Quick answer: Once your residency is approved, you complete a biometric appointment (fingerprints and photo) at a Banco de Costa Rica (BCR) service point or Correos de Costa Rica, and — following a 2026 change under Resolution DJUR-0045-02-2026 — designated BCR service points can now issue your physical DIMEX card the same day. You must be shown as “active” in the CCSS (Caja) social-security system to complete it. The appointment itself takes roughly 20–30 minutes when your documents are in order.
What the DIMEX is
The DIMEX (Documento de Identidad Migratorio para Extranjeros) is your Costa Rican residency identity card — the equivalent of a citizen’s cédula. It is what you use to open bank accounts, enrol in services, convert your driver’s licence, and prove your legal status. Approval of your residency is the legal grant; the DIMEX is the physical proof you carry.
Before your appointment
- ☐ Residency approved. You have your DGME approval resolution.
- ☐ CCSS enrolment active. You must appear as “active” in the Caja system — enrol first if you have not. See how to enrol in the CCSS.
- ☐ Valid passport in good condition.
- ☐ Government fees for card issuance, as applicable.
The steps
- Book the biometric appointment. At a BCR service point (by phone via 800-BCRCITA or the BCR online portal) or at Correos de Costa Rica.
- Attend and register biometrics. Fingerprints and photo are captured. With organised documents this takes about 20–30 minutes.
- Receive the card. At designated BCR full-service points, the physical DIMEX is now printed and handed to you the same day under the 2026 rule — a major improvement on the previous multi-month printing backlog. [VERIFY: which specific BCR points offer same-day issuance, as the rollout is being expanded]
The 2026 same-day change, in plain terms
Until recently, applicants faced a card-printing backlog measured in months after approval. Under Resolution DJUR-0045-02-2026, designated BCR service points now act as full-service immigration hubs that can issue the physical card the same day you complete biometrics. This collapses a long, frustrating wait into a single visit — provided you are CCSS-active and your documents are correct.
Common snags
- Not CCSS-active. The most frequent blocker — enrol in the Caja before you book, or you will be turned away.
- Passport condition. A damaged passport can hold you up.
- Appointment availability. Slots can be scarce in peak periods; book as soon as you are approved and active.
Where this fits
The DIMEX unlocks the rest of your setup — see the residency document checklist for what preceded it, and converting your driver’s licence and opening a bank account for what the card enables next. To keep it valid, see renewing residency and the path to permanent status.
Why the 2026 change matters so much
To appreciate the improvement, understand what came before. For years, approval was followed by a card-printing backlog that could run around four months — a frustrating limbo where you were legally approved but had no physical card to open a bank account, convert a licence or prove status day to day. Under Resolution DJUR-0045-02-2026, designated Banco de Costa Rica service points now function as full-service immigration hubs that capture your biometrics and print the card in the same visit, collapsing that months-long wait into a single appointment.
The practical consequence is that the gap between "approved" and "fully operational resident" has shrunk dramatically — provided you meet the two conditions that still gate it: you must be active in the Caja, and your documents must be in order. Applicants who arrive CCSS-active with a valid passport now often walk out the same day with the card that unlocks the rest of their setup.
What to do if something is not ready
The most common reason people are turned away is Caja status. If you are not yet showing as active, the DIMEX appointment cannot complete — so enrol first, confirm your active status, and only then book. If your passport is damaged or close to expiry, replace it before the appointment. And if same-day issuance is not yet available at your nearest point during the rollout, ask which designated BCR service points offer it, as coverage is expanding.
Book promptly after approval regardless, because appointment slots are the main remaining bottleneck in peak periods. The card is the key to banking, your driver’s licence and daily life, so treating it as an urgent first-week task rather than an afterthought keeps your whole onboarding on schedule.
What the card unlocks next
The DIMEX is not the finish line so much as the key to everything after it. With the card in hand you can open a full resident bank account, homologate your driver’s licence, set up utilities in your name, and prove your status for schools, contracts and services. Because so much downstream depends on it, getting the card early — now often same-day — keeps your entire onboarding on schedule. Treat the biometric appointment as an urgent first-week task once you are Caja-active, not something to get to eventually.
Frequently asked
Do I really get the card the same day now?
At designated BCR full-service points, yes — the 2026 rule enables same-day issuance. The rollout is being expanded, so confirm your specific service point offers it when booking.
Why do I need to be CCSS-active first?
Caja enrolment is a condition of residency, and the DIMEX process checks your active status. Enrol before your biometric appointment.
How long does the appointment take?
Around 20–30 minutes when your documents are organised. Disorganised paperwork is what stretches it.
How do I book?
Through BCR (800-BCRCITA or the online portal) or Correos de Costa Rica. Book promptly after approval, as slots fill.
What if my nearest BCR point does not offer same-day cards yet?
The rollout is expanding; ask which designated service points currently issue same-day, and book there if practical. Otherwise the older process still issues the card, just less immediately.
Can someone else complete the DIMEX for me?
No — biometric capture (fingerprints and photo) requires you in person. Your advisor can help you book and prepare, but you must attend.
What can I do once I have the DIMEX?
Open a full resident bank account, convert your driver’s licence, set up utilities in your name, and prove status for schools and contracts. It is the key that unlocks daily life.
How soon should I book after approval?
As soon as you are Caja-active — appointment slots are the main remaining bottleneck, and the card gates so much else that early booking keeps your whole setup moving.
Need a hand with this step?
This is exactly the kind of task our client-services team handles day to day for people relocating to Costa Rica. If you would like us to walk you through it — or take it off your plate entirely — request concierge support and we will pick it up from wherever you are.
This guide is general, practical information, not legal, immigration or tax advice. Costa Rican procedures, fees and thresholds change and are applied to individual circumstances; details here are current as of July 2026 and should be confirmed with the relevant authority or your advisor before you act.