You’ve come to the right place

To receive help.

The path ahead is one we walk with you. IRCA CASABIERTA is a free, confidential, and safe space for migrant LGBTIQ+ people, asylum seekers, and refugees in Costa Rica. We are your safe place.

Contact form

Fill in if you don’t have an open file with IRCA CASABIERTA.

Write to us on WhatsApp

If you already have an active file with IRCA CASABIERTA.

What you need to know before giving it first step

Is it completely free?

Yes. All IRCA CASABIERTA services are free for LGBTIQ+ people in situations of migration and forced displacement, as well as asylum seekers and refugees. There are no costs, no fees, no financial requirements to access them.

Is my information confidential?

What you share with IRCA CASABIERTA we don’t share with any state institution or other organizations, without your express written consent.

Can they deport me for contacting you?

No. Contacting us does not pose any immigration risk. We are not a government institution. We are an independent civil society organization, specialized in rights protection. Your safety is our priority.

Do I need any documents for the first contact?

You can tell us even if you don't have any documents. The first step is always to listen to you.

This is how our support works

You contacts us

If it's your first time: fill out the online form. If you are already part of the IRCA CASABIERTA processes, write to WhatsApp.

We just need to know that they're here and what kind of situation they're going through.

We answer you

Within up to 48 business hours, someone from the IRCA CASABIERTA team will get in touch with you.

If your situation is urgent, indicate it in the form or in the message from WhatsApp.

First guidance

Someone from the Social Work team will listen to you, assess your situation, and explain what services can support you and how each one works.

No strings attached,
no pressure.

We build the route with you

If you decide to move forward, Social Work will coordinate your access to the services you need: Legal Advice, Psychology, Social Oversight, or the Center for Integration and Development.
You decide the pace.

What can we do for you

We don’t have everything, but what we do have, we give it all. And what we can’t, we help you find someone who can.

We Do

Psychosocial guidance and support.
Legal advice on immigration procedures.
Emotional support and a listening space without judgment.
Support for institutions to demand rights.
Training, education, and job guidance.
Connect him/her with the network of allies and civil society services.
Clothing, basic household items, and support in emergency material situations (according to Social Work assessment).

We Don't Do

Judicial representation nor notarized.
Direct management of appointments at Migration (DGME).
Cash delivery or bank transfers.
Own shelter (we coordinate access with a network of partner shelters).
Speed up immigration processes or guarantee approvals.
Management of return to the country of origin.
Visa or permanent residency paperwork.
Resettlements or removals from the country of origin.

Our services

Social Work is the entry point. That's where it’s decided what services you need and in what order.

Social Oversight

We accompany you to the institutions so that your rights are respected. We show you the way so you can overcome fear and build independence.

We accompany you, but we don't handle paperwork or speak on your behalf.

Social Work

We listen to you, assess your situation, and connect you with the support you need. We are the starting point of your journey at IRCA CASABIERTA.

We don’t provide material aid or schedule appointments directly.

Psychology

A space to vent, without diagnoses, without judgment. Just someone who listens and helps you find your own balance. Up to 12 individual sessions.

We don't offer psychiatric care or specialized clinical treatment.

Legal Advisory

We accompany you in every immigration process. We know the way and we walk it with you. From applying for asylum to immigration regularization.

We don't provide legal representation and we can't handle immigration procedures.

Training

We provide you with tools to strengthen your rights, develop job skills, and build a life project with greater independence in Costa Rica.

We don't guarantee job placement or give out academic degrees.

Center for Integration and Development

We help you build the work profile you need to make your way in Costa Rica: with training, guidance, and real job and entrepreneurship opportunities.

Requires a work permit and current immigration status.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does IRCA CASABIERTA work only with LGBTIQ+ people?

Yes. We are an organization specialized in LGBTIQ+ migrants, asylum seekers, and refugees. This specialization allows us to provide support that recognizes the particularities of their experience: persecution due to sexual orientation or gender identity, migratory grief, and multiple forms of discrimination. If you are not an LGBTIQ+ person and need guidance, we can refer you to allied organizations.

Do I have to go in person or can I contact them online?

You can contact us at online form, WhatsApp or email. The first contact does not require physical presence. Many orientation processes are done virtually. When in-person attention is necessary, we will inform you and coordinate the time and place.

What happens if I'm in an emergency situation?

If you are experiencing an immediate risk situation —active violence, threat, lack of a place to sleep, homelessness— please make it clear when contacting us. Write it in the form or in the message from WhatsApp. That allows us to prioritize your care. If the situation is life-threatening, also contact the emergency line 9-1-1.

Do you take care of people from any country?

Yes. We support LGBTIQ+ migrants and asylum seekers of any nationality who are in Costa Rica, regardless of their country of origin.

What happens to my information if they close or change staff?

The information you share is handled with institutional confidentiality protocols. The management of personal data is regulated internally. If you have specific questions about data protection, you can ask us directly by contacting us.

Ask for help now

You don't have to have everything figured out, you just have to take the first step.