How to file a criminal complaint (OIJ / Ministerio Publico)

If a person was a victim or witness of a crime in Costa Rica, they can report it to the Organismo de Investigación Judicial (OIJ) or the Ministerio Publico at no cost.

Who can file a complaint: any person, Costa Rican or foreign, adult or minor, as a victim or as a witness. No formal requirements are needed — a complaint can be filed even without fully identifying the accused person ("against an unknown person"); in that case, the Ministerio Publico coordinates with the Policia Judicial for the investigation.

Ways to file a complaint:

• In person: at any of the 35 OIJ offices in the country, or at the Office of Reception of Complaints (ORD) in San Jose, which is open 24 hours, 365 days a year.
• Online: you can send an initial report (pre-report) to the OIJ about a crime; once received by the Office of Reception of Complaints, the information is reviewed.
• Confidential or anonymous: through the Centro de Información Confidencial (CICO), by phone, WhatsApp or email.

What information to bring: it is recommended to describe the incident with as much precision as possible — location, date and time, characteristics of the involved persons, and available witness data, if you have them.

Cost: the complaint process is completely free, whether in person, by phone, WhatsApp or online.

Note: for specific crimes (for example domestic violence, computer fraud, or corruption) there may be specialized channels or units within the OIJ or the Ministerio Publico. Check the details at sitiooij.poder-judicial.go.cr or ministeriopublico.poder-judicial.go.cr depending on the type of case.