Finding Work

Foreigners can only work when they are legal residents. They don’t need a work permit. The only exception to this rule is when you can do a job a Costa Rican is unqualified to do. In this case you can obtain a work permit (see Chapter 4). These kinds of jobs are very scarce. Work permits must be renewed annually. Pensionados, Rentistas and foreigners without permanent residency may only own a company, invest or start a business. If you have questions about work permits, questions may be answered by contacting the Immigration Department at 011-(506) 220-1860. We have some discouraging news for those living on small pensions and hoping to supplement their income with a part or full-time job or for others who need to work just to keep busy. Finding work can be difficult but not impossible. In the first place, it is not easy for a Costa Rican, not to mention foreigners who don’t speak fluent Spanish, to find permanent work.

If you are one of the few foreigners who has mastered Spanish, you will probably have a fair chance of finding work in tourism or some other related field. However, your best bet may be to find employment with a North American firm doing business in Costa Rica. The best-paying jobs are with multinational corporations. It is best to contact one of these companies before moving to Costa Rica. Depending on your qualifications, you may be able to find a job as a salesman, an executive or a representative.

When local companies hire foreigners, they are generally looking for a solid educational background and an entrepreneurial spirit that some companies find lacking in Costa Ricans. It helps to have a degree from a well-known U.S. university—preferably an MBA.

Even if you know little or no Spanish, you have a chance of finding work as an English teacher at a language institute in San José. Don’t expect to earn more than a survival salary from one of these jobs because the minimum wage in Costa Rica is low. Working as a full-time language instructor won’t bring you more than a few hundred dollars monthly.

As supplemental income or busywork, this is fine, but you won’t make a living given the kind of life style you are probably accustomed to. If you can find work at a private bilingual school, you can earn over $1000 a month. The competition for these jobs is very stiff, preference is given to bilingual Costa Ricans and most foreigners hang on to these coveted positions.

Try putting one of your skills to use by providing some service to the large expatriate community in Costa Rica. Everyone has a talent or specialty they can offer. For example, if you are a writer, journalist or have experience in advertising, you might look for work at one of Costa Rica’s two English language newspapers. Unfortunately, if you are a retired professional such as a doctor or lawyer, you can’t practice in Costa Rica because of certain restrictions but can offer your services as a consultant to other foreigners and retirees.

As if finding work were not hard enough in Costa Rica, a work permit or residency is required before foreigners can work legally. Labor laws are very strict and the government doesn’t want foreigners taking jobs away from Costa Ricans. In theory, companies are not allowed to have more than 10 percent foreign labor. It’s actually much lower in practice. You are only allowed to work if you can perform specialized work that a Costa Rican can’t. However, many foreigners work for under-the-table pay without a work permit.

If you don’t seek remuneration, you can always find volunteer work to keep yourself busy. This kind of work is legal, so you don’t need a work permit or run the risk of being deported for working illegally.