Embassy of the United States San Jose, Costa Rica

All routine services, including passport renewal or replacement, are available by APPOINTMENT ONLY.

We are pleased to offer an online appointment system for your convenience. Please review the information below and then click here to make a passport appointment.

STEP 1: Complete Form DS-11: Application For A U.S. Passport

Complete Form DS-11: Application for a U.S. Passport. To submit Form DS-11, the minor: 

• Must apply in person with both parents/guardian(s) 
• Must provide the additional documentation required by Form DS-11 (See Steps 2-6) 
• Must provide a social security number (SSN) in accordance with 26 U.S.C. 6039E 
• Should bring a series of age progression photos from the date the child’s previous passport was issued to the present.

STEP 2: Submit Evidence of U.S. Citizenship

The minor's evidence of U.S. citizenship must be submitted with Form DS-11. All documentation submitted as citizenship evidence will be returned to you. 

Evidence of U.S. Citizenship (one of the following):

• Previously issued, undamaged U.S. passport
• Certified birth certificate issued by the city, county or state*
• Consular Report of Birth Abroad or Certification of Birth
• Naturalization Certificate
• Certificate of Citizenship 

*A certified birth certificate has a registrar's raised, embossed, impressed or multicolored seal, registrar's signature, and the date the certificate was filed with the registrar's office, which must be within 1 year of your birth. Some short (abstract) versions of birth certificates may not be acceptable for passport purposes. 

STEP 3: Submit Evidence of Relationship

Parent(s)/Guardian(s) must submit evidence of their relationship to the minor applicant. 

Evidence of Relationship (one of the following):

• Minor's certified U.S. birth certificate with both parents' names
• Minor's certified Foreign Birth Certificate with both parents' names*
• Minor's Report of Birth Abroad with both parents' names 
• Adoption Decree with adopting parents' names*
• Court Order establishing custody 
• Court Order establishing guardianship 

*All foreign documents submitted with a passport application must be accompanied by an English translation (formal or informal).

STEP 4: Present Identification of Parent(s)/Guardian(s)

Both parent(s)/guardian(s) must present acceptable photo identification. 

Identification (one of the following):

• Previously issued, undamaged U.S. passport
• Naturalization Certificate
• Valid Driver's License
• Current Government Employee ID (city, state or federal)
• Current Military ID (military and dependents) 

Evidence of a legal name change must be submitted if the name of a parent/guardian has changed since the original documents were issued (e.g. photocopy of a marriage certificate, etc.).

STEP 5: Provide Parental Consent

Both parents must provide consent authorizing passport issuance for a minor under age 16. See the scenarios below, and follow the instructions that best apply to your circumstance: 

Both parents MUST:

• Appear in person with the minor 
• Sign Form DS-11 in front of the Consular Officer/Associate 

One parent MUST:

• Appear in person with the minor 
• Sign Form DS-11 in front of a Consular Officer/Associate 
• Submit the second parent’s notarized Statement of Consent (Form DS-3053) 

One Parent (with sole legal custody) MUST:

• Appear in person with the minor Sign Form DS-11 in front of a Consular Officer/Associate

Submit primary evidence of sole authority to apply for the child with one of the following: 

• Minor's certified U.S. or foreign birth certificate listing only the applying parent 
• Consular Report of Birth Abroad (Form FS-240) or Certification of Birth Abroad (Form DS-1350) listing only the applying parent 
• Court order granting sole custody to the applying parent (unless child's travel is restricted by that order) 
• Adoption decree (if applying parent is sole adopting parent) 
• Court order specifically permitting applying parent's or guardian's travel with the child 
• Judicial declaration of incompetence of non-applying parent 
• Death certificate of non-applying parent 

IMPORTANT NOTE: The written consent from the non-applying parent that accompanies an application for a new passport must be less than 3 months old. New written consent from the non-applying parent must be obtained and submitted with any future passport application for the minor under age 16. 

STEP 6: Provide Two Passport Photos

Submit two, 2x2 inch, color photographs, taken within the last six months. The image size measured from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head (including hair) should not be less than 1 inch, and not more than 1-3/8 inches. The photographs must be in color, clear, with a full front view of the face, and printed on thin paper with plain light (white or off-white) background. The photographs must be taken in normal street attire, without a hat, head covering or dark glasses, unless a signed statement is submitted by the applicant verifying the item is worn daily for religious purposes or a signed doctor’s statement is submitted verifying the item is used daily for medical purposes. Photographs retouched so that the appearance is changed are unacceptable.

Photographs can be taken  at the Embassy’s Consular Section for a small fee. 

STEP 7: Pay the Applicable Fee

Child passport (under 16 years old) $105

Child passport card $40

Payment is due at the time the application is submitted, and is payable by credit or cash, dollars or colones. The fees above include any applicable passport processing, execution and security fees. By law these fees are NON-REFUNDABLE.

Click here to make a passport appointment.