Costa Rica

Costa Rica

HIAS legal advisors providing information at the Paso Canoas Immigration Post. (HIAS Costa Rica)
HIAS Costa Rica | Support For Refugees In Costa Rica | HIAS

Country Director

Roberto Mera

Office Locations

San Jose and Liberia
With staff in Los Chiles, Paso Canoas and Upala

Founded

2017

Staff Size

42

Connect

HIAS Costa Rica

+506 40 00 44 27 / 800-442-7271

Costa Rica is unique in the region for its political stability, high health and education indicators, and the country attracts hundreds of thousands of migrants seeking a better life, and refugees seeking protection. Costa Rica hosts more than 100,000 refugees and asylum seekers, 80 percent of whom are Nicaraguan. Others have fled from El Salvador, Colombia, Honduras, and Venezuela.

18,000

people reached through services and activities in 2021

Our Work

HIAS Costa Rica’s protection program includes individual legal representation, access to legal information, border monitoring activities, and training for local authorities. HIAS’ economic inclusion program helps refugees, asylum seekers, and vulnerable migrants access dignified and sustainable livelihoods, leading to self-reliance and inclusion in their new communities.

We work to protect the right of women, girls, and LGBTQ communities to access their full potential and live free from violence by supporting survivors, mitigating risks, and transforming beliefs that perpetuate GBV.

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We provide legal services and support, including free legal representation for asylum seekers so that everyone around the world, including displaced people, can have equal access to their legal rights.

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Refugee Legal Support | HIAS

Our economic inclusion programs ensure that refugees have economic opportunities to earn sustainable income and start their lives anew.

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We work to protect the right of women, girls, and LGBTQ communities to access their full potential and live free from violence by supporting survivors, mitigating risks, and transforming beliefs that perpetuate GBV.

Learn More

Impact Story

LGBTQ Activist Builds Business and New Life

HIAS Costa Rica supported Magdiel and Jeffrey with cash assistance as they finished university and built their business, while also providing them with education on how to run a business through the organization’s graduation model.

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Magdiel Galeano Gómez (right) and his husband Jeffrey (left) attend Costa Rica’s pride march on June 26, 2022 in San Jose.

HIAS’ services are free. If someone tries to charge you for services claiming they represent HIAS, please report it at our confidential email address: ethics@hias.org. HIAS has a zero-tolerance policy on fraud and corruption. 

For any other inquiries please email us at info@hias.org.

A HIAS local staff member meets with an Ethiopian family seeking asylum. He helps make sure that the needs of the family are met as they wait.  (Glenna Gordon for HIAS)

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A HIAS local staff member meets with an Ethiopian family seeking asylum. He helps make sure that the needs of the family are met as they wait.  (Glenna Gordon for HIAS)

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