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[Please refer to How to Read a Country Entry for help interpreting this material. It was produced prior to March 2001 as part of a US government report entitled Citizenship Laws of the World. The accuracy and depth of these country listings varies significantly, and some information may be incorrect. At best, this page presents only part of the story for a particular country. Additional information for this country may be available in Country Information]

COSTA RICA

CITIZENSHIP: Citizenship law is based upon the Constitution of Costa Rica.

BY BIRTH: Child born within the territory of Costa Rica, regardless of the nationality of the parents.

BY DESCENT: Child born abroad, at least one of whose parents is a citizen of Costa Rica.

BY NATURALIZATION: The following categories of people are eligible to become naturalized Costa Rican citizens: Central Americans, Spaniards, and Latin Americans, (all categories by birth) who have resided in the country for at least five years. Central Americans, Spaniards, and Latin Americans, other than by birth, as well as other foreign nationals, who have resided in the country for at least seven years. Foreign woman who has married a citizen of Costa Rica and either has lost her own citizenship or simply seeks to apply for Costa Rican citizenship.

DUAL CITIZENSHIP: RECOGNIZED A Costa Rican woman who marries a foreign national will not lose her citizenship even if such a loss is required by the husband's country.

LOSS OF CITIZENSHIP: NOT RECOGNIZED As of June 6, 1995, Articles 16 and 17 of the Costa Rican Political Constitution were modified; as modified, the Constitution mandates that there are no grounds for loss of Costa Rican citizenship regardless of any voluntary or involuntary reason to renounce it. (Such reasons would be those of another nation.)

ANY QUESTIONS concerning citizenship, or requests for renunciation of citizenship, should be directed to the address below:

Embassy of Costa Rica Consular Section 2112 S Street, NW Washington, DC 20008

Embassy Telephone: 202-234-2945/46/47 Consular Telephone: 202-328-6628 Fax: 202-265-4795

www.costarica.com/embassy

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