How to Apply for a Weapon Carrying Permit (DIGECAM, ControlPas)

The weapon carrying permit is processed by the **Departamento de Control de Armas y Explosivos (DIGECAM)** of the Ministerio de Seguridad Pública. Note: this is different from simply **registering** a weapon to keep it at home — carrying it outside the home requires this separate permit (see the information sheet on the Ley de Armas y Explosivos for the full legal distinction).

**The process is 100% online**, through the **ControlPas** platform (www.controlpas.go.cr), and requires a **certified digital signature** to complete it — it is not a face‑to‑face procedure from start to finish.

**Requirements** (Reglamento a la Ley de Armas y Explosivos, Decreto 37985‑SP, artículos 24 y 50):

• First meet the registration requirements for the weapon you wish to carry.
• Fill out the electronic form with complete personal data (identity, exact address, phone, email).
• **Positive mental fitness report**, issued by a psychologist affiliated with the Colegio de Psicólogos de Costa Rica.
• **Fingerprint registration**.
• **Pass a combined theoretical‑practical exam**, defined jointly by the Dirección General de Armamento and the Academia Nacional de Policía.
• Schedule and attend a **physical inspection of the weapon** — you must arrange the appointment within the 3 business days following the system’s notification, or the application is automatically rejected. (This does not apply if the weapon was purchased from an authorized dealer as part of its regular sale.)
• Declare the truth on the form: lying in such a sworn statement is a crime (Código Penal, Art. 318 — prison of 3 months to 2 years).

**Costs**: ₡3,000 fixed for the application, plus ₡1,000 in fiscal stamp for each requested carrying permit (payment online).

**Processing time and validity**: the resolution of the application takes up to **1 month**. The permit, once granted, **expires after 2 years** (Ley 7530, Art. 36) and must be renewed.

**Contact**: Departamento de Control de Armas y Explosivos, San José, Sabana Sur, 300 meters west of the Contraloría General de la República. Phone 2600‑0000 (extensions 5040‑5045), email tramitesdcae@msp.go.cr. Hours: Monday to Friday, 8 am to 4 pm.