Moving to Spain from Costa Rica

Costa Rica has an easy migration relationship with Spain: visa-free entry, a dual nationality treaty and, since 2020, driving licence exchange. Most Costa Ricans who move do so to study, work remotely or for family reasons. Here is how people usually make the move and what to prepare before leaving.

Key facts

• Entry: Costa Rican passport holders can stay in the Schengen area visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. This does not allow work and does not, on its own, let you settle.
• Citizenship: as a national of an Ibero-American country you can apply for Spanish citizenship after 2 years of legal, continuous residence. The 1964 dual nationality treaty lets you keep Costa Rican nationality.
• Documents: Costa Rica is party to the Hague Convention, so an apostille is enough and no translation is needed.
• Driving: an exchange agreement has been in force since 2020. Once resident you can drive for six months on your Costa Rican licence and exchange it without a test for cars and motorcycles.

How people usually move

• Studies. A master’s, PhD, degree or vocational course with a student visa; it allows work up to 30 hours a week. Time as a student does not count towards the 2 years for citizenship. Study permit
• Remote work. The digital nomad visa suits people working remotely for companies or clients outside Spain, with a relationship of at least three months. Digital nomad
• Skilled work. A highly qualified professional permit, EU Blue Card or a job offer from a Spanish company. Highly qualified professional
• Family. Marriage or registered partnership with a Spanish or EU citizen. Family member of a Spanish or EU citizen
• Spanish parent. If your father or mother is Spanish by origin and born in Spain, you can opt for citizenship with no residence period. The grandchildren route under the Democratic Memory Law closed in October 2025. If you were born outside Spain and your father, mother, grandfather or grandmother was originally Spanish, you can apply for citizenship by residence after just 1 year of legal, continuous residence. Spanish citizenship

Documents and apostille

• Criminal record certificate (Certificación de Antecedentes Penales) from the Registro Judicial (Judiciary), in its version for international use. You request it online or at the Registro Judicial office in San José; from abroad, a representative can handle it. It usually has to be recent.
• Birth and marriage certificates from the Civil Registry (Tribunal Supremo de Elecciones), apostilled.
• Apostille: issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Worship. Since September 2026 an electronic apostille is available for many public documents; check whether yours is included or whether you need the in-person procedure.
• University degrees and transcripts, apostilled, if you will study or have your degree recognised in Spain.
• Driving licence, valid: you will need it for the exchange at the DGT once you are resident.

What to keep in mind

• The Consular Section of the Spanish Embassy in San José is the only career consular office and covers all of Costa Rica. Check its website for the visa appointment system and each visa’s document list.
• Apply for national visas well in advance and bring every document apostilled and recent: an expired certificate means starting again.
• If you plan to apply for citizenship, keep proof of continuous legal residence (TIE, padrón, contracts) from day one: the 2 years run from when you obtain residence, not from arrival.
• In Spain: register at the town hall (padrón) and, if you came with a residence or student visa, apply for your TIE within the first month.

Frequently asked questions

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