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Foreigners can only work when they are legal residents,
depending on the type of residency. 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
5). However, jobs that will qualify you for a work
permit are very scarce. If you do obtain a work permit,
it 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, contact the Costa Rican
Immigration at 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 it is not impossible. In the first place, it is
not easy for a Costa Rican, not to mention foreigners
who do not speak fluent Spanish, to find permanent
work.
If you are one of the few foreigners who have 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 bestpaying
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, preferably an MBA, from
a well-known U.S. university.
Even if you speak little or no Spanish, you have a
chance of finding work as an English teacher at a language
institute in San José. Do not 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 fulltime language instructor will not bring you
more than a few hundred dollars monthly.
As supplemental income or busywork, this is fine,
but you won't make a living on apar with the kind of
lifestyle to which you are probably accustomed. If
you can find work at a private bilingual school, you
can earn more than $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.
There is some work available for English speakers
in the sportsbook industry. However, some sportsbooks
may be forced to move to other countries because of
a change in regulation here.
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 cannot practice in Costa
Rica because of certain restrictions, but you 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 does not want foreigners taking jobs away
from Costa Ricans. In theory, companies are not allowed
to have more than 10 percent foreign labor. It is actually
much lower in practice. You are only allowed to work
if you can perform specialized work that a Costa Rican
cannot do. However, many foreigners work for under-the-table
pay without a work permit.
If you do not seek remuneration, you can always find volunteer
work to keep yourself busy. Volunteer work is legal, so you
will not need a work permit or run the risk of being deported
for working illegally.
An American Working an a Private Highschool
Check out http://www.ticotrabajos.com and the
Sunday classified job ads in La Nación for possible
jobs. You will see some firms are seeking English speakers
for sales, call centers and sportsbooks. |
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