% of the country’s income comes from all types of tourism.
Often, foreigners, after a vacation in this country, think about the prospect of further employment in Costa Rica. But, unfortunately, it is quite difficult for foreigners to find work here. So how to find a job in Costa Rica?
The thing is that for legal employment in this republic you need to obtain a work permit. And this document is issued only to residents of the country.
Only foreigners who have lived in Costa Rica for at least 6 months can obtain resident status in this state.
Job search methods
You can find a job in this country in your home country through an intermediary agency, the so-called recruiting organizations. But it should be borne in mind that a foreigner will need to pay for finding a suitable vacancy. There is no flat rate of payment for services. Each recruiting agency sets its own conditions.
On average, such organizations require payment of 10% of income for their services. But for this fee, the agency, in turn, is looking for a job, organizes an interview with a potential employer, and some even help in obtaining a visa to enter Costa Rica.
You can find a job in Costa Rica for Russians or Ukrainians on your own through websites that post free vacancies.
In-demand specialties
If you intend to leave for this country for the purpose of employment, you should immediately prepare for the fact that, most likely, you will have to work for hire in low-skilled specialties.
Costa Rica is a tourist country, so most often it is easier to find a job in the service sector (hotels, cafes, restaurants). About 70% of the country’s total income comes from tourism.
The most requested destinations in Costa Rica:
- Tourism.
- Real estate industry.
- Sports area. It is quite easy to find work in the country for surfing, diving, tennis, or horse riding instructors.
- IT sphere. There is a demand in the country for web designers, technical masters, and specialists involved in the promotion and promotion of sites.
Costa Rica is popular not only for its amazing nature but also for the production of medical equipment. Here engineers developing medical equipment can easily find work.
This country has a fairly high level of medicine. Foreign residents often come to the republic for treatment and undergoing rehabilitation programs. Therefore, doctors of all directions are in great demand in this country. But it should be borne in mind that only a person who has not only high qualifications but also quite a lot of work experience can get a job in Costa Rica as a doctor.
One of the main requirements for potential employees is the knowledge of the Spanish language at a conversational level. Although this country is located in America, English is rarely used here.
Salary level
Costa Rica is not the best country for employment due to low salaries. But many people seek to find a job in this republic not because of making big money. They are attracted by the national flavor and amazing nature of this country.
The minimum wage in Costa Rica is $ 300. The average salary on the territory of the state is $ 500. This is approximately 277 thousand Costa Rican columns (the national currency of Costa Rica). This salary is received by shop assistants, office managers, and service personnel of large hotel suites.
Registration of a work visa
A work visa allows not only entry into the territory of Costa Rica, but also stay in this country for the duration of the employment contract.
To obtain a work visa, you should contact the diplomatic mission of the country and submit a package of papers, consisting of:
- A valid foreign passport.
- Visa applications.
- Photos in the amount of 4 pieces.
- Employer invitations.
- Letters indicating the vacancy and salary level.
Work permit
It is extremely difficult to obtain a work permit in Costa Rica on your own. But this procedure is greatly simplified if a foreigner comes to work in this republic on a work visa. On the basis of this type of visa, a foreign resident can obtain a work permit from the General Directorate for Migration.
Initially, upon arrival in the country, the foreign representative is assigned the status of “permanent resident”, on the basis of which he can obtain a work permit. The difference is that holders of a work visa should not reside in the territory of this republic for the last 180 days to obtain status.
To obtain a work permit, a foreign representative must submit a package of papers, consisting of:
- Written statement.
- Letters from the organization that invited the employee. The letter must indicate the working conditions and salary of the foreign resident.
- Photocopies of all pages of the international passport. A copy of the labor visa page must be present.
- Two photos of a foreigner.
Foreign pensioners and people with the status of “Rentier” cannot get a work permit. Let us remind you that the “Rentier” status implies that a person lives in Costa Rica from income received from his native state.
A person with a rentier status can only receive a work permit one year after receiving a residence permit in Costa Rica.
