How to Become a Costa Rican (Naturalization): by Residence or by Marriage

The naturalization process is handled by the **Sección de Opciones y Naturalizaciones** of the Registro Civil (TSE). There are several routes depending on the individual's situation; the two most common are by residence and by marriage.

**By residence (Ley de Opciones y Naturalizaciones N.º 1155, Constitución Política Art. 15)**:

• **5 years** of official residence in the country if the person was born in Central America, Ibero-America, or Spain; **7 years** for any other nationality.
• Valid identity document: DIMEX or another migration document — a passport does NOT serve as an identity document for this process.
• Birth certificate from the country of origin, apostilled/legalized and translated into Spanish if applicable (validity: as indicated by the document, or maximum 3 months if not indicated).
• Sworn statement from two witnesses who know the person (duration of acquaintance, means of livelihood, good conduct).
• Demonstrate means of livelihood: proof of salary, employer's order, or certification from a public accountant.
• Criminal background check from the country of origin (or the last country of residence abroad) — only from federal/national authority, not state or consular, with validity of 3 months.
• Spanish language and Costa Rican history/values exam (administered by the MEP) — exempt for older adults or those with certified health/cognitive impairment.
• Sworn statement of no repeated violations.
• Passport‑size photo + fiscal stamp (₡20 for Central Americans, ₡200 for others).
• Finally, an edict must be published in La Gaceta announcing the application — if not published on time, the application is rejected.

**By marriage (Constitución Política Art. 14, inciso 5)**: have been married to a Costa Rican for 2 years and have remained in the country during that same period. The marriage must be registered in the Registro Civil de Costa Rica. It requires similar documents (identity, apostilled birth certificate, criminal background check, photo, and stamp), but does not require the 5‑7 years of residence of the previous path.

Resolution time: 285 business days in both cases — it is a lengthy process. It is free (aside from the small fiscal stamp and costs for apostille/translation of foreign documents).

Note: there are other paths (by birth of a Costa Rican parent, by 20+ years of residence, etc.) with their own requirements — if your situation does not fit residence or marriage, it is advisable to consult directly with the Sección de Opciones y Naturalizaciones del TSE (phone 2287‑5476) to determine the specific procedure that applies.