goranbockman
9/2/2014 08:07 EST
Hi all,
I'm coming to Nicaragua on the 12th of this month (Sep). The plan is to stay for 6 mths and then go back home for 2 mths to arrange for the documents needed to apply for residence as a pensionista.
Now I've read that, having stayed in Nica for 6 months, you then have to be Out of the country for the following 6 months.
However I've also read about perpetual tourists doing the 72 hrs visa run to CR and then getting a new 90 days tourist visa when re-entering Nica.
Can anyone please give me conclusive evidence, either that I HAVE to be out of the country for 6 mths, OR that I can return sooner?
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calsrf
9/2/2014 08:39 EST
The law says that you must leave with in 90 days. You may re enter after 3 days. My friends and I do what is called "vuelta de pero." You exit the country , enter the next country, then "turn" around exit that country and re-enter the original country you came from. If you are caught, a smile and a small bribe helps. The 6 month thing is untrue. Don't forget to smile (+:/
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KeyWestPirate
9/2/2014 08:50 EST
The three days is frequently not enforced, and if someone brings it to your attention, he or she is looking for a small gift.
You can renew internally for another 90, someone will post the details and the price for the renewal. So, that gives you 6 months, and Costa Rica has a lot to offer, especially Guanacaste (immediately acrossl the border from So Nicaragua).
Agree! Smiles are everything. If you get into an argument, you lose, no matter who is "right".
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goranbockman
9/2/2014 09:33 EST
Thanx a bunch calsrf
The big grin of relief I'm wearing now will probably last me at least for the coming 6-8 months so, yeah I'll smile til my lips crack if that'll do the trick.
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goranbockman
9/2/2014 09:38 EST
Hi there KeyWestPirate
I've seen you on 'NicaLiving'. Nice meeting here. I'll be happy to go to CR for 3 or more days as I want to check out their gaited horses, so no problem there.
Thanx for replying and clarifying the ins and outs of Nica law and practice.
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iguanalover
9/2/2014 10:52 EST
You can do turnarounds at the border, no problem. No specific time out of country. Keep in mind that the border has immigration people and national police. The immigration people stamp your passport, and are in an office, but the police are everywhere, they will ask to see every passport and they look it and you over. The only time I been asked anything, it was by the police. We did have one policeman tell us to stay out for two hours but we didn't. We hung out, noticed that he was no longer on duty and passed thru without any problems.
I would be very careful about offering a bribe. Never had anyone even hint at one. The only bribe I have seen accepted is by the traffic police.
The easiest way to learn the border routine is to take an international bus the first time. We take the TransNica bus, the Tice bus is kept at freezer temperatures. On the TransNica bus, a nice young person takes your passport, some paperwork and money and they do the Nicaragua passport stuff while you wait outside the bus. Nicabus has a website and offices in Managua and Granada. Take your passport to buy the ticket. I
think it is $58 round trip. Book a specific day going down and the return will be left open.
On the Costa Rican side, you have to do the immigration thing. After clearing the border,
the bus can drop you off at Liberia, Costa Rica, where you can spend the night and then come back the next day, book a hotel ahead as it is a popular spot. There is a hotel right on the highway across from where the bus will drop you, but I forgot the name. The bus will drop you off right on the highway and it is a very busy place. Be very careful, but you can cross the road with a light. Ask your hotel to help you book the bus back the next day.
Sunday is the easiest day to cross the border and the earlier the better. Avoid crossing from Dec. 15 to early January unless you like lines and Semana Santa is not a good time to travel.
The border can be very confusing the first time and the little settlement of Penas Blancas is not a nice place. Either take the international bus the first time, or make your run with someone experienced who can show you the ropes.
Keep in mind that there is money involved and Costa Rica charges an exit tax ($7), if you pay at the border you will pay the tax by machine and you need plastic. There is a gentleman who monitors the machine and can help. Nicaragua prefers US dollars, $3 to leave and $12 to return. Costa Rica also requires a ticket out of the country to enter, no entry fees, yet. You can buy one at the border on the CR side. It will be open and is good for one year. Have your return ticket before you try for immigration or they will make you go get one.
Make sure you passport gets stamped and make sure you can read it. Watch and check before you move on.
There are no facilities other than a bathroom on the CR side, the restaurant is closed.
The easiest, and most scenic, place to cross the border is at San Carlos, but that is a different story.
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goranbockman
9/2/2014 11:29 EST
Thanx so much iguanalover for your extensive and very informative reply. I will certainly benefit from your good advice.
Goran
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KeyWestPirate
9/2/2014 11:51 EST
That's it in a nutshell.
There is now a machine for paying the tax within the office where you get your CR exit stamp. It's a buck less than the machine across the street. The tramites (who you don't need) will steer you there .. .
I was confronted once about my short stay in CR, I usually stay the 3 days --or longer. I like CR, except for how expensive it has gotten. I rolled up a $5 and slipped it him while I pretended to ask him something about my passport.
They appreciate that courtesy as do the transito.
I stay at the Hotel Wilson in Liberia, weekends (Fri, Sat, Sun) are never a problem, but it fills with commercial travelers from San Jose during the week.
