Costa Rica is one of the most straightforward countries in the world for foreigners who want to marry legally. There are no residency requirements, no blood tests, and no lengthy waiting periods. Whether you are an expat already living in the country, a couple planning a destination wedding, or someone marrying a Costa Rican citizen, the legal framework is clear and accessible. This article walks you through the full process, from understanding the law to collecting your documents, managing costs, and knowing what happens after the ceremony.
Overview of marriage laws in Costa Rica
Marriage in Costa Rica is governed by the Family Code (Código de Familia), which provides a consistent legal framework across all provinces. The law ensures equal rights and legal certainty for all couples, regardless of nationality or sexual orientation. Same-sex marriage is fully legal throughout the country, and LGBTQ+ expats follow the exact same procedures and receive the same legal protections as any other couple.
To marry legally in Costa Rica, a ceremony must be officiated by a licensed notary public, a judge at the Civil Registry, or a Catholic priest who registers the paperwork with the state. Other religious ceremonies, whether Protestant, Jewish, Buddhist, or otherwise, have no legal standing on their own. The minimum age to marry is 18, and minors cannot marry under any circumstances without strict court involvement.
Both parties must be legally free to marry. This means they must be single, properly divorced, or widowed, and must have full mental capacity to give mutual consent. Foreign marriages are recognized in Costa Rica, provided they are authenticated through an apostille and registered locally through an Exequatur process handled by the Supreme Court.
Conditions to get married in Costa Rica
One of the most important things to know is that Costa Rica imposes no residency requirement for foreigners who want to marry there. The standard 90-day tourist visa stamp you receive upon entering the country is entirely sufficient. This makes Costa Rica particularly accessible for destination weddings and elopements.
Beyond the visa question, there are a few basic eligibility conditions to meet. If either party was previously married, they must present a finalised divorce decree or a death certificate for the former spouse before the ceremony can proceed. Costa Rican law also prohibits marriages between direct blood relatives, such as siblings or parents and children.
There is no mandatory waiting period or requirement to publish banns before the wedding. Once your notary has gathered and processed the required documentation, the ceremony can take place. No medical examinations or blood tests are needed at any stage of the process.
Marriage configurations in Costa Rica
The rules in Costa Rica are largely the same regardless of who is marrying whom, but a few distinctions are worth knowing before you begin the process.
When two foreigners marry in Costa Rica, the procedure is highly streamlined. Neither party needs to be a resident. Both simply need valid passports, sworn statements confirming their single status, and a licensed Costa Rican notary to officiate the civil ceremony.
When one partner is a Costa Rican citizen, the same documentary rules apply, but the citizen will also need to provide an updated civil status certificate issued by the Civil Registry (Registro Civil).
Marrying a Costa Rican citizen opens the door to temporary residency for the foreign spouse, but this is not automatic. The expat must formally apply, attend an immigration interview, and maintain the marriage for at least three years to keep that temporary status active. If the marriage ends before then, residency status may be revoked.
Same-sex and mixed-nationality couples follow the exact same procedures as heterosexual couples and receive identical legal protections under Costa Rican law.
Civil vs. religious marriage in Costa Rica
Understanding the difference between civil and religious marriage in Costa Rica is essential, particularly for expats who want a religious ceremony but also need full legal recognition back home.
A civil marriage performed by a notary public or a Civil Registry official is fully legally binding. It is the most common route chosen by expats because notaries can travel to any venue, handle all the paperwork, and register the marriage directly with the National Registry.
Marriages performed by Catholic priests also hold immediate legal validity, provided the priest registers the documentation with the state. This is a uniquely recognized exception under Costa Rican law.
All other religious ceremonies, including Protestant, Jewish, and Buddhist services, are considered purely symbolic. Couples who want a non-Catholic religious ceremony must complete a separate civil signing with a notary to make the marriage legally binding. Many expats handle this by doing a quiet legal signing in advance, then holding their preferred symbolic ceremony at the venue of their choice.
