Quick answer: Before you file for Costa Rica residency, your document checklist should include a valid passport, an apostilled FBI background check, apostilled birth and (if applicable) marriage certificates, official Spanish translations of every foreign document, and proof of your qualifying investment or income. Getting these legalized correctly — and in the right order — is what keeps an application from stalling.
What goes on your Costa Rica residency document checklist?
Costa Rican immigration (Migración) reviews a specific, legalized set of papers. Assemble every item below before you file so nothing expires while you wait on something else:
- Valid passport — with ample remaining validity and a clear copy of the photo page.
- Apostilled FBI background check — a federal police clearance, apostilled and issued recently.
- Apostilled birth certificate — for each applicant, including dependent children.
- Apostilled marriage certificate — if you are applying with a spouse or including them as a dependent.
- Official Spanish translations — of all foreign-language documents, done by an authorized translator.
- Proof of qualifying investment or income — property title and appraisal, bank documentation, or pension/income letters, depending on your residency category.
- Passport photos and application forms — plus consular registration once in Costa Rica.
How do I get documents apostilled and translated?
An apostille is an international certification that authenticates a public document for use abroad. In the U.S., birth and marriage certificates are apostilled by the issuing state's Secretary of State, while the FBI background check is apostilled at the federal level by the U.S. Department of State. After apostille, each document is translated into Spanish by a translator recognized by Costa Rican authorities. Do it in that order — apostille first, then translate — so the translation covers the apostille certificate too.
How current do the documents need to be?
Timing matters. Background checks and civil-status certificates are treated as time-sensitive and generally must be recent when you file — often within about six months. Because apostilles and translations add weeks, sequence your prep so documents do not go stale in a drawer. A good rule: gather everything, legalize it, and file promptly rather than legalizing piecemeal over many months.
What are the most common mistakes before filing?
- Skipping the apostille or getting only a notary stamp — Migración needs the apostille itself.
- Translating before apostilling, so the apostille ends up untranslated and the file is rejected.
- Letting a background check expire while gathering other papers.
- Using an unauthorized translator whose work Costa Rica will not accept.
- Name mismatches across passport, certificates, and investment documents.
- Holding investment property in the wrong structure so it fails to prove the qualifying amount.
Frequently asked questions
Do all documents need an apostille?
Foreign public documents — background checks, birth and marriage certificates — need an apostille. Your passport does not; a clear copy is used instead.
Can I translate documents myself?
No. Translations must be done by a translator authorized by Costa Rican authorities to be accepted.
How long is an FBI background check valid for filing?
Treat it as time-sensitive — typically recent within about six months — so obtain and apostille it close to your filing date.
Ready to file with confidence?
A clean, correctly sequenced file is the difference between smooth approval and months of delays. Book a free consultation and we'll review your checklist document by document before you submit.
This article is for general information only and is not legal, tax, or financial advice.