Temporary Residency Through Marriage
If you are married to a Costa Rican citizen, you are eligible for temporary residence through marriage.
- The temporary residency under the Marriage Category is valid for one year.
- It can be renewed for additional one-year periods.
- After three years of holding temporary residency, you will become eligible for permanent residency.
Main Requirement for the Marriage Category
Under current immigration regulations, foreign nationals who are married to a Costa Rican citizen are eligible for temporary residence. The marriage must be registered with the Civil Registry (Registro Civil) in order to be valid for residency purposes.
- An interview with the couple must be completed at the Immigration Department in order to confirm the legitimacy of the marriage.
Below you’ll find a detailed overview of the application process, as well as the fees and expenses.
Marriage Category Application Process
The application process for temporary residency through marriage to a Costa Rican takes between 12 and 15 months, depending on the processing time of the Costa Rica Immigration department (DGME), which takes approximately 9 months to analyze the application.
Our team will guide you through the process from start to finish, including CAJA (Costa Rican Social Security) registration and DIMEX (Costa Rican ID for residents) procurement. Plus, depending on the level of service you choose, we can also assist with document procurement and residency renewal at a discounted rate.
- Step 1. Document Procurement
- Step 2. Filing the Application
- Step 3. Analysis & Decision by the DGME
- Step 4. Approval Notice
- Step 5. Payment of the Guarantee Deposit
- Step 6. CCSS/Caja Registration & DIMEX Request
- Step 7. Delivery of Your DIMEX
- Renewal & Beyond
Document Procurement
Process Timeline2 to 3 months – 18%
The first two to three months of the application process are spent collecting the documents required for the residency application. It is important to collect all the required documents during this time frame, as documents from abroad must be issued within six months of filing. Our team will work closely with you to ensure all documents are valid, translated, and ready for review by the DGME.
The following documents are required for filing an application for residency in Costa Rica.
Vital Records & Background Checks
Application Documents
The initial two to three months of the residency application process is devoted to gathering the necessary paperwork. Ensuring that all documents are acquired during this period is incredibly important, as international documents must be dated within six months of filing. Our team is ready to partner with you to guarantee that all documents are up-to-date, accurately translated, and reviewed by the DGME.
Fees & Expenses
Our fees for application for temporary residency through marriage are flexible and comprehensive. We include all the standard fees and expenses in our pricing, with the intention of making the process as easy as possible for you.
- Payment Options
- Description of Fees & Expenses
- Additional Fees
