Costa Rica: Knowledge Base profile
Published 30 June 2023
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About: Costa Rica
This document contains useful information about Costa Rica which will assist HM Passport Office staff process passport applications.
Contacts
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Publication
Below is information on when this version of the document was published:
- version 1.0
- published for Home Office staff on 15 May 2023
Changes from last version of this document
This is a new document.
Costa Rica: names
This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about names in Costa Rica.
Costa Rica follows the Hispanic naming convention which carries on the paternal and maternal family ties. This means when children are registered their surname will be a combination of their father’s first surname and their mother’s first surname.
The family name (surname) given at registration must be used in all official documents.
Costa Rica nationals are not allowed to change their family names.
Costa Rica: legitimacy
This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about legitimacy in Costa Rica.
Costa Rica does not recognise a difference between legitimate and illegitimate births. This means that all births are considered legitimate regardless of whether a child’s parents are married or not.