There are two main ways foreigners can become Costa Rican citizens: through marriage and residency.

Please keep in mind that both ways to obtain citizenship will not count any time you live temporarily outside Costa Rica for your application. For example, if you plan on requesting citizenship via residency and lived two months abroad, you will have to wait seven years and two months to be able to start your naturalization process. 

Also, remember that every departure of over 3 months restarts the clock. 

Costa Rican Citizenship Through Marriage

For this procedure to be possible, it is required to have been married while living in Costa Rica for at least two years. It doesn’t matter if the person filing for citizenship is already a resident or not. 

Keep in mind that the clock for this way of naturalization starts counting after getting married.

1. Cover letter / application document
2. Background check
3. Birth certificate
4. Five passport-size photographs
5. Certified copy of the passport or DIMEX
6. Costa Rican Spouse’s ID
7. Marriage Certificate

Foreign documents such as the background check and the birth certificate must be officially translated and authenticated for use in Costa Rica. The background check must be issued within three months before the filing of the application.

Costa Rican Citizenship Through Residency

The other way to initiate the naturalization process is done by proving you have been living in Costa Rica as a legal resident for at least seven years. Those with nationalities from Central America, Iberoamerica, and Spanish by birth will qualify for citizenship after five years of legal residency.

1. Cover letter / application document
2. Background check
3. Birth certificate
4. Five passport-size photographs
5. DIMEX up to date (passports aren’t valid)
6. Proof of income

The documents must include proof of income for the State to ensure you have the means for living in Costa Rica. Also, please note that to apply via residency, only your DIMEX will be accepted and not your passport.

If your age is below 65, you will have to pass Spanish and Social Studies tests done by the Ministry of Public Education or present a validated primary or secondary Costa Rican school diploma.

In addition to the documents required, you will have to provide two witnesses that have known you for at least 7 years who can prove your stay in the country.

For either of these options, the time frame should be no longer than 200 workdays or 10 months, and no requires government fees. Once your application has been solved, you will be able to request your national ID card and passport. These will, according to Costa Rican law, display your given name or names and then both your father’s and mother’s surnames, respectively.

Finally, you will officially be a citizen with Costa Rican documents to prove it!