So you wanna have a cell phone in Costa Rica? I’d think twice about that if I were you. It’s not as easy as you may think!
When I got my first cell phone and plan in the U.S., I went to a store called GCI wireless, picked my service provider (T-Mobile) and a free phone (a cute little peanut-shaped Motorola). I was issued a number and off I went, calling all my friends and family, one after another, to shout, “I have a cell phone” in their ears. It was so easy. I wished I’d done it years before. However this is not the case in other countries!!
Many tasks that would be relatively simple in the U.S., such as paying an electric bill or opening a checking account, can take multiple forms and hours of waiting in lines. Even after all that, you sometimes have to do it all over again when forms are misplaced or you’re given the wrong information. Getting a cell phone is no exception to these difficulties…
Apparently anyone can own a cell phone in Costa Rica. I have a cellphone. I use it as a watch, an alarm clock, and occasionally as a gaming device (chess and golf, woowoo). I certainly don’t use it as a phone. As I found out, I wouldn’t be able to even if I tried, unless of course I stayed with a U.S. service provider and paid $1.50 per minute, no thanks!
All telecommunications in Costa Rica fall under a government-run monopoly called the ICE (Costa Rican Institute of Electricity). To get a cell phone number in Costa Rica you must be a legal resident of the country. To become a legal resident of the country requires a great deal of effort and motivation! I’ve done some research, and the residency process is very confusing. I’ll just say there are 6 types of residency. The “rentista,” aka “legal resident,” seems the most common (for those of us who are not retirees, that is). For this option one must:
- Show proof of at least US$1,000 monthly income from outside Costa Rica guaranteed for the next 5 years.
- Have a recent police clearance.
- Reside in Costa Rica for two full years, and then six months per year out of all following years.
- Submit a formal application and fee.
- Take 8 passport photos.
- Fill out multiple forms including Birth, Marriage, and Income Certificates.
- Have all forms notarized and translated into Spanish.
After these and many other steps are finished, you can apply for a cell phone number. However there are several more steps to complete!
- Must provide three different proofs of residency.
- Buy a certified cell phone and submit the receipt.
- Fill out forms.
- Pay a fee.
So now you have a cell phone… Oh, and I’ve heard the average charge for a call here is 30 cents per minute. After all that, ouch!!! I think I’ll stick to using my phone as a watch!
The most ironic part of all this is that in Costa Rica you can…
- Invest
- Own Property
- Start a Business
All without becoming a resident. The one thing you can’t do without residency is… Own a Cellphone.
Has anyone else had issues like these trying to get a cell phone abroad?
