Eligibility Quiz
Was at least one of your parents a Costa Rican citizen at the time of your birth?
Requirements
Your eligibility depends entirely on your age at the time of application and the status of your parent.
Applicants Under Age 25 (Citizenship by Birth)
Under Article 13 of the Constitution, you are considered Costa Rican by birth if you were born abroad to at least one parent who is a Costa Rican by birth.
- The Age Limit: You must be registered in the Registro Civil (Civil Registry) before your 25th birthday.
- Parental Origin: At least one parent must have been born in Costa Rica. If your parent is a "naturalized" Costa Rican, different rules apply, and you generally cannot claim citizenship by birth if born abroad.
- No Residency Required: You do not need to live in Costa Rica or speak Spanish to claim this status, provided you meet the age deadline.
Applicants Over Age 25 (Naturalization by Descent)
If you missed the age 25 deadline, you can no longer claim citizenship "by birth." Instead, you must apply for naturalization under Law No. 1902.
- Legal Residency: You must first move to Costa Rica and obtain a legal residency permit. You must physically reside in the country for a set period:
- 5 years if you are a national of Central America, Spain, or Ibero-American countries.
- 7 years for all other nationalities (e.g., USA, Canada, UK).
- Language and History: You must pass an exam on the Spanish language and Costa Rican history/values (applicants over 65 are exempt).
- Parental Proof: You must prove your parent was a Costa Rican citizen at the exact time of your birth.
Conditions & Warnings
You must register your birth with the Civil Registry before your 25th birthday to claim citizenship 'by birth' without residency requirements.
The Costa Rican parent must have been a citizen at the exact time of the applicant's birth to qualify.
Names on all foreign documents must match the Costa Rican parent's records exactly; any discrepancies will cause significant delays.
Qualifications
No language requirement for registration of birth (under age 25).
Program Details
Costa Rica is on our roadmap
We can notify you when we're ready to support Costa Rica.
Key Developments
The Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) launched the Costa Rican Digital Identity (IDC), a mobile-based digital ID that allows citizens to verify their identity and access government services electronically.
ticotimes.net ↗The Supreme Electoral Tribunal issued Resolution 5647-E8-2025, establishing the legal framework for the new digital identity system and requiring all public and private institutions to accept it as a valid form of identification.
ecija.com ↗The General Immigration Directorate (DGME) implemented a resolution introducing stricter procedural requirements for immigration processes, including updated standards for police clearance certificates and consular registration.
fragomen.com ↗