Costa Rica — Circular Movements of Nicaraguans in La Cruz, Los Chiles, San Carlos and Sarapiqu (September - October 2023)

Cantons: La Cruz, Upala y Los Chiles

The International Organization for Migration (IOM), the United Nations agency for migration in Costa Rica has implemented since 2021, two rounds of the Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) as part of its strategy to monitor the circular migratory flow of individuals of Nicaraguan nationality at unofficial border points in various cantons in the northern part of the country. Through this exercise at three unofficial entry points along the border with Nicaragua, a total of 60,697 migratory movements were recorded, of which 59 percent were departures and 41 percent were entries.

As a fundamental part of IOM's mission to provide key advice on migration policies and practices, it becomes necessary to update the data concerning this circular migration flow of Nicaraguans crossing both regularly and irregularly through the northern border of Costa Rica.

According to the records from the General Directorate of Migration and Immigration (DGME) regarding regular entries and departures through official border posts in Los Chiles and Peñas Blancas, in 2022, there were 394,730 regular migratory movements, of which 49.7 percent were entries and 50.3 percent were departures. From January to October 2023, a total of 419,925 movements were registered: 52 percent were entries and 48 percent were departures.