Procedures
How to renew a Costa Rican passport
A step-by-step guide to renewing a Costa Rican passport, including BCR and Correos appointments, requirements, fees, delivery, minors, and lost or stolen documents.
This guide covers ordinary passport renewal for Costa Rican citizens. Fees, participating offices and operational requirements may change, so check your appointment confirmation and the official websites before paying or travelling to an office.
The process at a glance
Renewing a Costa Rican passport generally involves:
- Checking the passport’s expiration date and your destination’s entry rules.
- Choosing a BCR Punto País office or a Correos de Costa Rica VES counter.
- Booking an appointment through an official channel.
- Preparing your ID, previous passport and any documents required for a special case.
- Paying according to the instructions for the selected channel.
- Attending in person for the photograph, signature and biometric capture.
- Waiting for the new passport to be produced and delivered.
A renewal does not extend the expiration date printed in the old booklet. Immigration issues a new passport with a new booklet and passport number.
1. Decide when to renew
BCR states that a citizen may apply for a new passport even when the current one has not expired. Renewing early is useful because destination countries and airlines may require a minimum amount of remaining validity.
Before booking:
- Check the passport’s expiration date.
- Confirm the validity required by your destination.
- Check whether the old booklet contains a valid visa.
- Avoid leaving the process until the final days before a flight.
Costa Rica’s biometric passport has been issued with a 10-year validity period. The expiration date printed in your document is always the date that applies to your passport.
Take it to the appointment when it is still valid. If it contains a valid visa, ask the country that issued the visa how you should travel after receiving the new booklet.
2. Choose where to apply
The two most accessible options inside Costa Rica are BCR Punto País and the VES counters operated through Correos de Costa Rica.
| Channel | How to book | Payment and delivery |
|---|---|---|
| BCR Punto País | Book free of charge through BCR Cita, BCR Móvil or the bank’s official appointment line. | BCR states that the applicable fee is paid at the appointment with cash or a BCR card. Delivery is estimated at approximately 8 to 10 business days. |
| Correos de Costa Rica / VES | Book through the Correos system or RACSA 1311 and select a participating VES counter. | The passport fee is paid in advance and VES charges a separate service fee. Correos publishes an approximate 12-business-day delivery period. |
| Costa Rican consulate | This applies to Costa Rican citizens living or staying abroad. | Requirements, payment and shipping depend on the relevant consulate. |
Official starting points:
BCR appointments are free. Do not pay a third party to obtain, advance or resell an appointment.
3. Requirements for an adult
For an ordinary renewal, prepare at least:
- A physical Costa Rican identity card that is valid and in good condition.
- The previous passport, when it is still valid.
- Your appointment confirmation.
- The required payment method or receipt, depending on the channel.
- A valid email address and contact details.
BCR’s current Punto País page highlights the valid physical identity document. RACSA’s VES instructions also require the physical proof of advance payment and the previous passport when it is still valid.
You do not normally need to bring printed passport photographs. The photograph, signature and biometric data are captured during the appointment.
Before leaving for the appointment
- Make sure the identity card is not expired or badly damaged.
- Confirm the exact office, date and time.
- Arrive at least 10 minutes early.
- Bring the previous passport even if it is close to expiring.
- Bring the payment receipt when the selected channel requires it.
- Make sure the applicant’s name is correctly associated with the payment.
4. Passport renewal fees
The published fees are:
| Item | Published amount |
|---|---|
| Biometric passport issuance | US$75 + ₡250 |
| BCR Punto País appointment | Free |
| Correos VES service | ₡8,203.50 + VAT |
BCR’s current Punto País information says the applicable fee can be paid at the appointment with cash or a BCR card.
For a VES appointment, published instructions require the passport fee to be paid in advance in colones according to the applicable exchange rate, with a physical receipt presented at the appointment. The VES service charge is separate.
This guide does not reproduce bank account numbers because they can change. Use only the account and instructions displayed by RACSA, Correos, Immigration or your official appointment confirmation.
5. Book the appointment
Through BCR
Open BCR Cita from the bank’s official website, select the passport service and choose an available Punto País office.
BCR also offers appointment access through BCR Móvil and its official service channels. Cancelled appointments may return to the system, so checking again can reveal an earlier date.
Through Correos de Costa Rica
Start from the official Correos passport page or the RACSA 1311 VES page. Select a participating office and read every requirement included in the confirmation.
