COSTA RICA: New Expedited ID Card Process for Registered Companies

May 11, 2017


The Immigration authorities have this week implemented an expedited process for the issuance of Identification cards for employees of accredited companies.

What has changed?

Qualifying employers are now able to submit requests on behalf of their foreign national employees for appointments for ID card applications (for initial or renewal Temporary Residence, immigration status change and change of employer) via email to the Bank of Costa Rica.

The new process should be completed within one to four weeks of the appointment request, compared to more than two months for the standard process.

Who is eligible?

To qualify for the new process, employers must be already registered with the Directorate General of Immigration and Nationality.

The employee must have already obtained approval for their Temporary Residence, change of immigration status or change of employer application, and their immigration status must not have expired in cases of renewal.

Our advice

Qualifying employers should consult with their Newland Chase immigration specialist for assistance with the new procedure for requesting an ID card application appointment.

For information on Costa Rican immigration in general, please email us at [email protected].