QCOSTARICA — Costa Rica’s immigration service, the Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería (DGME), reported it acquired more than 700,000 biometric passports by 2024, ensuring the continuity and attention to the high demand.
The travel document is processed directly through the Immigration offices, the Banco de Costa Rica (BCR), the Correos de Costa Rica (Post Office), and Costa Rican Consulates abroad.
The demand for passport applications increased steadily from last year. In the first quarter of 2024, 117,917 passports were processed, compared to 97,452 passport applications in the same period of 2024, that is, more than 20,000 additional requests.
For 2024, the immigration service is expecting to issue some 550,000 biometric passports.
The Biometric Passport puts Costa Rica at the forefront in the Americas since it has security measures that are framed under the highest mobility standards at a global level. These security factors prevent falsification and alteration of the document, as well as the modification of the user’s personal information and data thanks to its high technology.
Each personalized chip guarantees high security in cases of loss or theft of the document.
Supporting technology favors the streamlining of airport procedures due to its easy verification and traceability, opening the doors to Costa Ricans to greater flexibility in their trips abroad.
The DGME has emphasized that non-biometric passports remain valid until their expiration date, so there is no need to change or renew them before that time.
Requirements for applying for new passports can be found at the DGME website https://www.migracion.go.cr/Paginas/Pasaportes-y-Permisos-de-Salida.aspx
