Population figures
Total country population
5,246,714
Forcibly displaced population
Refugees (under UNHCR's mandate):
27,684
Asylum-seekers:
206,700
IDPs (of concern to UNHCR):
0
Other people in need of international protection:
13,462
Other
Statelessness persons
270
Host community
3,051
Others of concern to UNHCR
13,170
Country context
Costa Rica, a country in Central America, has become a significant host for refugees, asylum seekers, and stateless individuals, particularly from Nicaragua, Venezuela, and other neighboring countries. The central region, including the Metropolitan Area of San José, hosts the largest share of refugees, accounting for more than half of the Nicaraguan refugee population in Costa Rica. Refugees in this area often reside in informal settlements due to high housing costs. The Northern border regions also host significant numbers of refugees, with local communities;
Costa Rica has ratified the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees (1978), the 1967 Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees (1978), the 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons (1977), the 1961 Convention for the Reduction of Statelessness (1977) and has developed a legal and normative framework for the asylum process. Pursuant to the 2009 Migration Law, the determination of refugee status is carried out by the Commission on Restricted Visas and Refugees (CVRR) and the Administrative Migration Tribunal (TAM for its Spanish acronym), for first- and second-instance decisions, respectively. The 2009 Migration Law also created the Refugee Unit, a body within the Migration Directorate in charge of providing administrative support to the Commission on Restricted Visas and Refugees.
...Costa Rica’s legal framework for refugee protection includes commitments to ensuring that refugees and stateless persons are integrated into social programs, such as healthcare and education, and have access to legal rights. The country provides asylum seekers with official documents confirming their status. However, challenges persist with regard to the asylum process. The introduction of restrictions on asylum applications, particularly through Decree 43810 in December 2022, led to delays and difficulties in formalizing asylum claims, leaving many people in irregular status.
Costa Rica continues to engage in regional efforts to address mixed migration movements, and the country’s legal framework supports the inclusion of refugees and migrants in national development plans. Despite economic and institutional challenges, Costa Rica’s protection environment remains robust, with ongoing efforts to enhance the inclusion of forcibly displaced persons and strengthen their capacity to contribute to society.
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