Foreign football players and coaches must adhere to specific legal requirements to participate in national competitions.
Foreign football players and coaches wishing to participate in
Costa Rica's national football championship must comply with a series of legal requirements.
According to the Costa Rican Directorate of Migration, the process begins with the submission of a legal residency application, detailing the applicant's personal information, intentions, address, and preferred means of communication for notifications.
An administrative fee of $50 USD must be deposited in favor of the government to process the residency request.
Additionally, applicants are required to provide proof of payment for fiscal stamps: 125 Costa Rican colones for the fiscal stamp and 2.5 colones for each additional folio, as mandated by the Public Sector Financial Equilibrium Law.
Applicants need to submit two passport-sized photographs, a legalized birth certificate, and a legal background check certificate from their country of origin or from where they have resided for the last three years, with proper authentication and apostille.
Furthermore, proof of legal residency in their last country of residence is required, along with copies of their passport showing the entry stamp to
Costa Rica and a visa, if applicable according to their nationality.
For employment eligibility, a copy of the employment contract and certification from the National Sports and Recreation Council is necessary to confirm participation in national championships.
Employers must also be up-to-date with obligations to the Costa Rican Social Security Fund and fulfill all national and municipal tax requirements, as well as maintain up-to-date insurance commitments.
The documentation must be complete, as failure to meet any requirements will result in the denial of the application by the Costa Rican Migration Directorate.
All paperwork should be submitted while the individual possesses a valid stay granted at the immigration control point.
To benefit from less crowded conditions, Migration suggests clubs undertake these procedures on Fridays.
However, applications may be submitted on any business day.