How to obtain Costa Rican Nationality?

How to obtain Costa Rican Nationality?

Categories: Blog

Nationality is defined as the legal link that unites individuals with the State. The nationality of costa rican is obtained by birth or by naturalization. Naturalization is the process by which the citizen of a State acquires the nationality of a second state, with which he has acquired some links resulting from the stay and residence maintained over time legally in that country; or for other reasons such as marriage and direct ancestry of parents, grandparents, among others.

It is the Costa Rican Political Constitution that initially regulates the way of obtaining nationality. Any person who wishes to obtain Costa Rican nationality must meet a series of requirements, which are specified in the Law.

Requirements to Obtain Costa Rican Nationality

Among the requirements, we find:

1.- Live a certain amount of time in Costa Rica, as a legal resident. The amount of years depends on the applicant’s citizenship. For Central American, Ibero-American and Spanish citizens by birth is five years, for the rest of the nationalities is seven.

2.- For people who have a family bond with a Costa Rican, the process to obtain residence is done through the General Directorate of Migration and Foreigners, who will be the entity that verifies the requirements, mainly that it is a real relationship.

They are required to provide some of the following documents: photographs, greeting cards, letters, plane tickets or travel reservations they have made together, the leases of the house they live in, legal documentation related to property they own together, children’s birth certificates, affidavits of friends and family, and any other suitable documentation that serves to discard a simulated marriage. In addition, the Migration and Foreigners Department will conduct an interview to verify that it is a real relationship. Likewise, the foreign person must provide the following requirements:

a. Birth certificate issued by the authorities of the country of origin.

b. Criminal record certification issued by the authorities of the country of origin.

c. Marriage certification issued by the authorities of the country of origin, if the marriage was not celebrated in Costa Rica.

d. Birth certificate of the children issued by the authorities of the country where they were born.
All documents that come from abroad must be duly legalized and apostilled, and at the time of submission they must not have been issued for more than six months.

Laws and Procedures for Naturalization Effects

Currently, Costa Rica has several laws and procedures for the effects of the procedure of naturalization.

i. Naturalization by Law number 1916 of August 5, 1955: Children of foreign parents born in Costa Rica: It is required to have been born in Costa Rica.

ii. Naturalization by Law 1902 (Over 25 years old): Children of a Costa Rican Father or Mother who were born abroad. It is required to have been born abroad, and to be a son or daughter of a Costa Rican father or mother by birth, over 25 years of age, who has not made a nationality option and to have resided in Costa Rica physically for 5 (five) years when the place of birth is in one of the Latin American countries, and 7 (seven) years when the country of birth corresponds to another nationality.

iii. Naturalization by transcendence of the father or mother: It is required to be a minor, that the father or mother has a naturalization process or is naturalized, and that the son or daughter is residing in Costa Rica at the time of naturalizing their parent.

iv. Naturalization by residence (Law 1155): having resided in Costa Rica officially for five years for those who are Latin American and Spanish by birth, and seven years for those who are from other nationalities. 1) To be of legal age and to the corresponding nationality. 2) To be of good conduct and have been domiciled in Costa Rica during the periods established in article 14 of the Political Constitution, for each group of nationalities. 3) To have a profession or trade, as well as an income, assets or other sources of income, that provide sufficient means to meet personal obligations and those of the family. 4) Not having been judged during the stay in the country for malicious crimes or being a recurring offender in guilty crimes, nor having been convicted of repeated violations. 5) Know how to speak, write, read the Spanish language and also have knowledge about the history of Costa Rica and its values.

v. Naturalization by legal permanence in the country (20 years) (Law 1902): It is required to have resided in Costa Rica physically for 20 years or more.

vi. Naturalization by marriage: It is required to have been married to Costa Rica for two years and to have physically resided for the same period in the country.

In the same order of ideas, the Political Constitution of Costa Rica establishes:

Article 13.- The following are Costa Ricans by birth:

1) The son of a Costa Rican father or mother born in the territory of the Costa Rica

2) The son of a Costa Rican father or mother by birth, born abroad, and registered as such in the Civil Registry, by the will of the Costa Rican parent, while he/she is a minor, or on their own until they turn twenty-five;

3) The son of foreign parents born in Costa Rica who is registered as a Costa Rican, by the will of any of his/her parents while he/she is a minor, or on their own up until the age of twenty-five;

4) The child of ignored parents found in Costa Rica.

