Costa Rica revives migration pathway for Nicaraguans with pending asylum

Costa Rica is reactivating a special migratory category, offering a pathway to legal residency and work for thousands of Nicaraguans whose asylum applications are pending or have been rejected. The measure, officially announced via La Gaceta on May 29, 2026, will take effect on September 1, 2026.

This renewed "temporary complementary special category" is designed for Nicaraguans, Venezuelans, Cubans, and now Colombians facing uncertainty due to unresolved refugee claims or negative decisions. The category previously ceased operations in 2024, and its reactivation addresses the significant vulnerability and irregular status of many migrants in Costa Rica.

The Directorate General of Migration and Foreigners (DGME) acknowledged a substantial increase in asylum applications since 2014, leaving many individuals in precarious situations. Data from the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) in May 2025 indicated that Costa Rica hosted over 194,000 Nicaraguan asylum seekers and 9,216 recognized refugees from Nicaragua, representing more than half of the world's displaced Nicaraguan population.

Eligibility for this category requires individuals to have applied for asylum between June 1, 2014, and May 7, 2026, and to have remained in Costa Rica since their application. Applicants must not have any other approved migratory category or pending regularization processes. Those eligible for ordinary migratory categories are excluded from this special provision.

The reactivation is seen as a significant shift in Costa Rica's migration policy, providing a crucial alternative for individuals caught between unresolved asylum cases and difficulties accessing other legal pathways.