BizCLIR

This section reviews the efficiency and security of trade-related flows of people across borders. The primary focus of the section is on the ability for legitimate importers, exporters, and their related facilitators (i.e., attorneys, accountants, business development professionals) to move across borders with as few impediments and as much security as possible as they trade their goods and services. Also of great significance, however, is the vulnerability of free and open societies. This assessment seeks to identify the appropriate balance between free movement for traders and restrictions on terrorists.

As with the trade-related flows of money, in a well-functioning trading system, the movement of short-term visitors is often a minor administrative detail in the trading scheme. Yet in some countries with overly restrictive security policies, or legacy restrictions on people flows in communist countries, entry into a country creates logistical and financial obstacles for legitimate traders. On the other hand, security policies and procedures are necessary to prevent entry of persons for illegitimate purposes, such as terrorists and other criminals who pose a danger to society. Flows of people for illicit purposes, when increased, can lead to instability in the trading system as a whole.

Overall, the efficiency and security of people flows in Costa Rica is adequate. The system supports contemporary methods for processing business-related travel that facilitates entry and exit at low administrative burden and cost. Illegitimate people flows are an issue for Costa Rica, particularly because of its higher level of development. It is estimated that one million Nicaraguans are living in Costa Rica. Furthermore, Costa Rica is a transit country for illegal migration to the north.