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Costa Rica · Humanitarian protection

Costa Rica Special Category for Humanitarian Reasons

13 facts quoted from the official source

One-year renewable discretionary regularisation for an exceptionally vulnerable person whose immigration status is necessary to address the situation.

Route type
Humanitarian protection
Can bring
—
Not stated in the official source
Requirements
9
each quoted below
Who qualifies

Who this route is for

Every item below is the government’s own wording, quoted from the official source. Whether you personally qualify depends on your full profile.

9 requirements quoted from the official source.

The conditions that decide it
  • Character and security screeningThe applicant must provide truthful information and cooperate with the competent procedure.
  • Eligibility summaryArticles 135 and 136 permit an individual humanitarian category based on exceptional vulnerability.
  • Ground for protectionThe person must present exceptional vulnerability linked to age, gender, disability or another individual circumstance.
  • Individual assessment by the authorityThe competent authority assesses the person's individual facts and supporting information.
  • Residence permit grantedImmigration regularisation must be necessary to address that vulnerable situation.
  • Supporting evidenceSuitable evidence must establish the particular humanitarian circumstances.
  • Where and how to applyThe request or recognition must use the channel designated by the competent authority.
  • Work rightsAn authenticated offer is required if the applicant will perform paid work.
What you’ll show with your application

Paperwork you prepare — it does not rule you out.

  • Passport or travel-document requirementAvailable identity and supporting documents should be provided, subject to the protection procedure.
Also stated by the source
  • Not exposed as an automated recommendationThe recorded facts permit an assessment but do not make recognition or status automatic.
  • Official source basisArticles 135 and 136 permit an individual humanitarian category based on exceptional vulnerability.
  • Report summaryArticles 135 and 136 permit an individual humanitarian category based on exceptional vulnerability.
Family

Who you can bring

— Not stated in the official source. The official page for this route does not address dependent-family rights, so we do not publish a claim either way.
Costs & timelines

What the source prices

Validity
1 proven from the official source.
  • Initial duration or stay ceilingThe category may be granted for one year and renewed.
How it works

From here to a yes

See if you qualify — freeThe 3-minute check scores your profile against every Costa Rica route at once, this one included. No signup, no card.
Get your full report — €10One personalised report ranks every route you can actually get, with the full requirement set for your profile — so you apply for the right one.
Apply with the official sourceThe application itself always happens with the government — the enacting authority linked below. The report points you straight at it.
FAQ

Straight answers

01Who qualifies for this route to Costa Rica?
The official source states: One-year renewable discretionary regularisation for an exceptionally vulnerable person whose immigration status is necessary to address the situation.

Every answer is quoted from the official pgrweb.go.cr page for this route, last read 2026-07-26.

We checked 13 points against the official source; 13 are quoted on this page. The other 0 are either not addressed by the source or not yet backed by a quote — we would rather show you the edge of the record than fill it with a plausible guess.

See the 0 open points

Fees and processing time are not published in the official source for this route. We publish a number only when the official text states that number.

Not stated in the official source — the official source names no exclusion for this route.

The source

Where every quote comes from

Official government source pgrweb.go.crLast read 2026-07-26 Every quote on this page is from this Costa Rica government page.
Compiled from official sources · pending independent re-check · Last checked 2026-07-26 · Our methodology
 · Compiled by António Mira · How we verify · Not legal advice — rules change; confirm with the official source before deciding.
Same category, same country

Other humanitarian protection routes to Costa Rica

7 other humanitarian protection routes to Costa Rica.

Application for Refugee StatusDiplomatic or Territorial Asylum and Recognised Asylee StatusRefugee Family Extension or ReunificationSpecial Category for a Minor under PANI ProtectionSpecial Status for a Recognised Trafficking VictimStatelessness Determination and Special Documentation
Same category, elsewhere

Humanitarian protection routes in other countries

182 other countries publish at least one humanitarian protection route. Nearest first.

Panama5 humanitarian protection routes El Salvador3 humanitarian protection routes Nicaragua3 humanitarian protection routes Honduras2 humanitarian protection routes Guatemala1 humanitarian protection route Greece22 humanitarian protection routes

Does this route fit your numbers?

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