Naturalization

• Two years married to a Costa Rican, with two years of residence in the country during that same period.
• Five years of official residence for nationals of other Central American countries, Spaniards and Ibero-Americans by birth.
• Seven years of official residence for every other nationality.

• A written application, signed by you or by an attorney holding a special power of attorney, filed with the Options and Naturalizations Section of the TSE.
• A valid DIMEX as identity document. A passport is not accepted for this purpose.
• Birth certificate from your country of origin, apostilled or legalised, and translated into Spanish by an official translator. If it states no validity period, it must have been issued within three months of filing.
• Sworn statements from two witnesses who know you, taken before the Civil Registry or a notary: the residence period, your means of living and your conduct.
• Proof of means of living: a salary letter, an employer order, or a certification from a certified public accountant.
• Judicial and police record certificate from your country of origin or last country of residence, issued by a national or federal authority within the previous three months.
• One passport-size photograph and the fiscal stamp: 20 colones for Central Americans, 200 colones for every other nationality.
• Sworn statement that you have no repeated administrative offences.
• Spouses of Costa Ricans are exempt from the two sworn witness declarations and from the income certificate.

You must show that you speak, read and write Spanish and that you know Costa Rican history and values, by passing the Spanish and Social Studies naturalization exams set by the Ministry of Public Education. Spouses of Costa Ricans are exempt from both exams, as are older adults and people with a permanent health or cognitive impediment certified by a doctor.

When the file is complete you collect the notice of application and publish it as an edict in the official newspaper La Gaceta. If it is not published within the term, the application is rejected outright.

The TSE states a resolution term of 285 business days. Filing with the TSE is free of charge; the cost sits in documents, translations, apostilles and professional fees.