Costa Rica: Digital Residency Identity Cards Forthcoming

Starting January 2, 2023, the General Immigration Directorate (DGME) in Costa Rica will start issuing digital Residency Identity Cards (DIMEX), which foreign nationals use as proof of residence status in Costa Rica. The DGME will send foreign nationals their DIMEX via email in PDF form. Beginning January 2, 2023, the digital DIMEX will be the official residence document for foreign nationals. However, during a two-year transitional period, foreign nationals will also continue to receive a physical DIMEX card in addition to the digital DIMEX. The change will not affect current DIMEX holders, who will not be required to take any action until they need to renew their current document. This change is intended to facilitate the digital transformation of the cards and alleviate administrative hurdles resulting from the unprecedented demand for DIMEX cards.