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Costa Rica: Whether children from Costa Rica require a stamp in their passport from the Ministry of Interior and Police, General Directorate of Immigration and Visa, indicating that "the minor is authorized to leave the country permanently by request of the parents;" whether such a stamp indicates that the children are travelling with people other than their natural parents (2003-May 2005)

According to the Consul General at the Embassy of Costa Rica in Ottawa, all children must have an [translation] "authorization to exit the country" stamp in their passport even if they travel with their parents (10 May 2005). The Consul General added that the stamp is issued by the [translation] "Department of Migration" (Embassy of Costa Rica, Ottawa 10 May 2005).

If the child leaves the country with one parent, the other parent's approval is required (ibid.). After the parent has given his or her approval, the "Department of Migration" puts a stamp in the child's passport indicating whether the exit authorization is permanent (until the child reaches 18 years of age) or for a determined period (ibid.). The approval of both parents is required if the child travels without them (ibid.).

According to a Costa Rica government Website, the name of the organization in charge of controlling migratory movements is the General Directorate for Migration and Foreigners (Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería), a dependency of the Ministry of Interior (Ministerio de Gobernación (Costa Rica 2004).

However, article 11 of the Regulations for the Law on Migration and Foreigners (Ley General de Migración y Extranjería) states that the Patronato Nacional de la Infancia (PANI) must provide minors with [traduction] "an exit permit" (Costa Rica. 31 May 1989).

For more information on the PANI card delivered to children each time they travel, please consult CRI31705.E of 29 April 1999.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Costa Rica. 2004. Ministerio de Gobernación. Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería. "Acerca de Nosotros." <http://www.migracion.gob.ni/acerca_de_nosotros.php> [Accessed 20 May 2005]

Costa Rica. 31 May 1989. "Reglamento de la Ley de Migración y Extranjería." <http://www.acnur.org/biblioteca/pdf/0166.pdf> [Accessed 20 May 2005]

Embassy of Costa Rica in Ottawa. 10 May 2005. Correspondence from the Consul General.

Additional Sources Consulted

Internet sites, including: Ministerio de Gobernación, Policia y Seguridad Pública de Costa Rica, US State Department Visa Reciprocity and Country Documents Finder.

Topics: Visas,