From there you can easily visit the Rincon de la Vieja volcano, and there are two close by national parks.
Penas Blancas will have an entirely new experience later this year. They have constructed a very large, one stop shopping migration/customs point, with A/C yet! The muddy field we used to negotiate has been replaced with concrete.
It's going to make CR look 3rd world!
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terpsma
9/2/2014 13:01 EST
Your tourist visa in only good for 90 days. It can be renewed for another 90 days. I was able to renew in Esteli. I am quite certain you can renew in most larger towns. After 180 days you must go to CR. I stayed for 4 days to be sure. You may keep redoing this program or apply for permanent residency.
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iguanalover
9/2/2014 17:58 EST
Key West, I have always wanted to be bribed. Wish I had run into you sooner. It was a big disappointment to me.
That is good news about the new building. We really looked it over on our last trip thru and that was our guess. Very, very nice. My husband thinks it was paid for by some of the $9 million...
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JohnSS
9/3/2014 01:09 EST
With a cedual you don't need the Passport stamp but the expats in SJDS offer this advice for paying the $7 exit tax:
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At the entrance road to the car rental place on the CR side is a place that takes colones or dollars and gives you a receipt. Very seldom a line because it isn't well known. Just beside where the parking lot people first stop the cars coming in from CR.
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Best to pay at the little green 'house' the cash only place.
As soon as you come out of Costa Rica's immigration, look to your left. It's kind of down a little hill. A woman actually flagged us down with "tax?" You walk up to the window, handover passports, pay, get your receipt and start walking back toward immigration to leave CR.
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wagsa
9/3/2014 11:22 EST
Good job Keywest, that´s what is all about, just the facts mam
not wanting to be an expert about everything. How is the grumpy magicjack? Keep up the good work.
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ssure38
1/7/2015 02:24 EST
Anyone doing the Costa Rica visa run near the end of this month? I have never been and haven't learned much Spanish yet. Would like to go with someone who knows the ropes.
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dollyd
1/7/2015 08:12 EST
I didn't see anyone mention that the second 90 day visa in Nicaragua is 500 Cordobas for each 30 day period or 1500 for the 90 days and can be had at most any immigration office. You need to go there within the 3 days prior to your visa running out. The six months out of the country is not true at all. Costa Rica has a lot to see. I would go for about 5 or six days, rent a car in Liberia and check out different parts of the country. As stated, there is a hotel across the street where the bus stops on the same side as the MacDonalds Beliarios or something like that I think) There is also a Best Western on the road to the airport that is about a block from this intersection (on the side of the road with the burger king and other fast food building. I found it fun to go to CR. I agree, take a tica bus or some other bus franchise the first time. After that you can wing it if you want to with local buses or taxis depending on how deep your pockets are.
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elduendegrande
1/7/2015 09:19 EST
Yup, stop and smell the roses. One of the best tourist values in c.a. is a week in San Jose--food, culture, cleanlyness, guided tours if you want to splurge. The same Nicabus goes to San Jose.
I suspect people flying in from far away will get less immigration scrutiny than bus travelers at the CR border. Good you are working on your cedula so as not get trapped in these border games. Have your cedula papers handy but don`t offer them unless you get detained. I found once I had the paperwork in process transito stopped bugging me.
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KeyWestPirate
1/7/2015 09:29 EST
Ask for "Conejo" . He'll take you through the process for $5. I speak Spanish, know the ropes, but I still let him do the running around for me. Next time you can do it yourself, or, use Conejo again.
I cross with a car, so it's a little more involved, but still, $5 ??
Conejo is honest, many are not.
Costa Rica, you don't need anyone, even with the car. Just look for the big white building on your left, bus ticket on your right if you need it, get in line, easy money.
Come out the other side, buses to your right. La Cruz is a short distance, interesting, eighty cents for the bus ride.
All of Guanacaste is really interesting, Liberia is an hour plus change, gateway to the Guanacaste beaches.
Coming back, buy your exit ticket inside the building, save $3 by using the "ATM" (going north, other side of same building) and avoiding the touts who will sell you one for $8 - 10.
You CAN do it yourself, even with zero Spanish . . .just relax, the worst part is the cockroaches swarming you, many of whom have no idea of what they are doing.
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KeyWestPirate
1/7/2015 09:57 EST
I like CR too and spend a lot of time there. It's a welcome break from Nicaragua, almost like going back to the US.
Best hotels in Liberia are the Wilson (two of them) and the Riviera. $1 cab ride to either from the bus station (don't just get in the cab or it will be twice that).
Toro Negro steak house has great meat, and a buffalo burger (yes, there are buffalo in CR). Also, a lime pie that will make you think that you are back in Key West. Great service, deck on the street.
Hotel Liberia for breakfast (don't buy breakfast at Wilson or Riviera), but don't stay there. No AC, no hot water. Wilson fills up during the week, empty weekends. Riviera is a good fallback.
Cheap bus to Playa Coco, Laura's B&B is $40 with breakfast, less expensive place across the street.
Car helps a lot, two national parks, and the Rincon de la Vieja volcano, two sides to visit.
Very scenic.
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