Fingerprinting for Residency in Costa Rica: How the Process Works

Taking your fingerprints at the local police station is a requirement for the residency process. We assist our clients during this process. The availability for the appointment is hard to get as they don’t release spaces throughout the whole month. Instead, each week they release a few days for the next week and so on.

We usually schedule the appointment at the local police station on the same day as the in person meeting at our office so we don’t take much time out of your calendar. Once we attend the in person meeting at the office, we will take you to the local police station. It is important to be there at least 15 minutes early to make sure we don’t miss the appointment.

What to Bring to Your Fingerprint Appointment

You will need to bring your passport to the appointment. We will provide a form which we will fill out on your behalf. Usually, no one speaks English, so to avoid communication barriers, we proceed with a form. The local police station is located in San Jose, in front of the Central Park, and a parking lot is a two minute walk away.

We are not allowed inside with you, hence the form. However, if they have any questions, they can come outside and ask us directly if you don’t speak Spanish. The fingerprint process is with ink, so beware that your fingers will be covered with ink afterwards. The appointment will take somewhere between 20 to 35 minutes.

This will depend on the amount of appointments scheduled for that day and time. Once the process is done, you will receive a small piece of paper. Make sure you don’t lose it on your way out. That piece of paper is the receipt from the local police station and we will need it. After that, you will be done with the meeting and free to go your way.

We can bring you back to the office if that is more convenient for you or you can leave on your own.

Looking for legal counsel you can trust to make your relocation to Costa Rica easier and more rewarding? Get in touch today.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog post is for general informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute legal advice. While we strive to ensure the accuracy and timeliness of the content, laws and regulations are subject to change. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, please contact our office directly. Some images may be AI generated.