Citizenship in Costa Rica

[Sam Wilson]

Gene just mentioned citizenship in Costa Rica...  This past week or so someone forwarded a pretty nice summary of one of the more common ways (besides birth) to gain Costa Rican citizenship.  Here's a snippet of the full blog post by Emma:

NATURALIZED COSTA RICAN CITIZENSHIP BY MARRIAGE

Naturalized citizenship through marriage to a Costa Rican is surprisingly easy to obtain. Seventy-five percent of applications are based on marriage to a Costa Rican, and the National Registrar, not Immigration, handles the process. Per a 1995 amendment, Costa Rican citizenship may never be lost and is not renounceable. Likewise, Costa Rica does not require naturalized citizens to renounce their previous citizenship(s), so unless your home country expressly prohibits dual citizenship, you will be an equal citizen of Costa Rica and your home nation.

To apply for naturalized citizenship through marriage to a Costa Rican, you must be over 18 years old and present the following to the National Registrar:

1. A written request, in Spanish, for citizenship. Generic text is available online or at the National Registrar.
   
2. A certified color copy of your current identification, most likely your passport.
   
3. A clean criminal record history.
   
4. Proof that you have resided in Costa Rica for two years. To do so, you must present a certification of entries and exits from Immigration.
   
5. Five recent passport-sized photos.
   
6. If you have legal residency, you must also present a copy and the original of your official government ID (cedula de residencia).
   

Your citizenship request will take between six months and two years. When completed, you will attend a naturalization ceremony, and will be issued a new cedula. This identification will indicate that you are a citizen, and you will be required to list two last names (your father’s last name followed by your mother’s maiden name). If you wish, you may also apply for a Costa Rican passport. Congratulations on becoming a citizen of Costa Rica!

Seems pretty easy except for some the marriage part might be tough!  ;-)

Are they ever easy?  Well for me, it was...  jajaja.

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Sam

[gene]

Thanks sam....i appreciate the info...

I will start soon

Gene

[Kerry Dressler]

I just wanted to add a couple of comments.  I've been a naturalized citizen for 2 years, and my husband will be applying for his citizenship under mine next month.  It is true that he will NOT be required to renounce his citizenship.  I gave that serious thought before signing the paperwork, but for us it made sense. We still have a home in the US in both our names.. and if push came to shove and I lost my US citizenship, he would retain his and could handle the sale of the house.  This has not happened that I can find anywhere, but one should always consider the possibility.  I wouldn't give up my citizenship, but could possibly run into a problem as the US does not recognize dual citizenship except in the birth of children over seas, or spouses of citizens.

There are definite advantages to having a cedula rather than a DIMEX.  Not the least is not having to enter Migración ever again (after getting my CR passport which has to be gotten at Migración).  My husband couldn't find his DIMEX card.. to replace it we needed a police report (even though it was in the house!)  A certified letter from a Notary public (lawyer) a fee of $110, that is above and beyond the lawyers fees and an appointment with Migración and we know how easy they are to arrange...  If he had a cedula, the replacement takes about an hour, just keep a scan of the original on your computer. No additional cost.. and your done!

A written request, in Spanish, for citizenship. Generic text is available online or at the National Registrar.

1. A certified color copy of your current identification, most likely your passport.
   

1. A clean criminal record history.  APOSTILLED
   

1. Proof that you have resided in Costa Rica for two years. To do so, you must present a certification of entries and exits from Immigration.
   
2. Five recent passport-sized photos.
   
3. If you have legal residency, you must also present a copy and the original of your official government ID (cedula de residencia
   

You also need another Apostilled Birth Certificate..and my husband is 91 years old...  How many times do they think he has been reborn?  We have lived here legally for 13 years so we thought they would want a criminal history from here.  Nope.  They want an Apostilled one from the last place we lived in the US.  And they wouldn't accept certified copies of the Birth from his Expediente at Migración, either.

They said it would take 6 months.. we'll see.  My six months for citizenship took just at 3 years.  I had to prove I had lived legally here for 7 years, and they counted each and every day in country and I had to provide proof from bank receipts etc.. doctor's receipts, that I was indeed here and hadn't snuck over the border to Panama!  THAT took awhile, Migración said I fell short of the 365 days x 7 year requirement but I appealed that and it was reversed. I buried them in paperwork. There was not a ceremony when I received my Cedula, I expected one and had ever memorized the National Anthem.  That has all changed, I simply pledged before the official in the office and she sent me up to get my cedula.  I don't regret a moment spent doing this and I even voted this election.  I would encourage all of you to work towards this goal.

I have since heard that DIMEX holders who meet the 7 year requirement can apply for naturalization without being married to a citizen.. but being 60 years old (if I remember correctly) and do not even have to take the language and Social studies exams.. That was posted on the Casa Canada site if anyone is interested. 

[gene]

Wow...thank you so much...my questions answered before i had to ask...

Gene

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[Kerry Dressler]

I'm always happy to address any other questions you think of ;-)