RESIDENCY BASED ON DIRECT FAMILY RELATIONSHIP WITH A COSTA RICAN CITIZEN


This regime grants a permanent resident status for individuals with direct family ties to a Costa Rican citizen.

For this regime to be applicable, one of the following relatives is required to be Costa Rican:

  • Spouse;
  • Son or daughter;
  • Mother or father;
  • Brother or sister (in this particular case, the applicant must be single)

 

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE STATUS

  • APPLICATION BY THE INTERESTED PARTY:

A separate application must be signed by the main applicant and by each one of his dependents of legal age. These documents are prepared by our offices once the required information is received; they must be signed by the applicant and any dependents, then authenticated by a Costa Rican Notary Public, and filed before the Immigration Authorities with the following information:

    • Applicant’s full name; nationality, marital status and occupation;
    • Passport number, date and place of issue, date of expiration;
    • Date of arrival to Costa Rica;
    • Provisional or permanent address in Costa Rica;
    • Full name of spouse, if applicable;
    • Full names of applicant’s parents;
    • Full name of children under eighteen years old to be included in the application.

 

  • CRIMINAL RECORD:

A clean criminal record certificate for the applicant and for its dependents fifteen years or older being included in the regime, issued by the corresponding authority of the country where the applicant has lived during the last six months before his arrival in Costa Rica, must be filed. This document is valid only for six months after its issue date and needs to be authenticated by the Costa Rican Consulate nearest to the place of issue.


  • BIRTH CERTIFICATE:
    •

A birth certificate for the applicant and his dependents (if any) is required. This document must be issued by the appropriate authorities at the place of birth, and must be authenticated by the Costa Rican Consulate nearest to the place of issue.
  • CERTIFICATE OF PROOF OF FAMILY RELATIONSHIP:
    • Relationship by marriage to Costa Rican citizen: marriage certificate
    • Relationship by having a Costa Rican child: birth certificate indicating name of parents.
    • Relationship by being the son or daughter of a Costa Rican citizen: birth certificate of Costa Rican son or daughter, indicating name of parents.
    • Relationship by having a Costa Rican brother or sister: birth certificate of the applicant.
  • COPY OF IDENTIFICATION CARD:

Copy of identification card of Costa Rican citizen with whom the applicant has the direct family relationship.
  • CERTIFIED COPY OF THE WHOLE PASSPORT:

Required for both the applicant and his dependents. It must comprise all pages (including blank pages).


  • PHOTOGRAPHS:
    •

Six front recent photographs are required.
  • PROOF OF FINGERPRINTING:

This requirement is applicable for all individuals ten years or older. Fingerprints must be registered before the Ministry of Public Safety, for which purposes the applicant must present his passport, a passport size photograph, and complete a specific form. Our firm will guide the applicant through this process. This procedure requires the presence in the country of the applicant and all dependents over ten years old that are to be included under the regime.


  • GUARANTEE DEPOSIT:
    •

If the application is approved, a guarantee deposit equivalent to the Immigration Authorities’ estimate of the value of a one-way ticket to the country of origin of the applicant must be made. A separate deposit for each dependent included in the regime is required.

 

  • Important!
    • ? All documents originating abroad require authentication by the Costa Rican Consulate located in the country of issue. Documents are then sent to Costa Rica for their approval by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (this step is met through our Firm).
    • All documents in languages other than Spanish must be translated in Costa Rica by an official translator (this step is met through our Firm).
    • After granting of residency, the beneficiary must live in the country at least six months per year (consecutive or not) in order to maintain the status.
    • As a general rule, all foreign citizens with Costa Rican residency must comply with the following conditions:
      • Not to have any criminal record neither have international warrants for a crime.
      • Not to commit any kind of criminal offense.
      • To conduct himself according to moral and good customs.
      • To respect the Constitution and the Laws of Costa Rica.
      • The main applicant must be able to demonstrate that he is economically sound.