To get your DIMEX, you book an appointment through Migración’s 1311 call center or through Banco de Costa Rica (BCR), bring the requirements listed in your approval resolution, and have your photo taken. The card is then sent to the Correos de Costa Rica branch you choose. You must start this within 90 days of being notified that your residency was approved. This guide covers the first card, collecting it, and renewing it at BCR, using the rules Migración (the Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería, DGME) publishes.
What is a DIMEX?
The DIMEX (Documento de Identidad Migratorio para Extranjeros) is the identity document Migración issues to foreigners whose immigration category has been approved in Costa Rica. It is your residency card. It is not a visa, and it is not the Costa Rican cédula de identidad, which is for citizens.
Your first DIMEX: book within 90 days
- Book the appointment by calling Migración’s 1311 call center or through BCR.
- Bring the requirements listed in your approval resolution, together with your valid passport. The resolution is the official list for your case, so read it before you book.
- Do it in time. Migración asks you to complete this first documentation within 90 days of being notified of the approval.
- Expect an extra service charge at BCR or Correos. If you are attended at a BCR office or at a special Correos de Costa Rica service window, there is an additional amount, payable in cash on the day of the appointment. It is confirmed when you book.
At the appointment your details are captured and your photo is taken for the card.
Picking up your card at Correos de Costa Rica
Once the card is ready, it is delivered to the Correos de Costa Rica branch you selected, and you are notified that it has arrived. Collect it in person with your documentation receipt.
If you do not collect it within two months of that notice, the card goes back to Migración. Check the “DIMEX sin retirar” list on Migración’s DIMEX page. If your name is on it, collect the card at Migración’s central offices in La Uruca, Documentation Unit, door 3, Monday to Friday at 10:00 a.m., 12:00 noon or 2:00 p.m., with your documentation receipt. No appointment is needed for this.
Do not let your file expire
During a first documentation, renewal or duplicate, Migración may send you a notice (a telegrama) asking for something. Under Resolution DJUR-0198-04-2026-JM, if you received that notice more than six months ago and have not complied, your immigration category may have been cancelled. Permanent residents can continue the documentation process; people with temporary residency or a special category whose names appear on the published list must file a new application. Keep an eye on your email and check your status online; here is how.
Renewing your DIMEX at BCR
- When: you can renew up to three months before the card expires.
- Late renewals: permanent residents must renew within 30 days after expiry, and each month of delay adds a late charge. For temporary residency and special categories, not renewing within three months after expiry can lead to cancellation, unless there are proven reasons that made it impossible.
- More than three months expired: bring a letter explaining why you did not renew, with your signature authenticated by a lawyer.
- Lost or stolen card: bring a sworn statement notarized by a lawyer.
- Away for more than a year: bring a written explanation and a criminal record certificate from the country where you were, legalized or apostilled.
- Permanent residents bring: the DIMEX in good condition, proof of affiliation with the Caja (CCSS), the receipt for the renewal payment in your name, and a valid passport. If you are attended at a BCR branch, you pay at the time of the photo instead of beforehand. Confirm the amount when you book.
Temporary and special categories have their own renewal lists. Our residency renewal guide covers them.
Tips for the appointment
- Arrive early with originals and the copies your resolution asks for.
- Make sure your name on every receipt matches your passport exactly.
- Appointments are in Spanish. If you do not speak it, bring someone who does.
- Keep your appointment confirmation and payment receipts together until the card is in your hand.
Frequently asked questions
Can I do my DIMEX at BCR?
Yes. You can book the appointment through BCR or through Migración’s 1311 call center. At a BCR office there is an additional service charge, paid in cash on the day.
How long do I have to get my first DIMEX?
Migración asks you to complete the first documentation within 90 days of being notified that your residency was approved.
Where do I pick up my DIMEX?
At the Correos de Costa Rica branch you selected. If you do not collect it within two months of the notice, it goes back to Migración’s central offices in La Uruca.
When can I renew my DIMEX?
Up to three months before it expires. Renewing late adds a monthly late charge, and a long delay can lead to the cancellation of a temporary residency.
Do I need my passport?
Yes. For renewals Migración lists a valid passport in good condition; for a first DIMEX, bring it along with the documents your resolution lists.
Requirements come from Migración’s DIMEX page (migracion.go.cr/dimex), checked 13 October 2026. Amounts are confirmed when you book.
Want help with your residency or your DIMEX? CRIE is an immigration law firm in Costa Rica with over 20 years of experience. WhatsApp +506 8373 2085 or email info@crie.cr.