As Costa Rican passports continue to be a prized commodity on the
black market because many countries do not require its holders to
acquire an entry visa, IOM and the country's immigration
authorities are this week training 40 officials on secure passport
handling and issuance.

IOM capacity building activities, an integral part of the
training session, have a comprehensive approach that comprises
modules on international standards on passport issuance,
facilities' security measures, work environment, organizational
structure, and a protocol on internal procedures, amongst others,
in order to adequately address the human and technical aspects of
the issuance process.

Immigration authorities in Argentina, Canada, Colombia, France,
Germany, Guatemala, Holland, Honduras, Italy, Mexico, Nicaragua,
Peru, and Spain have seized Costa Rican passports being used by
nationals of other countries.

Prior to 2005, Costa Rican consulates around the world reported
some 250 passports per year being used by foreign nationals. 
Since then, Costa Rica's Migration Directorate has put in place
measures to ensure that passports and other travel documents are
secure and according to standards recommended by the International
Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and Interpol.

"This IOM project aims to strengthen the immigration officials'
capacity to ensure the issuance of secure travel documents, but it
also includes upgrades the infrastructure and equipment and
training for its staff," explains José Pires, IOM Regional
Representative in Costa Rica.

IOM has provided technical support and training to the Costa
Rican authorities in the modernization of the country's migration
management structure through three specific programmes:
International Cooperation for the Annual Renewal of Resident
Permits, Modernization of Migration Management Procedures, and the
One Document Project.

For more information please contact:

Ana Beatriz Fernández

IOM San José

Tel. +506.2221.5348, ext. 136

E-mail: "mailto:afernandez@iom.int">afernandez@iom.int