How to request a criminal record certificate in Costa Rica

What the certificate is

The hoja de delincuencia is the criminal record certificate issued by the Judicial Registry. Where applicable, it reports convictions by Costa Rican courts. It is not the same as a complaint, a pending case, an immigration certificate or a police incident report.

It may be requested for employment, education, permits, residency or international procedures. The intended use determines the correct version.

Choose the correct route

Need	Appropriate route
Electronic submission within Costa Rica	Digital certificate through Gestión en Línea or the app.
Paper document for domestic use	Request and collect at the Judicial Registry or an authorized office.
Submission in another country	International-purpose certificate from the Judicial Registry in San José and apostille if required.
Applicant is outside Costa Rica	Coordinate with the nearest Costa Rican embassy or consulate.

General requirements

• Be at least 18 years old.
• Have a suitable identity document that is valid and in good condition.
• Provide accurate personal and contact information.
• For online service, use a Gestión en Línea username and password or a digital signature.
• Provide email or mobile contact for the readiness notice.

The official verification page supports Costa Rican ID, residence ID, refugee card and passport. Use the same identity document throughout the request.

Option 1: digital certificate

Get online access

Enter through the Judiciary’s Online Procedures or the official Poder Judicial Costa Rica app. You may sign in with a digital signature or personal credentials. If you do not have credentials, request them once in person at a judicial office with your ID. Never give them to an employer or intermediary.

Submit and download

Inside Gestión en Línea:

1. Open Servicios.
2. Select the electronic criminal record certificate.
3. Verify identity and personal details.
4. Enter email or mobile contact.
5. Submit and keep the receipt or request number.

After notification, return to the system and download the PDF. Keep the original file unmodified and send that file to the recipient. Do not turn it into an image or print it as the electronic original.

Verify authenticity

An employer or institution can use the official verifier with the identity type and number plus the certification code printed at the bottom of the certificate.

Share the document only with the necessary recipient because it contains sensitive personal information. A screenshot alone is less useful than the verifiable PDF.

Option 2: paper certificate

Domestic paper certificates are available from the Judicial Registry in the Anexo A building of the First Judicial Circuit in San José and from enabled regional administrations or offices.

The San José service page lists Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Regional hours vary, so confirm before traveling. Bring the original valid ID. The Judiciary states that one certificate is delivered per day.

A third party may collect it with an authorization authenticated by a Costa Rican lawyer. For a foreign applicant, the official instruction also requires a copy of the applicant’s identity document. Confirm the wording before paying for authentication.

International use and apostille

Do not assume that the domestic digital employment certificate is accepted abroad. The Judiciary says the international version:

• Is handled by the Judicial Registry in San José.
• Goes through the required Executive Directorate certification.
• May need a Costa Rican apostille, depending on the destination.
• May need an official translation after apostille.

Ask the foreign immigration authority, consulate, university or employer for its exact checklist first. Sequence matters, particularly for certification, apostille and translation.

Applicants outside Costa Rica

Costa Rican nationals and foreign nationals who live or previously lived in Costa Rica can contact the nearest Costa Rican embassy or consulate. The request identifies a person authorized to collect the certificate in Costa Rica and arrange apostille where required.

The web/app electronic certificate is intended for domestic procedures. Do not substitute it for the international process unless the foreign recipient expressly accepts it.

Validity and timing

The Judiciary states that the certificate is valid for three months. A receiving institution can impose a shorter maximum age, so order it close to submission.

The digital system notifies the applicant when the PDF is ready. Older physical-request instructions refer to collection within five business days. Allow extra time for international certification, apostille, courier and translation.

Cost

The Judiciary service pages consulted do not list an issuance fee. External costs may arise for authenticated authorizations, apostille, translation, copies or courier delivery. Confirm before paying any third party.

If the record is unexpected

Do not edit the file or make a false submission. Contact the Judicial Registry about the entry and applicable procedure. Criminal record entries are maintained and removed under legal rules, not through an informal deletion request. Obtain individual legal advice if a conviction may affect immigration or employment.

Common mistakes

• Printing the electronic PDF and treating it as a valid electronic original.
• Ordering the domestic version for an international filing.
• Leaving apostille or translation until the last day.
• Using expired ID or inconsistent information.
• Sharing online credentials.
• Sending only an unverifiable screenshot.
• Assuming every institution accepts a certificate up to three months old.
• Confusing a pending case with a certified conviction record.

Frequently asked questions

Can the entire process be online?

Yes for the domestic electronic certificate once you have Gestión en Línea credentials or digital-signature access. Credentials without digital signature must first be issued in person once.

Can an employer request it for me?

The individual requests this personal certificate and then provides it to the employer. Do not share credentials. Paper collection by another person requires an authenticated authorization.

Is a copy valid?

Content can be checked with the identity and certificate code, but the digital certificate must remain digital. Ask the recipient whether paper or international use requires an original, additional certification or apostille.

Official sources

• Paper criminal record service
• Electronic criminal record service
• Judiciary online procedures
• Official authenticity verifier
• Procedure for applicants abroad

This guide is informational and does not replace the receiving authority’s instructions.