# Ordinary naturalisation by official residence

The ordinary residence route generally requires seven official years, reduced to five for specified birth-nationality cohorts. Spanish and civic knowledge, conduct, means of life and declarations remain distinct requirements with documented test exemptions.

Scope: Adult ordinary naturalisation by residence under Law 1155 and TSE regulation, excluding marriage, birth-registration and honorary routes.

Jurisdiction: Costa Rica — Constitution, TSE and Registro Civil. Sources reviewed 2026-09-22; review due 2026-12-21.

General information, not legal advice or a finding of eligibility. Requirements depend on the route, applicant and filing date. Verify the official instructions before applying.

## Seven years, or five for specified origins

Ordinary applicants need seven years of official residence. The period is five for nationals by birth of other Central American countries, Spain or Ibero-American countries; naturalised nationals of those countries remain in the seven-year cohort.

Evidence: conditional. [Tribunal Supremo de Elecciones: Political Constitution — current TSE consolidation](https://www.tse.go.cr/pdf/normativa/constitucion.pdf); [Tribunal Supremo de Elecciones: Naturalisation regulation — Decree 12-2012 and amendments](https://www.tse.go.cr/pdf/normativa/reglamentorelativotramitesnaturalizacion.pdf). Source location: Constitution Article 14(2)–(3), printed p.5; Regulation Article 9(b.1)–(b.2), printed p.9..

## Status and actual residence are checked

The calculation begins with grant of the relevant immigration status; migration records and supplementary evidence establish residence. In principle, an absence exceeding three months interrupts the count and it restarts on re-entry, but the regulation requires consideration of the particular case.

Evidence: conditional. [Tribunal Supremo de Elecciones: Naturalisation regulation — Decree 12-2012 and amendments](https://www.tse.go.cr/pdf/normativa/reglamentorelativotramitesnaturalizacion.pdf). Source location: Articles 11 and 115(a), (b), (i), printed pp.10, 54–55..

## Spanish, history and values with exemptions

Applicants normally demonstrate speaking, reading and writing Spanish and knowledge of Costa Rican history and values through Ministry of Education exams or recognised Costa Rican studies. TSE lists exemptions for older adults and medically certified permanent health or cognitive impediments that prevent testing. No CEFR level is specified.

Evidence: conditional. [Tribunal Supremo de Elecciones: Naturalisation by residence — Law 1155 requirements](https://tse.go.cr/infoconsuladostse/Requisitos/Naturalizaci%C3%B3n%20por%20residencia%20(Ley%201155).pdf). Source location: Naturalisation by residence requirements, item 7, printed p.3..

## Conduct, means and background evidence

Good conduct and a known occupation or means of support are required. The procedure calls for two witnesses and documentary means-of-life evidence, together with the applicable foreign criminal-record certificate and a declaration concerning repeated contraventions.

Evidence: conditional. [Tribunal Supremo de Elecciones: Political Constitution — current TSE consolidation](https://www.tse.go.cr/pdf/normativa/constitucion.pdf); [Tribunal Supremo de Elecciones: Naturalisation by residence — Law 1155 requirements](https://tse.go.cr/infoconsuladostse/Requisitos/Naturalizaci%C3%B3n%20por%20residencia%20(Ley%201155).pdf). Source location: Constitution Article 15, printed p.6; requirements items 5–6, 8 and 10, printed pp.2–4..

## Renunciation wording and acquired nationality differ

The application must promise continued regular, stable residence, swear respect for the constitutional order, and declare renunciation of former nationality unless a dual-nationality treaty applies. Separately, Costa Rican nationality is constitutionally non-losable and non-renounceable. The declaration's foreign-law effect is not established by those provisions.

Evidence: conditional. [Tribunal Supremo de Elecciones: Naturalisation regulation — Decree 12-2012 and amendments](https://www.tse.go.cr/pdf/normativa/reglamentorelativotramitesnaturalizacion.pdf); [Tribunal Supremo de Elecciones: Political Constitution — current TSE consolidation](https://www.tse.go.cr/pdf/normativa/constitucion.pdf). Source location: Regulation Articles 7 and 8(h)–(j), printed pp.7–8; Constitution Articles 15–16, printed p.6..

## Scope and limitations

- Official residence and demonstrated continuity are not represented as merely holding a permanent permit or accumulating tourist visits.
- The exam-exemption summary follows TSE's current requirements sheet; the regulation's Article 124 uses the wording mayor de 65 años, so an exact birthday boundary is not simplified here.
- No CEFR level or universal waiver for all Spanish speakers is inferred.
- The renunciation declaration is stated as the regulation's requirement, not as a conclusion that another nationality is automatically lost.

## Explore this passport

- [Passport rank and travel access](https://multipassrank.com/passport/costa-rica)
- [Tax residence & income](https://multipassrank.com/passport/costa-rica/taxes)
- [Country-profile JSON, including sources and scoped requirements](https://multipassrank.com/api/v1/country-profiles/CR)
- [Multiple-citizenship policy guide](https://multipassrank.com/dual-citizenship-countries)

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