The Immigration Department (DGME) reported that as of January 16, 2023, Costa Ricans and residents will no longer receive stamps on their passports after passing through air and sea immigration controls.

With the aim of automating the technological systems that collect the vital information from citizens and residents at their borders, Costa Rican authorities are adopting Machine Readable Travel Documents (MRTD), in order to converse the use of physical documents, reduce administrative costs related to manual procedures and build transparency and efficiency in the Public Administration.

DGME stated that they’ll facilitate the users experience by securing a reliable and accessible database through their website, which will allow citizens and residents to consult their records and movements, or order a certification.

These are the provisions and scope of the CIRCULAR DG-02-01-2023:

1. By Air

a) Juan Santamaría and Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airports

The entry stamp at the Immigration control is eliminated for nationals and foreigners who have a regular migratory category (residents) in Costa Rica.

However, foreigners who enter the country as non-residents (tourists) will still get their passport stamped, which includes the legal time they are granted to stay in Costa Rica.

The immigration process for departure remains the same.

b) Tobías Bolaños International Airport

The entry and departure stamp at the Immigration control is eliminated for nationals and foreigners who have a regular migratory category (residents) in Costa Rica.

However, foreigners who enter the country as non-residents (tourists) will still get their passport stamped, which includes the legal time they are granted to stay in Costa Rica granted in each case.

2. By Sea

The entry and departure stamp at the Immigration control is eliminated for nationals and foreigners who have a regular migratory category (residents) in Costa Rica.

Only the respective entry certificates that need to, will get stamped.

Foreigners who enter the country as non-residents (tourists) will still get their passport stamped, which includes the legal time they are granted to stay in Costa Rica granted in each case.

3. By Land

There is no variation, the current immigration control process remains unchanged.

Where to check your migratory movements?

In order to provide adequate guidance to users, the immigration officer must inform all Costa Ricans and residents about the procedure to request their migratory movements record from the Immigration Department (DGME).

As we mention before, the DGME website will have the migratory records available for anyone who needs them. Additionally, you will also be able to make a request to consult your migratory movements through the following email: remip@migracion.go.cr

Certify your migratory movements

1) To get a certification of your migratory movements, you must make a request through the DGME website www.migracion.go.cr within “Servicios en Línea“.

2) Once your request is processed, you must send an email to: certificacionesmm@migracion.go.cr

• Attached the voucher number of the application.

• Attached an image proving the payment of $1.41 USD plus ₡15 Colones (₡10 from the fiscal stamp and ₡5 from the National Archive).

• The payment must be made to the Bank of Costa Rica (BCR) account CR86015201001025489683, which must have a current date and the name of the interested person.

3) The Certification of Migratory Movements will be sent via email.

When will this be implemented?

Well, as things generally go, the Immigration Department issued the memo on the 10th of January, and just published it today, to be effective today.

So, starting tomorrow, residents and citizens will not get their passport stamped.

This is a developing article, so we’ll keep you posted on any new information.