Migration-related terms

Ana is originally from Guatemala. Now she is a legally recognized subject of Costa Rica by naturalization, she was given similar rights as a person who was born there.

• a citizen

• a resident

• a person seeking asylum

Chamo was forced to leave his native country, Venezuela, because of political reasons. He came to Costa Rica.

• a refugee

• an expat (expatriate)

• an immigrant

Jessica is American. She has been living in Costa Rica, a country that is not her own, for 14 years.

• an expat (expatriate)

• a person seeking asylum

• a citizen

Sarah is from Norway. She has been legally living in Costa Rica for over 12 months.

• a resident

• an immigrant

• a migrant

Carlos is Nicaraguan. He came to Costa Rica with the intention to live permanently.

• an immigrant

• a person seeking asylum

• a citizen

Amara decided to move away from her usual place of residence in Ethiopia to another country, looking for better job opportunities.

• a migrant

• a refugee

• an expat (expatriate)

Ivan has been forcibly displaced by war from his native Ukraine, and requested protection in Germany, but his request has yet to be processed.

• a person seeking asylum

• a refugee

• an expat (expatriate)