Article 14.- The following are Costa Ricans by naturalization:

1) Those who have acquired this nationality under previous laws.

2) Nationals of other Central American countries, Spaniards and Ibero-Americans by birth who have officially resided in the country for five years and who meet the other requirements established by law.

3) Central Americans, Spaniards and Latin Americans who are not by birth and other foreigners who have officially resided in the country for at least seven years and who meet the other requirements established by law.

4) The foreign women who lose their nationality when entering into marriage with a Costa Rican.

5) Foreign persons who, when marrying Costa Ricans, lose their nationality or who after having been married for two years with Costa Ricans, and residing for the same period in the country, express their desire to acquire Costa Rican nationality.

6) Those who hold the honorary nationality granted by the Legislative Assembly.

Article 15.- Those who request naturalization must: prove their good behavior, demonstrate that they have a job or known means of living, that they know how to speak, write and read the Spanish language, submit to a comprehensive examination of the country’s history and its values, promise that he/she will reside in the national territory on a regular basis and swear that he/she will respect the constitutional order of the Republic.

The requirements and the way to process the naturalization application will be established by law.
Finally, naturalization is obtained by having lived twenty years in the country, without a residence card, for which witnesses, health records, service receipts, and all the documentation that can prove that the person has been in the country during that time are presented in Costa Rica, he/she has the right to be a Costa Rican.

At ERP Lawyers we have a team of professionals who are in the best disposition to provide you with the advice and support required for you to obtain legal immigration status.
Contact us today to receive ethical and responsible advice on immigration law.

¿Todavía con dudas? Completá ahora el formulario y un abogado se contactará a la brevedad

We are sending your message...
We have sent your message successfully! We will contact you soon with youClose (x)
There was an error sending your message . please try again later.Close (x)

Let is start working together

Nos gustan los desafios. Estamos dispuestos a escuchar lo que tiene que decir.

Testimonials

WHAT OUR CUSTOMERS THINK

Throughout the years of experience we have delivered the best service and the best treatment for our clients, which has been translated into words of thanks from them. We share some of those words here

Search Icon

" We just wanted to say thank you and your team so very much for the professionalism, knowledge, and attention everyone has provides. we have been able to feel comfortable and know we are in great hands. "
Read more

Marla Renae Rahmin

Search Icon

" Attorney Eduardo Rojas and his highly competent team are the reason that my son has his father in his life. ERP Lawyers is a group of experts in international family law, and they are also compassionate through their practice of law. "
Read more

Eric Lentz

Search Icon

" We have really been impressed by the efficiency and professionalism of ERP Lawyers in providing the services requested. They have been very supportive of our company. We have been very satisfied, and we would not hesitate to recommend them to other people and companies. "
Read more

Adrian Gutierrez - CEO JOGO MERCADEO

Search Icon

" My experience with ERP Lawyers has been very satisfactory. They are very professional and extremely dedicated in each of their services. Their problem-solving skills are truly admirable... "
Read more

Eva Brenes Branch - Manager Ground Cargo Transportation

Search Icon

" Mundo Acuático decided more than 3 years ago to look for a firm that not only limited itself to providing us with the legal documents that were requested in different institutions, we wanted to have people who had vision... "
Read more

Daniela Solano - Manager Mundo Acuático

Search Icon

" I have been using ERP for almost 7 years. I have used Mr. Rojas and his team for family matters, residency, articles of incorporation, property puchases and investing in Costa Rica... "
Read more

Jason Roppolo

Search Icon

" Hello Eduardo, I am writing to complement your team is work in relation to my recent purchase of Condominium Unit. I was initially impressed by your team is mastery of the English Language. I have been in Costa Rica for 20 years and... "
Read more

William S

Search Icon
Search Icon

We just wanted to say thank you and your team so very much for the professionalism, knowledge, and attention everyone has provides.

Nos hemos sentido muy cómodos y sabemos que estamos en buenas manos.

I am glad Dominique entrusts you and that our paths have crossed.

We look forward to our continued relationship and being able to work with you and your experienced staff, particularly José, to help make our transition into a foreign country so much more comfortable knowing we are in the best of hands.

Marla Renae Rahmin

Search Icon
Search Icon

Attorney Eduardo Rojas and his highly competent team are the reason that my son has his father in his life.

ERP Lawyers is a group of experts in international family law, and they are also compassionate through their practice of law.

