Costa Rica has allowed dual citizenship since a 1995 constitutional amendment removed all grounds for losing Costa Rican nationality, so foreign nationals who naturalize keep their original passport and Costa Ricans who take another nationality keep theirs. To meet the Costa Rica dual citizenship requirements as a foreigner, you generally need between two and seven years of legal residency, proficiency in Spanish, a passing score on a history and civics exam, a clean criminal record, and two witnesses who can vouch for your character. A faster route exists if you were born abroad to a Costa Rican parent.
How Many Years of Residency You Need
You cannot apply for citizenship the day you land. The clock only starts once you hold legal residency, and the required length depends on where you’re from and whether you’re married to a Costa Rican.
- Seven years of legal residency for most foreign nationals.
- Five years for citizens by birth of Central American countries, Spain, or other Ibero-American countries. If you obtained that citizenship through naturalization rather than birth, the seven-year rule applies to you.
- Two years for spouses of Costa Rican citizens who have also been married and residing in the country for that period.
Both temporary and permanent residency count toward the total. Most people first hold temporary residency and convert to permanent after three years; spouses and parents of Costa Rican citizens can apply directly for permanent residency. Article 15 of the constitution requires applicants to “reside within national territory regularly,” and immigration authorities cross-check entry and exit records, so extended time abroad can jeopardize both your residency and your later citizenship application.1University of Minnesota Human Rights Library. Constitution of the Republic of Costa Rica
The Spanish and Civics Exams
Article 15 requires you to read, write, and speak Spanish and to pass a test on the country’s history and values. Both exams are administered by the Ministry of Public Education (MEP).2Dirección de Gestión y Evaluación de la Calidad. Naturalización
The Spanish exam tests basic reading and writing. The history and values exam covers Costa Rican history, geography, and civic knowledge, including major events and national symbols. Study materials are on the MEP site.
Exams are offered only a few times per year. In 2026 the scheduled dates are March 22, July 20, and November 30. Dates can shift and registration opens on the MEP portal ahead of each session, so check periodically. A failed attempt can push your timeline back several months because the next sitting may be far off.
Documents You’ll Need to Assemble
The application begins with the “Option of Nationality” form from the Civil Registry department of the Tribunal Supremo de Elecciones (TSE). You’ll also need:
- Your birth certificate from your country of origin, apostilled or consularly legalized, then translated into Spanish by a certified official translator in Costa Rica.
- A recently issued criminal record certificate showing a clean record, also apostilled and translated. The key requirement is that it not be outdated at the time of submission.
- Your valid residency card (cédula de residencia).
- A residence history covering your time in Costa Rica.
- The full names and nationalities of your parents.
Every name, date, and identifier must match across documents. Small discrepancies, especially transliterated names spelled different ways on your birth certificate and residency card, cause delays. Fix those before you file. If your home country is not party to the Hague Apostille Convention, you’ll need consular legalization instead, which takes longer. Apostille fees in the United States vary by state, from a few dollars to over a hundred, and you’ll pay translation costs on top.
Witnesses, Filing, and Timeline
Under the Law of Options and Naturalizations, you must present two witnesses of “recognized honorability” who testify about your conduct and livelihood before the Civil Registry or a regional office.3Sistema Costarricense de Información Jurídica. Ley de Opciones y Naturalizaciones They don’t have to be lawyers or officials, but they should be Costa Rican citizens who have known you long enough to speak credibly about your character.
The application itself is free. You’ll pay only a fiscal stamp of a few hundred colones, well under a dollar. Once you file, authorities open a formal investigation and cross-reference your residency history against immigration databases to confirm you were actually in the country. This review typically takes between 12 and 15 months, though times vary with TSE workload and any issues in your file.
If approved, you attend an oath ceremony and receive your Carta de Naturalización, the permanent proof of citizenship. After that you can apply for a cédula and a Costa Rican passport.
What Changes and What Doesn’t After You Naturalize
Naturalized citizens hold most of the same rights as citizens by birth, with a few constitutional exceptions. You cannot vote until 12 months after receiving your Carta de Naturalización. The presidency and vice presidency are reserved for Costa Ricans by birth. You can serve in the Legislative Assembly or as a government minister only after holding citizenship for at least ten years, and the same ten-year wait applies to serving as a Supreme Court magistrate; the chief justice position is reserved for citizens by birth.4Constitute Project. Costa Rica 1949 (rev. 2020) – Articles 108, 131, 142
For most dual citizens these restrictions never come up. What matters day to day is that you can own property, work, access public services, and travel on a Costa Rican passport without limitation.
If a Parent Is Costa Rican, You May Not Need to Naturalize
Article 13 of the constitution grants citizenship by birth to anyone with a Costa Rican parent, even if you were born abroad. The process is a consular registration rather than naturalization, but age matters. A parent can register you as a minor through a Costa Rican consulate. Between 18 and 24 you can register yourself. From age 25, the consulate can only register your birth, and you’ll have to go through the full naturalization process in Costa Rica to actually obtain nationality.5Costa Rican Embassy in Singapore. Registration of Costa Rican Born Abroad If you have a Costa Rican parent and haven’t registered, don’t wait.
If You’re a U.S. Citizen
Becoming Costa Rican will not cost you your U.S. citizenship. U.S. law permits dual nationality, but you are required to enter and depart the United States on your U.S. passport even if you also carry a Costa Rican one.6U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica. Dual Citizenship
The tax obligations are where dual citizens most often get caught off guard. The United States taxes citizens on worldwide income no matter where they live. If your foreign financial accounts exceed $10,000 in aggregate at any point in the year, you must file an FBAR (FinCEN Form 114) by April 15. Under FATCA, single filers living abroad must file Form 8938 if foreign financial assets exceed $200,000 on the last day of the tax year or $300,000 at any point during it; for married couples filing jointly the thresholds are $400,000 and $600,000.7Internal Revenue Service. Summary of FATCA Reporting for US Taxpayers
Penalties are steep: $10,000 for failing to file Form 8938, with additional penalties up to $50,000 for continued noncompliance after IRS notification. If you’re already behind, the IRS runs streamlined filing procedures designed for dual citizens who weren’t aware of their obligations.7Internal Revenue Service. Summary of FATCA Reporting for US Taxpayers