Prenuptial agreements in Costa Rica
Prenuptial agreements, known in Costa Rica as Capitulaciones Matrimoniales, are legally recognized and fully enforceable under the Family Code. Without one, Costa Rican law applies a default matrimonial property regime: any assets acquired during the marriage are divided equally upon divorce, while assets owned before the marriage and any inheritances remain separate property.
To be legally valid, a prenuptial agreement must be executed in a public deed before a Costa Rican notary public and formally registered with the National Registry. Expats with international assets, businesses, or children from previous relationships are particularly encouraged to consider this step, as it can prevent complex cross-border jurisdictional disputes if the marriage ends.
The minimum legal fee set by the Costa Rican Bar Association, as published in the Procuraduría General de la República database, for a notary to draft a prenuptial agreement is CRC 110,000 (approximately USD 215). Agreements involving complex international assets will typically cost more. As with all legal fees in Costa Rica, this is subject to change, so confirm the current rate directly with your notary.
Required documents for marriage in Costa Rica
Gathering and preparing your documents well in advance is one of the most important steps in the process. Delays often come from waiting for apostilles and official translations, not from the ceremony itself.
- Valid passport: A passport in good condition is mandatory for all foreign nationals. Driver's licenses and foreign social security cards are not accepted as primary identification.
- Sworn statement of single status (declaración jurada): This affidavit confirms that you are free to marry. It is typically drafted by the officiating Costa Rican notary public. Some citizens, such as Americans and British nationals, may use their embassy in San José to have this document notarized before presenting it to the local notary.
- Birth certificate: While some notaries accept the sworn statement in place of a birth certificate, many legal professionals and the Civil Registry strongly recommend providing an original birth certificate issued within the last six months, properly apostilled.
- Divorce or death certificate: If either party was previously married, an original divorce decree or death certificate is mandatory, apostilled in the home country.
- Official Spanish translations: Any document not originally in Spanish must be translated by a certified translator in Costa Rica. Translation costs generally range from CRC 77,000 to CRC 103,000 (USD 150 to USD 200) per document, depending on length.
- Two witnesses: Both witnesses must be over 18 and cannot be third-degree family members. Foreign witnesses must present valid passports.
It is worth noting that document requirements can vary slightly depending on the notary you work with and your country of origin. Always confirm the full list with your chosen notary well before your planned ceremony date.
Role of embassies and consulates in Costa Rica
Foreign embassies in Costa Rica do not generally perform marriages for their citizens, because the local civil process is straightforward and internationally recognized. Their role is primarily administrative and serves expats at two key moments: before and after the wedding.
Before the ceremony, your home country's embassy or consulate is your main point of contact for getting the necessary apostilles placed on home-country documents such as birth certificates and divorce decrees. Citizens of countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom can also use their embassies in San José for notary services if they need an affidavit of single status stamped before presenting it to a Costa Rican notary.
After the wedding, once the Costa Rican Civil Registry issues the official marriage certificate, that document must be apostilled by the Costa Rican Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Expats then submit this apostilled document to their home country's embassy or civil registry to ensure the marriage is formally logged for tax, immigration, and name-change purposes back home.
Planning timeline for marriage in Costa Rica
Getting the timing right is arguably the most important part of planning a legal wedding in Costa Rica. The process itself is simple, but bureaucratic delays, particularly around apostilles and translations, can catch couples off guard if they start too late.
- Three to six months before: Begin gathering essential documents from your home country, including original birth certificates and divorce decrees. Factor in wait times for foreign apostilles, which can take several weeks depending on the country.
- One to two months before: Forward all apostilled documents to an official Costa Rican certified translator to have them translated into Spanish.
- Two to four weeks before: Submit your passport scans, witness details, and translated documents to your chosen Costa Rican notary so they can draft the marriage act in advance of the ceremony.
- After the wedding: Plan for a delay of eight to twelve weeks before receiving the final, registered Costa Rican marriage certificate, which you will need for recognition back home.
