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Certified Costa Rican Passport Translation
Certified translation of the documents that establish identity and nationality in Costa Rica, including the registry annotations and endorsements that carry the legal effect and that a reader unfamiliar with the system will otherwise skip.
$24.95/page
Flat rate per page, up to 250 words. No hidden fees.
100% USCIS acceptance
Every certified translation is guaranteed to be accepted by USCIS.
24-hour delivery
Most 1-3 page documents are delivered within 24 hours. Same-day available.
The cédula prefix tells you the entity type
Every Costa Rican carries a cédula, and the numbering encodes the province of registration. For legal entities the prefix 3-101 means a sociedad anónima and 3-102 an SRL, which is the same numbering system read differently.
The passport prints the personal cédula number, which is assigned at birth registration and does not change. It is the cross-check across a Costa Rican file.
The electoral tribunal keeps the register
Costa Rica's civil registry sits inside the Tribunal Supremo de Elecciones, the electoral tribunal, which also issues the cédula. Passports are issued by the immigration authority using that registry data.
A foreign reader expecting a ministry finds an electoral body. It is the correct issuer and we name it rather than leaving the reader to wonder.
Minors need a permiso de salida
A Costa Rican minor requires a permiso de salida del país to leave, and the requirement applies even when travelling with a parent in defined circumstances. It is issued by the immigration authority.
It is a separate document from the passport and it appears in family travel files. We name it and translate it as issued.
Two surnames, and the certificate
Costa Ricans carry paternal then maternal surnames and the passport prints both. We keep both and make the order explicit rather than letting a US form index the mother's name.
The passport shows no parents; the TSE birth certificate does, along with any marginal annotation. See our Spanish page.
Ordering, and what the certification covers
Upload the document, choose certified translation at $24.95 per page of up to 250 words, and it comes back typically within 24 hours as a PDF formatted to mirror the original, with a signed certificate of translation accuracy on letterhead. Marginal annotations are translated in place, in the margin, and every seal, stamp and registry endorsement is translated with the text. See how we translate and certified versus standard.
Frequently asked questions
Why does an electoral tribunal keep my records?
The Costa Rican civil registry sits inside the TSE, which also issues the cédula. It is the correct issuer.
Does the cédula number change?
No. It is assigned at birth registration and is the cross-check across the file.
My child needs to leave the country.
Costa Rica requires a permiso de salida for minors, issued by the immigration authority. A separate document.
Which surname is the family name?
Both. Paternal first, maternal second.
Ready to get started?
Upload the document and receive the certified translation, typically within 24 hours.