DGME’s general residency requirements call for a birth certificate issued in the applicant’s country of origin with the required legalization and authentication or apostille. Before requesting a new copy, check the document details and the current instructions for your category.
These instructions were reviewed on DGME’s official Regularización page on 7 September 2026.
Are certificates older than six months accepted?
DGME’s published general guidance describes acceptance of a birth certificate issued more than six months earlier when its stated conditions are met. These include an official Costa Rican Spanish translation and apostille or legalization formalities, information matching the passport, and a document in good condition without alterations that cast doubt on its legitimacy.
Do not assume every older birth certificate must be replaced, or that any old copy automatically qualifies. Read the exact official wording and check your particular certificate before ordering a replacement.
Check names and other identity details
Compare the certificate with the passport. DGME says discrepancies should be clarified through the relevant supporting documents or properly corrected records. Do not change an official certificate or a certified translation yourself.
If there has been a name change or the records use different forms of a name, identify the difference before filing and obtain advice about the evidence needed to explain it. Keep supporting records together so the identity history can be reviewed clearly.
What if the parents’ names are missing?
DGME’s general notes address countries that issue birth certificates without the parents’ names. They call for a notarized, protocolized sworn declaration containing those details together with the certificate. Check this specific instruction before assuming a short certificate is sufficient on its own.
Apostille, legalization and translation
The authentication route depends on the issuing country. DGME distinguishes apostille from consular legalization and Costa Rican Foreign Ministry authentication for documents from countries outside the applicable apostille convention.
For a non-Spanish certificate, confirm the translation requirement, including the specific wording that applies to older birth certificates. See our translation guide for checking a provider and the completed work. A translation does not repair a damaged or unsuitable original.
Organize the document before filing
- Confirm the category checklist and the correct issuing authority.
- Check identity details, parents’ names and the certificate’s condition.
- Resolve discrepancies with proper supporting or corrected documents.
- Complete the applicable authentication and translation.
- Retain the original and a complete copy of the package.
A birth certificate is one part of the residency file. Police records, pension or other category evidence, passport copies and other requirements must be checked separately. See the general residency checklist and police-certificate guide.
Confirm the issuing authority’s current price and completion estimate rather than assuming a universal turnaround time. Contact CRIE for help planning documents for your circumstances.
Official source: DGME Regularización, Requisitos Generales. Verified 7 September 2026.