Apostille services for US citizens applying for Costa Rica Citizenship
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
Apostille Service and Fast and Reliable Assistance for Costa Rica ( or its embassies/consulates).
Both Costa Rica and the United States recognize dual citizenship, allowing individuals to hold both without renouncing either. U.S. citizens can become naturalized Costa Rican citizens (generally after 5-7 years of residency), and children of U.S. citizens born in Costa Rica can acquire both citizenships by birth or descent.
Key Aspects of Dual Nationality (CR-USA):
Recognition: Costa Rica recognizes dual citizenship and does not limit the number of nationalities a person may hold. Children of Costa Rican parents born in the U.S. can be registered as Costa Rican citizens at Costa Rican consulates.
United States: Allows dual citizenship without formal laws against it. Children born in Costa Rica to U.S. parents can obtain a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA).
Travel and Minors: Minors with dual nationality leaving Costa Rica need to comply with Costa Rican immigration laws, including an exit permit from both parents, even if they are traveling with a U.S. passport.
Taxes: US citizens, regardless of where they live or their other nationality, must file US taxes.
It is recommended to check the requirements at the Costa Rican Consulate in the USA for specific procedures.
Key Steps:
Request a Certified Copy: Obtain a recent certified copy of your U.S. birth certificate.
Yes, it is mandatory to have your U.S. birth certificate apostilled for it to be officially recognized in Costa Rica for dual citizenship purposes. Since both countries are signatories to the Hague Convention, the apostille authenticates the signature and seal on the document before Costa Rican authorities.
State Apostille: Must be apostilled by the Office of the Secretary of State ( Secretary of State ) in the state where the document was issued.
Translation: Once apostilled, the document must be translated into Spanish by a certified translator.
The apostille guarantees the legal validity of the US document in Costa Rica.
Registration at the consulate: Parents must register their child's birth at the Costa Rican consulate in the U.S. The consulate will act as the civil registration officer and issue a Costa Rican birth certificate.
Rican nationality for adults: Children born abroad but not registered at the consulate must complete the process at Sereci to obtain their identity card.
Key Points for Dual Nationality (CR-USA):
By Birth/Descent: If you are the child of a Costa Rican father or mother, you can register your birth at the nearest Costa Rican Consulate in the U.S. to obtain Costa Rican nationality.
By Naturalization (Residence):
Central Americans, Spaniards and Latin Americans: They need 5 years of uninterrupted legal residence.
Other nationalities (including Americans): Need 7 years of uninterrupted legal residence.
Married to a Costa Rican: Required to 2 years of residency.
General Requirements: A valid passport, birth certificate, proof of residence, and, in some cases, a criminal record certificate are usually required.
Obligations: Citizens with dual nationality must be loyal to both countries and use their U.S. passport to enter/leave the U.S.
To begin the process, Costa Ricans abroad must schedule an appointment at the corresponding consulate. U.S. citizens under the age of 18 born in Costa Rica require special permits to leave the country.
At American Notary Service Center, we specialize in providing apostille services for U.S. documents required by Costa Rican authorities (or their embassies/consulates), specifically tailored to clients applying for dual citizenship.
Request the Apostille service below and indicate the number of documents. Processing times vary depending on the issuing state. You can check current processing times here.
Certified translation
In addition to the apostille, the Costa Rican government requires certified Spanish translations of each document. These translations must match the legalized (apostilled) documents and are usually submitted along with the originals at the consular appointment.
We can put you in touch with certified Spanish translators experienced in consular requirements, or offer you a complete package with apostilles and translations.
Certified translation service 👇
Who is this for?
This service is ideal if:
You are a citizen of Costa Rica and have children born in the United States.
Plan to apply for Costa Rican citizenship for your children at a Costa Rican consulate or embassy in the United States.
You need help obtaining, apostilling, and translating your documents correctly and efficiently.
You want to save time and energy by letting the experts handle the process for you.
Ready to begin?
Don't risk delays or rejections due to missing apostilles or incorrect translations. Our team has helped thousands of clients complete this process with complete confidence and peace of mind.
📞 Call us or send us a text message: 202-599-0777
🌐 Request the apostille service now.
Note: Requirements may vary slightly depending on your jurisdiction or consulate. We recommend consulting with your local consulate or legal advisor to confirm the exact list of required documents. We also recommend first confirming with the requesting entity to determine precisely what documents they require.
American Notary Service Center Inc. offers fair, fast, confidential, and professional document certification and legalization services. We also provide a variety of support services to small businesses owned by socially and economically disadvantaged groups. Our services help small businesses obtain federal government contracts, establish themselves in the market, and boost sales. For more information, please visit our website at www.usnotarycenter.com or contact us by calling 202-599-0777 or emailing info@usnotarycenter.com .
