Costa Rica dual citizenship requires checking two sets of nationality rules. Becoming Costa Rican and keeping another nationality are separate legal questions. Start with the Tribunal Supremo de Elecciones (TSE) requirements for your application route, then confirm the consequences with the authorities of your other country.
Does Costa Rica allow dual citizenship?
Yes, from Costa Rica’s side. Article 16 of the Constitution, as reformed by Law 7514 of 6 June 1995, says Costa Rican nationality cannot be lost and cannot be renounced. A Costa Rican who takes another nationality stays Costa Rican, and people who lost Costa Rican nationality under the old rule can recover it by simple request.
The open question for foreigners is the other side: whether your first country lets you keep its nationality when you become Costa Rican, and which declarations the TSE asks you to sign on your route. Both are covered below.
How to become a dual citizen of Costa Rica
The Constitution sets out the routes in articles 13 and 14:
- By descent. A child born abroad to a Costa Rican parent by birth is Costa Rican by birth if registered with the Civil Registry, by the parent while the child is a minor or by the person themselves until age 25. See Costa Rica citizenship by descent.
- By birth in Costa Rica. A child of foreign parents born here can be registered as Costa Rican on the same terms. See citizenship by birth.
- By marriage. After two years married to a Costa Rican and two years living in the country. See citizenship by marriage.
- By residence. Five years of official residence for Central Americans, Spaniards and Ibero-Americans by birth, and seven years for everyone else, plus the other legal requirements, including the citizenship test.
Our citizenship in Costa Rica guide compares the routes side by side.
Residency and citizenship are different applications
Legal residence is not citizenship, and a residency approval does not automatically produce a Costa Rican passport. Use the Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería (DGME) for immigration requirements. Naturalization applications belong to the TSE’s Civil Registry and its Sección de Opciones y Naturalizaciones.
Can you keep your existing nationality?
Do not rely on a blanket promise that no renunciation is involved. Article 8(j) of the TSE naturalization regulation includes a declaration renouncing the previous nationality for naturalization by residence, with an exception for nationals of countries covered by dual-nationality treaties. Ask TSE which declarations apply to your route and circumstances.
The effect of a declaration on your other citizenship must also be checked under that country’s law. Before signing, obtain advice addressing both countries and the exact wording involved.
What this means for U.S. citizens
The U.S. Department of State’s dual-nationality guidance says U.S. law does not require citizens to choose between U.S. citizenship and another nationality. It also explains that dual nationals must obey applicable laws and that U.S. consular protection can be limited in the other country of nationality. U.S. citizens must use a U.S. passport to enter and leave the United States.
Separately, the Department’s citizenship policy explains that loss through a potentially expatriating act requires both voluntariness and intent to relinquish U.S. citizenship. Resolve any question about your intended declaration with the relevant authorities before submitting it. These U.S. rules should not be assumed to apply to Canadians or other nationalities.
Naturalization by residence: five or seven years
The TSE residence-route checklist specifies five years of official residence for Central Americans, Ibero-Americans and Spaniards by birth, and seven years for other nationalities. Ask TSE to assess the period supported by your records; years since your first holiday are not a reliable calculation.
The checklist covers identity, birth and criminal-record documents, witnesses, means of support and Spanish/social-studies evidence. Foreign documents may need legalization or apostille and an official Spanish translation when written in another language. It also allows recognized studies and specified exemptions from the assessment requirement. Use the complete checklist for evidence, validity periods and exceptions.
Marriage has its own naturalization route
Articles 23–27 of the TSE regulation address marriage applications. The requirements include two years married to a Costa Rican citizen and two years of residence in Costa Rica after the marriage, with the marriage registered in Costa Rica. Marriage alone does not grant citizenship. Have TSE review your residence evidence and travel history rather than assuming an automatic approval date.
Build a practical application plan
Create a folder with your immigration decisions, identity documents, marriage records where relevant and a dated travel history. Compare that folder with the checklist for your route. Mark which documents you already have, which need updating and which questions require an official answer.
Ask for an itemized budget separating document ordering, authentication, translation and professional assistance. Keep those costs separate from ordinary household spending, and avoid paying for documents before confirming the required format and validity.
Prepare for life as well as paperwork
Keep practicing everyday Spanish and building relationships in your community while you prepare. Conversations with neighbors, classes and local activities can make daily life easier, but they do not replace official evidence or an assessment requirement. Our cultural etiquette guide offers a starting point.
Frequently asked questions
Can I lose my Costa Rican citizenship if I take another nationality?
No. Under article 16 of the Constitution, Costa Rican nationality cannot be lost or renounced.
Do I have to give up my US citizenship to become Costa Rican?
The TSE regulation includes a declaration for naturalization by residence, so ask the TSE exactly what you will sign. The US Department of State says US law does not require citizens to choose between US citizenship and another nationality, and loss requires a voluntary act done with the intent to give up US citizenship. Check before you sign.
How long does it take to become a dual citizen of Costa Rica?
By residence, at least five or seven years of official residence depending on your nationality, before the application itself. By marriage, two years of marriage and two years of residence. By descent, there is no residence period, but the age limits for registration apply.
Questions to resolve before applying
- Which naturalization route fits my circumstances?
- What residence period will TSE recognize from my records?
- Which declaration applies, and what effect could it have on my other nationality?
- Which documents, translations and assessment evidence are required?
- What must I keep current while my application is pending?
For help organizing your Costa Rica immigration plans, contact CRIE at info@crie.cr. Confirm naturalization decisions and requirements with TSE; immigration requirements with DGME; and foreign-nationality consequences with the relevant country’s authorities.
Official sources checked September 7, 2026. This guide distinguishes the published Costa Rican application requirements from the separate effects under another country’s nationality law.
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