The DIMEX is the ID card Costa Rica issues to foreign residents. You get it after immigration approves your residency and you’ve enrolled in the CCSS, the national health and social security system. For most adult residents the card costs about $123 to $128 in government fees, plus a service fee of about $15 to $20 at the bank or post office. Temporary and permanent residents renew it every two to three years, starting up to three months before it expires.
This guide is for expats and future residents who need to get, pay for or renew a DIMEX in Costa Rica. It covers the residency categories that lead to the card, the steps for your first card, current costs, renewals, lost cards and the 2026 delays.
| DIMEX Costa Rica | At a glance |
|---|---|
| What it is | Documento de Identidad Migratorio para Extranjeros, the residency ID card |
| Who gets it | Approved temporary and permanent residents, not tourists |
| Government fee | About $123–$128 for most adults; about $98–$103 for spouses of Costa Ricans and minors |
| Service fee | About $15 at Banco de Costa Rica (BCR), plus delivery; about ₡8,000–₡9,300 at Correos |
| Where | BCR branches, Correos de Costa Rica or DGME, by appointment |
| Renewal | Every two to three years; start up to three months before expiry |
| Late renewal | $3 per month after 30 days; more than three months late goes to DGME only |
The basics
What Is the DIMEX Card in Costa Rica?
DIMEX stands for Documento de Identidad Migratorio para Extranjeros. It’s issued by Costa Rica’s immigration authority, the Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería (DGME), and it’s the foreign resident’s version of the cédula that Costa Rican citizens carry.
The card shows your photo, name, nationality, residency category, expiration date and work permission. Since 2023 it can also be issued as a digital document with an encrypted QR code, and you can carry the PDF on your phone while you wait for the plastic card.
Inside Costa Rica, the DIMEX replaces your passport for everyday use: opening a bank account, signing a lease, registering a car, getting a Costa Rican driver’s license or using the public health system. You still need your passport to leave and enter the country.
Who qualifies
Residency Categories That Lead to a DIMEX
| Category | Main requirement |
|---|---|
| Pensionado (retiree) | A permanent pension of at least $1,000 a month |
| Rentista (fixed income) | At least $2,500 a month guaranteed for two years, or a $60,000 deposit in a Costa Rican bank |
| Inversionista (investor) | An investment of at least $150,000, such as real estate or a business |
| Vínculo (family ties) | Marriage to a Costa Rican, or a first-degree relationship such as being the parent of a Costa Rican child |
| Permanent | Usually after three years of temporary residency, or through a first-degree tie to a citizen |
Pensionado, rentista and inversionista are temporary residencies, normally granted for two years and renewable. After three years of temporary residency you can apply for permanent residency. Citizenship by naturalization usually requires seven years of residency, or five for people born in Spain or Latin America.
Costa Rica’s digital nomad program is a separate, shorter stay and doesn’t follow the same residency path. If you’re still deciding, start with our guide to moving to Costa Rica and our guide to retirement in Costa Rica.
Step by step
How to Get Your First DIMEX
- Get your residency approved. Apply to DGME with your passport, apostilled birth certificate, criminal background check and category documents, translated into Spanish where needed. Approval often takes six to 12 months. Most people hire a lawyer for this stage.
- Receive your approval resolution. DGME issues a resolution approving your residency. Keep the original and copies; you’ll need it for the next steps.
- Enroll in the CCSS (Caja). Residents must join the public health and social security system and pay monthly contributions based on declared income. See our guide to Costa Rica health care and insurance.
- Pay the DIMEX fee. Pay the government fee into the immigration account at Banco de Costa Rica, in the exact name on your resolution, and keep the receipt.
- Book an appointment. Book at a BCR branch by calling 800-227-2482 or through BCR’s booking site, at Correos de Costa Rica through its website, or with DGME by calling 1311 from a Kolbi (ICE) phone in Costa Rica or through the DGME online portal. Service is mostly in Spanish.
- Attend the appointment. Bring your passport, approval resolution, payment receipts and proof of CCSS enrollment. Staff take your photo and fingerprints. Arrive at least 10 minutes early; late arrivals may have to rebook.
- Pick up the card. The official delivery target is about a month at the post office or branch you choose, and you must collect it in person with ID.
