If you plan to use Canadian-issued documents in Costa Rica, they typically must be authenticated through the apostille process under the Hague Apostille Convention.
Since both Canada and Costa Rica are members of the Apostille Convention, Canadian documents generally require only an apostille to be legally recognized in Costa Rica, eliminating the need for embassy or consular legalization.
Apostilles are issued by the competent authority, depending on where the document was issued or notarized. Provincial authorities issue apostilles for documents issued or notarized within their jurisdiction, while documents issued by the federal government are apostilled by Global Affairs Canada.
Processing methods, payment requirements, and timelines vary by province. Some offices accept in-person applications, while others require mail submission.
Once a document has been apostilled, it is generally accepted in Costa Rica without further legalization, although acceptance remains subject to the receiving authority's requirements.
Depending on the purpose, documents may also need to be translated into Spanish. In some cases, translations must be completed by an officially recognized or certified translator, as required by the relevant authority in Costa Rica.
If you want to prevent delays and errors while preparing documents for use in Costa Rica, you should work with someone who is familiar with the specific criteria for each document type and can walk you through the entire process. Please do not hesitate to
contact me if you need assistance.