When we reached out to residency specialist Laura B. Gutiérrez of Immigration Help CR, she told us there is often confusion about children of ex-pats in Costa Rica and the need for them to have residency. While strictly optional for any dependent child under age 18, it is advisable for them to apply for and obtain residency at the same time as the parents.

The procedures and required documentation are similar to those of adults. All children require current passports and authenticated birth certificates. Children aged 12 and older are also required to submit FBI reports of good conduct (criminal history background checks). If over 18 and wishing to apply as dependents of their parents, they will need to prove enrollment as students. They will also be fingerprinted and have an Interpol check done in Costa Rica along with their parents. Gutiérrez further explained that in the case of adoption in conjunction with divorce and remarriage of the parents and all those name changes, such family applications can get quite complicated. There have been instances where an adopted child required more time and effort to process than either of the parents. Precise guidance and assistance are needed when it comes to making sure the process is followed to the letter and to avoid future issues when trying to exit and re-enter Costa Rica with those children. (more on that below.)

Residency applications for children need to be submitted at the same time as their parents. The Costa Rica Department of Immigration processes the child’s residency application individually, even though it is part of a ‘family package.’ Approval of any child’s residency application leads to that child receiving their own individual residency card (A.K.A. Dimex or Cedula). The child’s application will be processed as the dependent of the principal applicant. Usually, this would be the father if both parents are applying together, but mothers have also assumed the role of the principal applicant based on financial resources used to qualify, or as a single mother.

Costa Rica Entry/Exit protection for children:

Costa Rica law enforcement takes the protection of children very seriously. Human trafficking, runaways, and abductions of minors by either criminals or conflicted parents or grandparents have prompted stringent protective procedures at all international entry and exit ports. On Costa Rica Embassy websites worldwide, it states that “Minors who are not Costa Rican nationals nor legal residents in Costa Rica do not require a permit from the parents to enter/exit Costa Rica.” But it is still an excellent idea that the parent who will not be traveling with the minor provide a notarized letter of consent for the parent who will be accompanying the minor. Border police or customs personnel at airports don’t always know the rules and can be very confrontive when it comes to allowing the child passage with only one parent accompanying that child. If the parents have residency but elected not to get residency for the child for whatever reason, they are often asked why they the parent(s) have residency, but not the children.

Whether Costa Rican or foreign-born with Costa Rican temporary or permanent residency, minors under 18 need a Permiso de Salida (permission to exit) permit from the Patronato Nacional de la Infancia (National Children’s Board) to leave Costa Rica. There are temporary permits that are valid for 30 consecutive days, and there are permanent permits. In San José, visit the Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería en San José (Department Of Immigration). http://www.migracion.go.cr/Paginas/Permisos-de-Salida-Menores-de-Edad.aspx

Inside the Department of Immigration in San José: Once you pass through security at Immigration, just follow the yellow path to the end of Gate #9

Obtaining such a consent permit requires the presence of both parents at the Costa Rica Department of Immigration to sign. If the child, for some reason, is in Costa Rica and the parents are in the home county, then the parent must go to the nearest Costa Rican Consulate/Embassy to handle the situation. If planning trips during the holiday season at Christmas or Easter, parents are advised to obtain these permits well in advance. The Immigration Center shuts down for several days during these holiday times. You can also, visit https://www.costarica.com/embassy/ for more information.