Costs
DIMEX Costs in 2026
| Fee | Approximate cost |
|---|---|
| Government fee: pensionados, rentistas, investors, permanent residents | $123–$128 |
| Government fee: spouses of Costa Ricans, refugees, minors | $98–$103 |
| BCR commission | About $15, plus a postal delivery fee |
| Correos service fee | About ₡8,000–₡9,300 ($16–$21) |
| Late renewal fine | $3 per month or part of a month once you’re more than 30 days late |
| Lost or damaged card replacement | About $103 for most categories |
Fees are set in dollars but usually paid in colones at the bank’s exchange rate on the day, and BCR generally takes cash or a BCR card. The figures above are the government fee plus the channel fee; your lawyer, translations, apostilles and CCSS contributions are separate. For a sense of costs in colones, see our guide to currency in Costa Rica.
Renewals
How to Renew Your DIMEX
You can start a renewal up to three months before your card expires. Book early, since appointments fill up and printing has been slow.
Where to renew
- Pensionados and rentistas under 65: usually at BCR or Correos.
- Investors: usually at DGME.
- Residents 65 and older: DGME’s main office in La Uruca, San José, has taken seniors without an appointment on certain weekday mornings, sometimes with same-day cards. Confirm before you go.
- More than three months late: DGME only.
What to bring
- Your passport and current DIMEX
- Payment receipts in the exact name on your DIMEX
- Proof that your CCSS payments are up to date
- Proof you still meet your category, such as pension or income statements, or proof you still own your investment
- Any forms your office requires, signed by hand in ink
If you’re late
Once you’re more than 30 days past expiration, you’ll owe $3 for each month or part of a month. More than three months late, you must renew at DGME with a lawyer’s letter explaining the delay, and your residency itself can be canceled unless you can show you couldn’t renew in time. If you’re more than a year late, expect to need a new background check.
Lost cards
What to Do If You Lose Your DIMEX
A lost or damaged DIMEX is replaced as a duplicate through DGME, for about $103 in most categories. If you lose it within the last 90 days before it expires, it’s handled as a renewal instead. Keep a photo of your card and the digital version on your phone so you have your number and details. If your passport goes missing too, see our guide on what to do if you lose your passport in Costa Rica.
Delays
2026 DIMEX Delays: What to Expect
Costa Rica has had a large DIMEX backlog in 2026. Early in the year, residents reported waits of several months for cards, and thousands of cards were waiting to be printed or delivered. In August the immigration directorate said it had caught up, but delays can return.
- Relaxed documents: from Feb. 16, 2026, to Feb. 16, 2027, DGME accepts an expired but undamaged passport or residence card for renewals, and no longer requires employer letters.
- Booking protects you: under a 2026 immigration circular, a booked renewal appointment keeps your card valid until the appointment date. Keep the booking confirmation with you.
- Faster printing at some branches: since March 2026, some BCR branches can print cards at the appointment for complete renewals and replacements.
Avoid these
Common DIMEX Mistakes
- Paying the fee under a name that doesn’t exactly match your resolution or DIMEX.
- Falling behind on CCSS payments, which blocks renewals.
- Waiting until the card expires to book a renewal.
- Bringing digitally signed forms when a handwritten signature is required.
Once you’re settled, see our guides to the marchamo (annual vehicle fee) and buying real estate safely in Costa Rica. Not a resident yet? Read our Costa Rica visa run guide and passport tips.
FAQ
DIMEX Costa Rica FAQ
What is a DIMEX in Costa Rica?
The DIMEX is the identity card Costa Rica issues to foreign residents. It shows your residency category, expiration date and work permission, and replaces your passport for everyday use inside the country.
How much does a DIMEX cost?
About $123 to $128 in government fees for most adult residents, or about $98 to $103 for spouses of Costa Ricans and minors, plus a service fee of about $15 to $20 at BCR or Correos.
How long is a DIMEX valid?
Usually two to three years for both temporary and permanent residents, depending on your category and renewal.
When should I renew my DIMEX?
You can start up to three months before it expires. After 30 days past expiration you owe $3 per month, and after three months you must renew at DGME with a lawyer’s letter.
Where do I renew my DIMEX?
At a Banco de Costa Rica branch, Correos de Costa Rica or DGME, by appointment. Investors and anyone more than three months late generally go to DGME.
Do I need CCSS to get or renew a DIMEX?
Yes, for most categories. You must be enrolled in the CCSS and up to date on payments.
The short version
The DIMEX is your residency ID; you get it after approval and CCSS enrollment.
Budget about $123–$128 plus a $15–$20 service fee for most adults, and pay in your exact name.
Book renewals up to three months early and keep your CCSS payments current.