My son was abducted from the United States and taken to Costa Rica. If it weren’t for ERP Lawyers and their thorough efforts within international family law I do not think I would have been reunited with my son.

The sad fact is that family law in Costa Rica is wrongly biased towards mothers and can often violate human rights of a child to know their father.

While this is a widely known issue in Costa Rica it is immensely difficult for fathers to overcome the negative position that a father begins with in the family courts of Costa Rica.

Thanks to Eduardo Rojas and his team we were able to navigate numerous processes in order to allow my son the human right to be reunited with his father after many years

Eduardo Rojas, Jose Azofeifa, and ERP Lawyers displayed great teamwork, integrity, responsiveness, and flexibility to work with me internationally.

Moreover they were diligent and persistent in pursuing the truth through law practices that allowed my son to finally be reunited with his father.

I have Eduardo Rojas and his team to thank for future years where my son and I will justly be allowed to grow our relationship as father and son.

I give my highest recommendation to anyone needing expert and compassionate support in international family law.

Eric Lentz

Search Icon
Search Icon

We have really been impressed by the efficiency and professionalism of ERP Lawyers in providing the services requested.

They have been very supportive of our company. We have been very satisfied, and we would not hesitate to recommend them to other people and companies.

Adrian Gutierrez - CEO JOGO MERCADEO

Search Icon
Search Icon

My experience with ERP Lawyers has been very satisfactory.

They are very professional and extremely dedicated in each of their services.

Their problem-solving skills are truly admirable.

I definitely recommend ERP Lawyers to anyone looking for legal advice.

Eva Brenes Branch - Manager Ground Cargo Transportation

Search Icon
Search Icon

Mundo Acuático decided more than 3 years ago to look for a firm that not only limited itself to providing us with the legal documents that were requested in different institutions, we wanted to have people who had vision and could advise us on the different challenges and changes both Governmental and of the Private entity.

We are an SME that does not have a legal department, so it was very important to have lawyers to guide us, so that our company was always a step forward, both in administrative, labor, commercial and tax law.

It was a great pleasure to start working with ERP Lawyers and Associates, all our doubts and fears were covered, without neglecting the great kindness with which we have always been attended to.

Daniela Solano - Manager Mundo Acuático

Search Icon
Search Icon

I have been using ERP for almost 7 years.

I have used Mr. Rojas and his team for family matters, residency, articles of incorporation, property puchases and investing in Costa Rica.

ERP has consistently, been courteous professional and prompt in responding to any legal questions I have had about doing business in Costa Rica.I would highly recommend ERP to anyone that is looking to live or do business in Costa Rica.

Costa Rica is a great place to visit, live and do business and having the right counsel is absolutely necessary.

I cannot stress enough how impressed I have been with Mr. Rojas and his team.

If you are applying for residency, purchasing a home or have any questions about the way things work in Costa Rica, ERP is the best hands down.

They were initially recommended to me by the US Embassy and I have been extremely happy with them.

Jason Roppolo

Search Icon
Search Icon

Hello Eduardo, I am writing to complement your team is work in relation to my recent purchase of Condominium Unit. I was initially impressed by your team is mastery of the English Language.

I have been in Costa Rica for 20 years and normally speak Spanish 90% of the time, even with those who speak English.

I generally speak Spanish with everyone unless their English is better than my Spanish, which is not usually the case. I was also impressed with your team is attention to detail.

Over the course of the purchase, I had sent a couple of emails that contained a series of technical questions and they were answered in a precise and timely manner.

I have done a lot of real estate closings in the past, and I have more than once found errors in the closing statement. Given that I have an accounting background, I paid careful attention to the closing statement, which was perfectly prepared.

I was pleasantly surprised to see that no corrections were needed. At first, I thought it unusual to close in a MUCAP branch.

But I quickly discovered that the branch manager worked with us to quickly verify the fund is transfers and loan cancellation.

In any case, ERP Lawyers handled the entire closing very smoothly and professionally with the seller, the seller is attorney, and the bank manager and employees. In conclusion, I am happy to say that ERP lawyers did a great job

William S

Boton de cierre modal
Icono de Mapa

VISIT US

San José, Costa Rica. Sabana Oeste, de la CNFL 100 mts oeste y 100 mts norte, edificio de dos plantas a mano izquierda

New Branch:
Jacó, Putarenas, Costa Rica.Plaza Tangeri, Local #1

Icono de Teléfono

CALL US

+5062520-1122