Mónica Quesada | Tico Times

Eligible university students from abroad who want to study in Costa Rica can obtain a special visa within 30 days thanks to a decree signed yesterday by Public Security Minister Fernando Berrocal and Immigration Director Mario Zamora, according to a statement from the Public Security Ministry.

The decree creates a reglamento, or rule written by the Executive Branch, to define how the Immigration law affects international students. It allows students attending institutions of higher education, including universities and technical schools, to apply for a visa to stay in the country for 90 days to two years as “non-residents,” explained Public Security Ministry press chief Ricardo González.

If the students come from one of the 144 countries from which Costa Rica requires immigrants to have “restricted visas,” their request must first be reviewed by a consultation commission before it is sent to the General Immigration Administration.

Students who are not from one of these countries may submit their requests directly to the General Immigration Administration, which then has 30 days to review it, the statement said.

Additionally, the school where the student wishes to study must be registered with the General Immigration Administration and present a certificate from the Social Security System (Caja) showing it is up to date with all employees' Social Security tax payments.

The school must also be registered with the Public Education Ministry (MEP), the Foreign Ministry and either the National Rectors Council (CONARE) or the National Superior Education Council (CONESUP).

The idea behind this reglamento is to allow more foreign students to study at Costa Rica's universities without having to go through the “bothersome” paperwork formerly required, the statement said.

Those who take taxis should watch out for drivers out to overcharge them, according to a statement from the Public Services Regulatory Authority (ARESEP).

By carrying out several operatives, ARESEP discovered that many taxi drivers find ways to charge their passengers more than the rates established by law. Presenting charts listing false rates and manipulating meters, or marías, to charge more than is legal are some of the tactics drivers employ to rip off their passengers, the statement said.

Overcharging has been reported especially in the northwestern Guanacaste towns of Liberia, Cañas and Playas del Coco; Upala, near the northern border; in the Caribbean-slope towns of Turrialba and in Puriscal, southwest of San José.

Taxi users should be aware that drivers are authorized only to charge the legal rate established by ARESEP and published in the official government daily La Gaceta: ¢330 ($0.64) for the first kilometer and ¢300 ($0.58) for every additional kilometer in a standard “sedan” taxi and ¢330 for the first kilometer and ¢330 for each additional kilometer in a “rural” taxi.

These rates do not vary depending on the condition of the road, distance of the trip, time of day, nationality of the passenger and whether or not he or she was picked up from a hotel, commercial establishment or home, the statement said.

ARESEP is working with the Ministry of Public Works and Transport (MOPT) to prevent taxi drivers from overcharging. Among actions being considered are setting standards for meters, requiring drivers to provide receipts and punishing drivers who break these rules.

-Tico Times