Comments on: Costa Rica Residency Renewal – Revisited

By: Jeremy

Jeremy — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 19:24:36 +0000

Hey Tim, thanks for the info. I haven’t gone the BCR route, but I am due to renew in 2011, so it is good to know.

I did however renew this last May via the pain in the rear immigration route. Same ol same ol, but they did give me the 2 year renewal for an extra $10. I think it ran me $58 total.

By: Tim

Tim — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 02:28:35 +0000

Yeah but I think that is for TWO years.

By: Scott Gordon

Scott Gordon — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 23:29:46 +0000

New info to keep in mind:

I called 900 number for an appointment today, October 28.

Soonest available appointment is February 9 – that’s over 3 months away. New price is $58 + 2.600 colones (another $5 or so, totalling $63)

By: John Goold

John Goold — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 22:38:16 +0000

Well, maybe it worked for a while, but trust greed, bureaucracy and incompetence to break something that works. The only reason for having to renew a cédula (or birth certificate!) is as a tax. At $48 a time, it is not going to break the bank, but the inconvenience and waste of time is appalling. Why not simply have a one-time $500 charge? This “renewal” thing is just stupid (I cannot think of any other way to put it… well, I can, but it’s crude).

I don’t think you want to know all of what I have gone through; however:

The BCR web site now gives a 900 number (300 colones a minute) to call, rather than a toll-free 800 number. One has to “activate” 900 service in order to make 900 number calls. This means a visit to an ICE office.

I did this. Now the message I get on the 900 number says the call cannot be completed because the line is blocked.

By the way, one cannot make an appointment by going into a BCR branch (one of the ones that supposedly does the renewals), they require you to call immigration’s 900 number. The service person in the branch was nice (and I didn’t have to wait in line as one could have shot a cannon off in the branch without hitting anyone). She checked the 900 number and said it was correct.

900 00 34639 if anyone is interested.

I’m leaving the country in 3 weeks time, probably for more than 6 months. Of course, my cédula will expire while I’m in Canada. I wanted to try and renew it early, but they probably wouldn’t have let me anyway.

I find it particularly frustrating as it took well over a year to get my permanent residency. Now my cédula is going to expire and who knows whether I’ll be able to renew it when I come back.

Maybe I won’t come back.

By: Tim

Tim — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 00:02:33 +0000

Nice! Either I missed it or they added it. Either way… thanks for the comment!

By: kow

kow — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 22:04:25 +0000

The web site for renewing has a conversion to English in the top right corner.

By: Bob Furlong

Bob Furlong — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 16:24:04 +0000

Tim, First part of process was fine, appt 3 days after call, 20 minutes for picture a few questions and index fingerprints, wasn’t asked for money changing receipts, had availiable. Cedula to be sent to my post office, Sabanilla, Due here on 26th of June, Today 3 July still checking. I’ll let you know. Bob

By: Tamar

Tamar — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 16:18:46 +0000

Hi Tim,

I’ve just recently renewed my cedula and although I didn’t use the BCR route and ran into some weird problems (Migracion said I left the country for more then a year, which was not true, and therefore lost my right to hold a cedula) the delivery of my cedula was swift and without any pain.

In the new process you can tell them at which branch of correos de Costa Rica you would like to pick up your cedula. There is no need to hold a apdo. there. The people of EMS bring it to your selected branch and you can pick it up by flashing your ID. Your cedula is trackable through the website of correos so you know that you won’t go to the post office for nothing.

For me this worked out pretty well and I received my new cedula 8 days after my application.

Let’s hope your renewal will work out well too.

Cheers!
- Tamar