Authentications

Note: If you do not include the payment, your documents will be returned without processing

Legalizing Documents

Authentication of a document’s signature by the Consul means a recognition of the public character of the person who signed, therefore confirming the veracity of his or her signature.

Documents that can be authenticated:

• Birth certificate

• Certificate of divorce

• Certificate of single status

• Criminal record

• Death certificate

• Emission statements

• Employment certificate

• Health certificate

• Marriage certificate

• Powers of Attorney

• Proof of income

• Trademark registry

• Certificate of Free Sale

• For any other document, please contact the Consulate of your jurisdiction

If you need to authenticate any other document not included in the list above, please inquire with the Consulate responsible for the jurisdiction where the document was issued in order to determine if the document can be authenticated.

Note

Costa Rica is not a party to the "Hague Apostille Convention" and therefore we do not accept Apostilles.

Procedure

In order to obtain the authentication of your document, please follow systematically the following procedure:

1. Identify the authority/state by which the document was issued.

2. Identify the Consulate with jurisdiction over the state where the document was issued (please note that the Consulate in Washington, DC has jurisdiction over the 50 states)

3. Prior to sending the document to the appropriate Consulate, please identify the type of document:  a) Public documents:  issued by a Governmental authority; b) Private documents:  issued by anybody else.

4. Private documents should first be notarized/certified by a Notary Public from the state where the document was issued.  The signature of the Notary Public should be further authenticated by the Secretary of State of the state where the document was issued or in the District of Columbia, submit the documents to:  441 Fourth Street, NW – Ste. 1C090, Washington, DC 20001;  Tel: (202) 727 3117.  For information on authentications by state call: 1-800-688-9889 or visit: 
   http://www.fec.gov/pubrec/cfsdd/cfsdd.shtml

5. Public documents do not need to be certified by a Notary Public, but should always be authenticated by the Secretary of State where the document was issued, before sending them to the appropriate Consulate.  Please note that the U.S. Department of State should also authenticate documents issued by federal offices and/or departments in Washington, D.C.:  Authentications office:  518 23rd Street, NW;  Washington, DC 20520;  Tel (202) 647 5002.    

6. Mail/bring the document to the appropriate Consulate for its authentication.

Please inquire with the Consulate of the jurisdiction in case you still have questions regarding the authentication process.

Fees

The Consulate in Washington, DC accepts payments for consular fees. Money Orders and company checks are the only two payment methods accepted, which should be payable to “Consulate of Costa Rica". Personal checks and cashier’s checks are not accepted.

Payment will be obligatory from March 02, 2009
 

In the case of payments to the Consulate in New York, please check here.

Please inquire with the other Consulates if you are required to send any kind of payment.
 

For documents sent by FedEx: The payment slip from the FedEx Kinkos Shop should be attached to the FedEx pre-paid envelope (this is not applicable to those who have an account number with FedEx).

Important Note: When sending residence applications within Costa Rica (to the Costa Rican Immigration Department), you must include the “Formato de Responsabilidad Consulados” issued by DHL-Costa Rica.

Duration

Once the document is received at the Consulate, granted that the document complies with all requirements stated above and fees are included, it will normally be processed in one week (this may vary at each Consulate, please verify with Consular staff).

Please be aware that the Consulate in Washington, D.C. is currently understaffed; therefore the processing time may take up to 1 to 2 weeks.

Documents sent by mail or courier

Normally, documents can be processed by mail.  If you intend to do the procedure by mail, please enclose, along with the fees, a self-addressed and stamped envelope or a self-addressed prepaid courier envelope to return the documents to you.

We will not assume any responsibility for documents sent via courier or regular mail. We will not return any document sent by regular mail unless a prepaid envelope with delivery confirmation is attached (delivery confirmation, signature confirmation, registered mail, etc). The Consulate will not coordinate any pick up for documents sent via courier service (FedEx, DHL, UPS etc). This is the sender’s responsibility.