Refugee solicitude: What it is and what it is not

This application is NOT an approved immigration category

It is a condition that the applicant will be enjoying legality and benefits while his/her application is awaiting evaluation.

The refugee applicant is granted a DIMEX and a work permit card for international protection established by human rights principles.

Normally, in most countries of the world, in order to leave the country, the refugee applicant must request permission from the competent entity, and cannot return to his/her country of origin or habitual residence.

It is a provisional status; therefore, it is not “official”. Therefore, it does not accumulate time to obtain Costa Rican nationality after a certain period of time.

After enjoying this status for 3 or 5 years it will NOT convert to permanent or temporary residency since it is not an approved refuge nor it is a subcategory of temporary residency.

This international protection, DIEMX and work permit card, is given to persons who manifests to be persecuted in their country of nationality or habitual residence for certain reasons or that their human rights have been violated by the State or parts of the State, and who are unable or unwilling, for well-founded fears, to avail themselves of the protection of the State.

These reasons are: race, religion, nationality, gender, membership of a particular social group or political opinion, etc.