Costa Rica: Potential Fraud and Technical Issues with General Immigration Directorate’s Website May Cause Delays

Update - April 2, 2025: The DGME has reactivated its website, once again allowing foreign nationals and authorized third parties to book appointments online. Available services include appointments for updating local Identity Cards, submitting immigration applications on behalf of accredited companies, and following up on pending applications, among others. The DGME’s online visa application system (TramiteYa!) remains offline until further notice.

March 12, 2025: The DGME's website remains down, but alternative mechanisms have been established to request appointments. Foreign nationals and authorized third parties can now book immigration service appointments through the Costa Rican Post Office's website or via email to the DGME, depending on the specific service required. Applicants should work with their immigration professional for case-specific advice.

December 13, 2024:  Further to the below, the DGME has shut down its online visa application system (called TramiteYa!) until further notice. As a result, foreign nationals cannot currently apply for initial visas online (including Short-Term Visas and accredited company residence applications). However, they can apply in person at a DGME office instead, sometimes without an appointment. The DGME has further announced that foreign nationals who already submitted a registration/affiliation application through the platform (which is a pre-approval process before submitting immigration applications online) but have not had their affiliation approved should visit the DGME office as soon as possible with printed proof of the affiliation application and their visa application documentation. Employers and foreign nationals should work with their immigration professionals for case-specific advice.  

December 6, 2024: The Costa Rican General Immigration Directorate’s website is temporarily down as a preventive measure due to cybersecurity breaches, with no clear date for resolution. The DGME has warned about the circulation of fraudulent emails purporting to be from its officials and advised that it is not currently contacting individuals by email, phone, or WhatsApp. While the website is down, foreign nationals and authorized third parties cannot book appointments online for several immigration services (including updating local Identity Cards, filing immigration applications on behalf of accredited companies, and following up on filed applications, among others) or verifying digital Identity Cards online. Alternatively, applicants may be eligible to book an appointment by phone (dialing 1311); however, phone appointments are unavailable for some immigration services – for example, updating local Identity Cards or following up on filed applications. As a result, affected applicants should expect delays until the website is back online. Fragomen is actively monitoring the website and contacting affected clients and will report on relevant updates as they occur.