Starting early gives you enough buffer to address any issues without putting the ceremony date at risk.
Marriage procedures in Costa Rica
The legal process for getting married in Costa Rica follows a clear sequence of steps. Most expats work with a private notary public, who can travel to any venue and manages all the paperwork from start to finish.
- Hire a licensed officiant: Choose a licensed Costa Rican notary public, a Civil Registry official, or a Catholic priest. Notaries are the most popular choice for expats, as they offer flexibility on location and handle all registration directly.
- Submit documents in advance: Send scanned copies of passports, parents' names, occupations, and home addresses to the notary, typically ten to fourteen days before the ceremony date.
- Conduct the civil ceremony: On the wedding day, the couple and their two chosen witnesses sign a sworn affidavit of single status and the official marriage act drafted by the notary.
- National Registry submission: After the ceremony, the notary submits all signed documents to the National Registry (Registro Civil) in San José.
- Receive the marriage certificate: The Civil Registry typically takes eight to twelve weeks to process and officially record the marriage. The certificate is then apostilled and sent to the couple.
Costs and fees for marriage in Costa Rica
The cost of a legal wedding in Costa Rica can vary significantly depending on the options you choose. Here is a breakdown of the main expenses to plan for.
- Free civil marriage at the Civil Registry: The Civil Registry (TSE) offers free civil marriages at its offices in San José. There is a waiting list and no venue flexibility, but this option eliminates notary fees entirely.
- Private notary fees: Hiring a notary public to officiate at a location of your choice generally costs between CRC 154,000 and CRC 360,000 (USD 300 to USD 700). This covers the ceremony, drafting the marriage act, and Civil Registry registration.
- Document translations: Official Spanish translations cost around CRC 77,000 to CRC 103,000 (USD 150 to USD 200) per document.
- Foreign apostilles: Authentication costs vary by country. As a reference point noted by local wedding specialists, US authentications cost around USD 80 and Canadian authentications around USD 120.
- Prenuptial agreement: The minimum notary fee is CRC 110,000 (approximately USD 215), though complex agreements involving international assets will cost more.
- Residency application fees (if applicable): If you plan to apply for residency through marriage, the government fees include a USD 251 application fee and a USD 128 DIMEX residency card fee.
All fees are subject to change. Always confirm current costs directly with your notary, translator, and any relevant government office before committing to a budget.
Wedding traditions and customs in Costa Rica
While this article focuses on the legal side of marriage, understanding local customs can help expats engage respectfully with Costa Rican culture, especially when marrying into a local family or hosting guests from the country.
Several traditions with deep Catholic roots remain common at Costa Rican weddings. The groom traditionally gives the bride thirteen gold coins called arras during the ceremony, symbolizing his commitment to their shared future and material well-being. Parents or godparents may place a decorative rope or rosary in a figure-eight shape around the couple's shoulders during the exchange of vows, a ritual known as the Lazo Ceremony, representing unity and protection.
In the days before the wedding, it is traditional for the groom to serenade the bride at her home, often accompanied by a live mariachi or acoustic band. This custom is known as La Serenata. At the reception, the Baile del Billete (Money Dance) is a popular tradition where guests pin cash, in colones or US dollars, onto the newlyweds' clothing in exchange for a dance, giving the couple a financial start to their life together.
Wedding banquets typically feature local staples such as Gallo Pinto, Casado, and desserts like Arroz con Leche or Tres Leches cake. These traditions are cultural in nature and are not legal requirements. Expat couples are free to incorporate as many or as few as they wish.
After the wedding in Costa Rica
The ceremony itself is just one part of the process. What happens in the weeks and months after is equally important, particularly for expats who need to update their legal status in their home countries.
You will not leave Costa Rica with your marriage certificate in hand. The notary registers the documents after the ceremony, and the Civil Registry typically issues the official certificate eight to twelve weeks later. Your notary will then arrange for it to be apostilled and sent to you.
