Costa Rican ID (cédula)
Costa Rican ID (cédula) for the first time
Who can apply? Costa Ricans over 18 years old. The consulate cannot issue the Minor’s Identification Card (TIM).
Appointment: Send an email to concr-ke@rree.go.cr
Cost: Free.
Approximate duration: The arrival of the card at the consular office could take up to 3 months. However, if a third party makes the payment of the courier directly at the Civil Registry of Costa Rica, the delivery time could be within a limited period of 5 days after it is issued.
Procedures before the Civil Registry (Registro Civil)
Requirements
A. First-time procedure for Costa Rican citizens.
It is the process of a Costa Rican identity card that a person carries when coming of legal age:
1. Personal request.
2. Being 18 years old at the date of an upcoming election.
3. To personally assist the Consulate with two Costa Rican witnesses with valid ID or to present the Minor’s Identity Card (TIM Card) in good condition, valid or expired (up to a maximum of 6 months). If you do not have the possibility of presenting witnesses at the Consulate, they must be presented in the Civil Registry, once the request arrives at that institution.
4. Any application for an ID must be signed by the applicant.
5. If wanted to include “known as”, please see the institutional link.
6. Two recent passport-sized and colour front photographs, with a light grey background.
B. First time procedure for naturalized people.
The person who naturalized must attend to the Consulate with their valid passport and in good condition, or with the residence card issued by the General Migration Office of Costa Rica (Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería), annexing the naturalization letter issued by the Supreme Electoral Court (Tribunal Supremo de Elecciones or TSE). In these cases, it is not essential that witnesses attend, since before delivering the letter to the user, the TSE carried out an investigation process, which gathered sufficient and necessary evidence to grant it citizenship.
C. First time procedure for a person older than twenty-one.
When the person appears before the Consulate without the identity card, since he/she has never been the bearer of it, the application for a first-time ID card will be processed as usual, but the affidavit of the interested party stating the reasons why the ID was never requested before must be attached. This requirement is unnecessary if the witness is one of his parents, grandparents or older siblings, whether Costa Ricans or foreign. If the person requesting the services attends with two Costa Rican witnesses with their valid identity cards and in good condition, then the signatures can be received, but one of his/her parents or a direct family member must ratify in Costa Rica or through a third consulate, the reasons why the applicant delayed in managing the request.
All cases must comply with article 75 of the Organic Law of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal of Costa Rica (TSE). Foreign witnesses are not allowed since it is not possible to verify their identity in the Integrated Identity Card System (SICI).
Institutional link: https://www.tse.go.cr/pdf/requisitosytramites/Solicitudde-cedula-de-identidad-por-primera-vez.pdf
Renewal of the Identity Card
Appointment: Please send an email to concr-ke@rree.go.cr
Cost: Free.
Approximate duration: The arrival of the ID card at the consular office could take up to 6 months. However, if a relative of the interested party makes the payment of courier directly before the Civil Registry of Costa Rica, the delivery could be within approximately five days after it is issued.
Requirements:
1. Personal request.
2. Any application for identification must be signed by the applicant.
3. If wanted to include “known as”, see the institutional link.
4. Two recent passport-sized and colour front photographs, with a light grey background.
5. Expired identity card or a copy of the birth certificate.
Institutional link: https://www.tse.go.cr/pdf/requisitosytramites/Solicitudde-renovacion-de-cedula-de-identidad.pdf
Application for electoral transfer (Domicile/Residence)
Appointment: Please send an email to concr-ke@rree.go.cr
Cost: Free.
Approximate duration: One hour at the consulate/online.
Requirements:
1. Personal request.
2. Have previously requested an identity card.
3. Two recent passport-sized and colour front photographs, with a light grey background.
Institutional link: https://www.tse.go.cr/pdf/requisitosytramites/Solicitudde-traslado-electoral-domicilio.pdf