Registrations
Registration of a birth of a person born abroad, child of a Costa Rican father or mother
Appointment: If performed at a Consulate, please email concr-ke@rree.go.cr. If done at the Civil Registry of Costa Rica, no appointment is required.
Cost: Free.
Approximate duration: Approximately three months if it is through a Consulate. From 22 to 65 business days if presented at the Civil Registry of Costa Rica.
Requirements:
1. If the applicant is under eighteen years of age, the declaration must be presented by the Costa Rican parent, bearing a valid and non-expired identity document. If the applicant is over eighteen and under 25 years of age, the declaration must be presented by the concerned person with a valid and non-expired identity document. People over 25 years old will first apply for a residency and then naturalize.
2. Provide the original certificate issued by the corresponding authority in the country of origin apostilled in signatory countries of the Apostille Convention or legalized if the country of origin is not part of the Apostille Convention (as is the case in Kenya ).
3. If issued in a language other than Spanish, it must be translated by an Official Translator. The signature of the person issuing the document must be duly authenticated.
4. Fill out the form that consular offices maintain for this purpose.
Institutional link: https://www.tse.go.cr/pdf/requisitosytramites/Inscripcion-de-unnacimiento-de-una-persona-nacida-en-el-extranjero-hijo-a-de-padre-omadre-costarricense.pdf
Registration of a marriage celebrated abroad
Appointment: If performed at a Consulate, please an email to concr-ke@rree.go.cr. If done in the Civil Registry of Costa Rica, no appointment is required.
Cost: Free.
Approximate duration: Approximately three months if it is through a Consulate. From 22 to 65 business days in the Civil Registry of Costa Rica.
Requirements:
1. Application by one of the spouses or with an authorization extended by them. Carry a valid and valid identity document.
2. Provide the original certificate issued by the corresponding authority in the country of origin apostilled in signatory countries of the Apostille Convention or legalized if the country of origin is not part of the Apostille Convention (as is the case in Kenya ).
3. If issued in a language other than Spanish, it must be translated by an Official Translator. The signature of the person issuing the document must be duly authenticated.
4. To complete the form that consular offices retain for this purpose.
Institutionallink: https://www.tse.go.cr/pdf/requisitosytramites/Inscripcion-matrimoniocelebrado-en-el-extranjero.pdf
Registration of death occurred on a ship
Appointment: If performed at a Consulate: please email concr-ke@rree.go.cr. If done at the Civil Registry of Costa Rica, no appointment is required.
Cost: Free.
Approximate duration: approximately three months if it is through a Consulate. 15 business days in the Civil Registry of Costa Rica.
Requirements:
1. The declaring person must carry a valid and non-expired identity document.
2. Medical certificate when applicable.
3. Provide the original certificate issued by the corresponding authority in the country of origin apostilled in signatory countries of the Apostille Convention or legalized if the country of origin is not part of the Apostille Convention.
4. If issued in a language other than Spanish, it must be translated by an Official Translator. The signature of the person issuing the document must be duly authenticated.
5. Death certificates signed by the deceased person’s relatives, if any, the Captain of the ship and two witnesses of assistance.
Institutional link: https://www.tse.go.cr/pdf/requisitosytramites/Inscripcion-de-defuncionocurrida-en-un-barco.pdf
Registration of death occurred abroad
Appointment: If performed at a Consulate: please send an email to concr-ke@rree.go.cr. If done at the Civil Registry of Costa Rica, no appointment is required.
Cost: Free.
Approximate duration: approximately three months if it is through a Consulate. 15 days if requested at the Civil Registry of Costa Rica.
Requirements:
1. The declaring person must carry a valid and non-expired identity document.
2. To provide the original certificate issued by the corresponding authority in the country of origin apostilled in signatory countries of the Apostille Convention or legalized if the country of origin is not part of the Apostille Agreement.
3. If issued in a language other than Spanish, it must be translated by an Official Translator. The signature of the person issuing the document must be duly authenticated.
Institutional link: https://www.tse.go.cr/pdf/requisitosytramites/Inscripcion-de-defuncionocurrida-en-el-extranjero.pdf
Recognition
Definition: Statement made by the parent to consider a person as his/her child.
Appointment: Consult the consulate.
Cost: Free.
Approximate duration: Forty business days if issued at the Civil Registry of Costa Rica. Consider the additional time for the transfer of documents in case of processing in a consulate.
Requirements:
1. The declaring person must carry a valid and non-expired identity document: Identity card for nationals and residence card for foreigners.
2. That there is no paternity registered in the Civil Registry.
3. Declaration of the parent before the consular officer (either as a consular notary or auxiliary of the Civil Registry) containing the names, surnames, identity document number, marital status, profession or trade and nationality of the parents, as well as name, surname and birth certificate of the person to recognize.
4. If the person to be recognized is over 18 years of age, he must attend with his/her parent to manifest consent.
5. If the mother agrees for the father to recognize the child at the time of the declaration of birth, he may attend individually.
Otherwise, both parents must attend. If the acknowledging parent is a minor, he/she must attend with either of his/her parents in order to manifest consent.
Institutional link: https://www.tse.go.cr/pdf/requisitosytramites/Reconocimiento.pdf