Costa Rican law does not require or automatically process a name change after marriage. Women legally keep their maiden names. If you want to change your name, you will need to use the apostilled marriage certificate in your home country's legal system upon your return.
To ensure your marriage is recognized abroad, you must submit the translated and apostilled Costa Rican certificate to your local civil registry or home country embassy. This step is essential for tax purposes, updating identification documents, and any immigration applications that depend on your marital status.
If you married a Costa Rican citizen and plan to apply for temporary residency, remember that this is not an automatic right. You must submit a formal application, attend an immigration interview, and maintain the marriage for at least three years to keep the temporary residency active.
Divorce in Costa Rica
This section provides a general overview of divorce in Costa Rica: it is not legal advice. If you are considering divorce, consulting a qualified family law attorney in Costa Rica is strongly recommended.
Grounds for divorce in Costa Rica include mutual agreement, character incompatibility (permitted after six months of marriage), adultery, cruelty, or a de facto separation of at least three years. Mutual consent divorces are the most straightforward and can be handled entirely by a notary public if there are no minor children and no contested assets. Contested divorces require filing a formal petition with the Family Court.
Child custody decisions in Costa Rica heavily prioritize the best interests of the child. Courts generally prefer joint custody arrangements, though sole custody can be awarded in appropriate circumstances. Child support payments are mandatory regardless of the custody arrangement.
Expats can divorce in Costa Rica if marital assets are located in the country or if the last shared marital domicile was there, under the Family Procedural Code. Foreign divorces, however, are not automatically recognized in Costa Rica. To update your civil status locally after a divorce abroad, you must file an Exequatur process at the Supreme Court (Sala Segunda), using translated and apostilled foreign divorce decrees.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get married in Costa Rica if I am just on a tourist visa?
Yes, Costa Rica imposes no residency requirements for foreigners getting married there. The standard 90-day tourist stamp you receive upon arrival is completely sufficient for a legal marriage. No special visa category is needed.
Will my Costa Rican marriage be legally recognized in my home country?
In most cases, yes. However, you must obtain an official marriage certificate that has been apostilled by the Costa Rican Ministry of Foreign Affairs and officially translated into your home country's language. You will then need to register it with your local civil registry or embassy to make it formally recognized. Requirements vary by country, so check with your home country's authorities.
Do I need to take a blood test or medical exam before marrying in Costa Rica?
No. Costa Rica does not require any medical examinations, blood tests, or vaccinations for the purpose of getting married. You only need valid identification and a sworn statement confirming your single status.
How long does it take to receive the official marriage certificate?
You will not receive your certificate on the wedding day. The Civil Registry typically takes eight to twelve weeks to process the documentation after the notary submits it. Once issued, the certificate will be apostilled and sent to you, usually by courier.
Is same-sex marriage legal in Costa Rica?
Yes. Costa Rica legalized same-sex marriage nationwide, and LGBTQ+ expats and visitors follow the exact same legal requirements and civil registry procedures as heterosexual couples. All couples receive identical legal protections regardless of sex.
What is a declaración jurada and why do I need one?
A declaración jurada is a sworn affidavit confirming that you are single and legally free to marry. Because foreign civil registries are not connected to Costa Rica's system, the local notary uses this legally binding document, signed under penalty of perjury, to verify your eligibility. It is typically drafted by the notary directly, though some nationalities may have it pre-stamped at their embassy first.
Can a friend or family member officiate my legal wedding?
No. To be legally binding, a marriage in Costa Rica must be officiated by a licensed Costa Rican notary public, a Civil Registry judge, or a Catholic priest who registers the paperwork with the state. Friends and non-legal celebrants can only lead symbolic ceremonies, which have no legal standing on their own.
Does marrying a Costa Rican citizen grant me immediate residency or citizenship?
No, it is not automatic. Marriage to a Costa Rican citizen gives you the right to apply for temporary residency, but you must submit a formal application, pay the required fees, attend an immigration interview, and remain married for at least three years. If the marriage ends before that period, temporary residency status may be revoked.
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