Residency Requirements Costa Rica

There are certain residency requirements you will need to meet while applying for Costa Rican residency. JAROS Costa Rica would be delighted to assist you in setting up your file correctly so that you enjoy your residency as soon as possible. Fill out (OUR FREE ASSESSMENT) right now, and we'll be happy to help!

Eligible individuals can claim their spouses and children under 18, as dependents, as well as older children with disabilities. Dependent children between the ages of 18 and 25 can be included if he or she is enrolled in a university.

Each family member must have their own file in the case of a family group. Parents should sign applications on behalf of their underage children.

In fact, if you have difficulty of presenting a certain document, such as a birth certificate or a criminal background check, you must file an affidavit indicating a reason for impossibility to present it.

  • So now you have your Residency in Costa Rica! Remember, that after a certain period of time you will need to proceed with your Residency Renewal.
  • Click here for more information about the Apostille Convention and check if your home country is a party to it — notable exceptions include Canada and China.
Criminal Record Check:

Required of all applicants over the age of 12. This document must not be older than 6 months unless the document specifies otherwise. Issued by your home country, or where you have legally resided for the past 3 years. Must be Apostilled. If your home country is not a party to the Apostille Convention, you need to submit it to the Costa Rican consulate in your country of origin. Then make sure to authenticate it at the Foreign Affairs department in San Jose, Costa Rica.

Note: that if your home country’s criminal record contains incidents, Costa Rican Immigration reserves the right to reject your application due to your criminal history. That is entirely outside of the control of (JAROS)

Residency Application:

We will write an application letter detailing all the documents and fill out the application form, which will be legally authenticated by a Costa Rica lawyer. You will provide us with a specific power of attorney as your immigration representative to file the documentation for your convenience.

Note: The power of attorney is only to represent you during your immigration process does not have any valid legal any other proceedings.

Full Birth Certificate:

Must be full (LONG FORM), ORIGINALS ONLY.Be apostilled. If your home country is not a party to the Apostille Convention, you need to submit it to the Costa Rican consulate in your country of origin. After that, make sure to authenticate it at the Foreign Affairs department in San Jose, Costa Rica.

Consular Registration:

The consular registration is waived if the country of origin does not have a consulate or embassy in Costa Rica. We can assist you in contacting your country's consulate in Costa Rica.

Color photocopy of the passport.

If applicable,photo-info page and pages with an entry stamp and visa.

Must be notarized. All applicants, including minors, must comply with this requirement.

Fingerprint Registration:

Must be done personally by the applicant in San Jose, Costa Rica. We will guide you through the process of registering your fingerprints.

Eight recent passport-sized photographs.

Required for an applicant, spouse, and any dependents.

Important!

All foreign documents must either be apostilled or authenticated.

If your home country is not a party to the Apostille Convention, you need to submit your documents to the Costa Rican consulate in your country of origin. Then make sure to authenticate them at the Foreign Affairs department in San Jose, Costa Rica.

Click here for more information about the Apostille Convention and check if your home country is a party to it — notable exceptions include Canada and China.

All documents must be translated into Spanish here in Costa Rica by an Official Translator registered with the Costa Rican Ministry of Foreign Affairs

JAROS Costa Rica assists you in obtaining the papers you necessary to complete your application and verify that it complies with Costa Rica Immigration regulations. For a free evaluation, contact us (OUR FREE ASSESSMENT) right now!

Click here  for more information about the Apostille Convention and check if your home country is a party to it — notable exceptions include Canada and China.

If you would like to get your residency as, CONTACT US.