Not every Correos branch provides biometric passport services. The appointment must be made at an enabled VES counter.
6. What happens at the appointment
The applicant must attend in person. The appointment normally includes:
- Identity and document verification.
- Confirmation of personal and contact information.
- Photograph capture.
- Signature capture.
- Fingerprint or other applicable biometric capture.
- Selection or confirmation of the delivery location.
Review your name, date of birth and other personal data before the appointment is completed. An error can delay issuance.
7. Processing and delivery time
Published estimates vary by channel:
- BCR states approximately 8 to 10 business days after the data is captured.
- Correos de Costa Rica publishes approximately 12 business days for applications processed at its VES counters.
These are estimates rather than guarantees for immediate travel. Wait until the new passport is in your possession before relying on it for a time-sensitive trip.
Delivery may be arranged at a selected branch or at an eligible address. Delivery is generally personal and requires proof of identity.
8. Renewing a minor’s passport
The child or teenager must attend the appointment. In an ordinary case, both parents must also attend with valid identity documents.
Important requirements include:
- Applicants aged 12 to 17 must present a valid original Minor Identity Card, known as the TIM.
- For children under 12, current regulations allow Immigration to verify nationality and the parental relationship digitally, without requiring a separate document to prove those facts.
- If one parent died in Costa Rica, a death certificate issued by the Civil Registry is required.
- If the death occurred abroad or the case involves special legal representation, contact Immigration directly.
- VES also identifies a procedure for a minor who legally has only the mother’s surnames.
When one parent cannot attend for another reason, do not assume that a simple letter is sufficient. Ask Immigration or RACSA 1311 which procedure applies before booking.
Holding a valid passport does not automatically resolve the authorization required for a minor to leave Costa Rica. Check both before travelling.
9. Lost, stolen or damaged passports
When a still-valid passport was stolen, lost or damaged, VES instructions request one of the following:
- A notarized sworn statement; or
- A report filed with Costa Rica’s Judicial Investigation Department, the OIJ.
Do not treat the case as an ordinary expiration without reporting what happened. A valid lost or stolen travel document must be correctly cancelled.
When the incident happened abroad:
- File a report or obtain a record from the competent local authority.
- Contact the nearest Costa Rican consulate.
- Follow the instructions for replacement, a new passport or an emergency travel document.
10. Renewing from abroad
Costa Rican citizens abroad apply for issuance, renewal or replacement through the relevant Costa Rican embassy or consulate.
The process may include:
- A consular appointment.
- Identity verification.
- Biometric data capture.
- Passport and shipping fees.
- Delivery through the enabled consular service.
Use the official Costa Rican embassy and consulate directory and review the Correos consular passport service. Requirements and timing can vary by country.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Booking through a website that does not belong to BCR, Correos, RACSA or Immigration.
- Paying someone for an appointment that is officially free.
- Arriving with an expired or damaged identity card.
- Leaving the previous passport at home when it is still valid.
- Making a payment that is not correctly associated with the applicant’s name.
- Forgetting the physical receipt when the channel requires it.
- Confusing a minor’s passport with the minor’s exit permit.
- Purchasing time-sensitive travel too close to the estimated delivery date.
- Assuming every country applies the same passport-validity rule.
Frequently asked questions
Can I renew before the passport expires?
Yes. BCR expressly states that a citizen may apply for a new passport while the current passport remains valid.
Do I need passport photographs?
Not for the ordinary BCR or VES process. The photograph and biometric data are captured at the appointment.
Does the BCR appointment cost money?
No. BCR states that appointment booking is free. The passport issuance fee still applies.
Can I use a card issued by another bank at Punto País?
BCR’s current information specifies cash or BCR cards. Prepare one of those payment methods and review the appointment instructions.
How long does renewal take?
BCR publishes an estimated 8 to 10 business days, while Correos publishes approximately 12 business days. Demand, validation or exceptional circumstances can extend the process.
Does the new passport keep the same number?
No. A newly issued booklet receives a new passport number. Review bookings, visas, forms and other records where you entered the previous number.
What happens to a valid visa in the old passport?
Do not destroy the old booklet. Check the rules of the country that issued the visa, because some countries permit travel with both passports while others require a transfer or a new visa.
Can someone else collect my passport?
Correos publishes personal delivery as the general rule, with proof of identity required. Confirm the exact delivery arrangement selected during your application.