Certifications from the Registro Civil (Birth, Marriage, Death)

The Registro Civil (Civil Registry), a department of the Tribunal Supremo de Elecciones (TSE), is the entity that registers vital and civil status events for Costa Rican citizens and foreign nationals: births, marriages, deaths, naturalizations, and others. This is distinct from the cedula de identidad process (see separate entry)—this covers certifications of those events, not the identity card itself.

Types of certifications available:

Birth certification.
Marriage certification.
Death certification.
Civil status certification (includes marriage, divorce, or single/unmarried status, as applicable).

Online process: A large portion of these certifications can be requested online through the TSE portal (tse.go.cr), without needing to visit an office. You select the document type, complete the required information, and pay electronically. Digital certifications have the same legal validity as those issued on paper.

Cost: ₡1,575 per certification requested through the website, paid by credit or debit card.

In-person process: They can also be requested at the central office of the Registro Civil (west side of Parque Nacional, San José), Monday through Friday from 7:00 am to 3:00 pm, or at TSE regional offices (the list of locations is at tse.go.cr/contactenos.html).

Note: It was not confirmed during this verification whether the in-person cost is identical to the online cost (₡1,575), nor the full details on exactly which identification documents are required for each type of in-person certification—please confirm at tse.go.cr before visiting an office.