If you have been married to a Costa Rican for at least two years, and have remained in the country for at least those two years, or if you have been a resident for at least seven years in Costa Rica, you qualify for naturalization or citizenship.
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Requirements For Costa Rica Citizenship Through Marriage
Under this category, a foreign national can obtain citizenship if he/she has been married to a Costa Rican citizen for a period of at least two years, and has remained in the country for at least two years after the marriage. Every day lived abroad will be deducted from the 730-day in-country time requirement.
Document Requirements
- Cover letter
- Background check
- Birth certificate
- Five passport-size photographs
- Certified copy of the passport
- Costa Rican Spouse’s ID.
- Marriage Certificate
Foreign documents such as the background check and the birth certificate must be authenticated for use in Costa Rica. The background check must be issued within three months prior to the filing of the application. In addition, the documents must be translated into Spanish.
Requirements For Costa Rica Citizenship Through Residency
Under this category, a foreign national can obtain citizenship if he/she has been a resident, living in Costa Rica, for at least seven years. Every month lived abroad will be deducted from the total time living in-country, meaning if you have spent 2 months outside the country since obtaining residency, you will need to apply 7 years and 2 months after you obtained residency.
Document Requirements
- Cover letter
- Background check
- Birth certificate
- Five passport-size photographs
- Certified copy of the passport
- Proof of income
- Provide two witnesses that have known the applicant for at least 7 years.
In addition, all applicants under the age of 65 must take and pass a History and Spanish language test prior to applying.
Foreign documents such as the background check and the birth certificate must be authenticated for use in Costa Rica. The background check must be issued within three months prior to the filing of the application. In addition, the documents must be translated into Spanish.