Can I leave every couple of months without jeopardizing my residency application?

"Once you have received your "Expediente" which is proof that your residency is in process, you do not have to leave the country every 90 days. We received our Expediente three weeks after giving the lawyer all correct documents. Then returned to CR and stayed until we received our cedula, which took a total of 9 months," replied one expat.

"While you are waiting for your residency to be completed you only need to come when an appointment is made with immigration. Unfortunately, immigration may contact you at the last minute, when required," added another.

There is one important caveat, despite not having to leave the country once you have your expediente, if you and driving and have auto insurance, you are required to leave the country every ninety days until you have your cedula.

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About the Author

Betsy Burlingame is the Founder and President of Expat Exchange and is one of the Founders of Digital Nomad Exchange. She launched Expat Exchange in 1997 as her Master's thesis project at NYU. Prior to Expat Exchange, Betsy worked at AT&T in International and Mass Market Marketing. She graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University with a BA in International Business and German.

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Can I leave every couple of months without jeopardizing my residency application?

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