If you lose your passport in Costa Rica, do three things: file a police report (denuncia) with the OIJ, Costa Rica’s judicial investigation police; contact your country’s embassy in San José; and tell your airline before you fly. U.S. citizens report the loss on form DS-64 and apply for a replacement on form DS-11 at the U.S. Embassy in Pavas, San José. An adult passport book costs $165, and an emergency passport can often be issued quickly if you have travel booked soon.
This guide is for travelers and expats whose passport has been lost or stolen in Costa Rica. It covers the police report, what to bring to the embassy, costs and timing, getting money if your wallet went too, and how to keep it from happening again.
| Lost passport in Costa Rica | At a glance |
|---|---|
| Police report | File a denuncia at an OIJ office; Tourist Police can help you start |
| U.S. Embassy | Calle 98, Vía 104, Pavas, San José; +506 2519-2000; after-hours emergencies +506 2220-3127 |
| U.S. forms | DS-64 (report the loss) and DS-11 (apply for a new passport) |
| U.S. fee | $165 for an adult passport book ($130 application + $35 execution) |
| Fast option | Emergency (limited-validity) passport if you need to travel soon |
| Other nationalities | Contact your own embassy or consulate; most are in San José |
Step 1
File a Police Report in Costa Rica
If your passport was stolen, file a report, called a denuncia, with the OIJ (Organismo de Investigación Judicial). The OIJ only investigates crimes when the victim files a report, and you’ll need the case number for travel insurance claims and to ask airlines to waive rebooking fees. You can find OIJ offices through the OIJ CR Safe app. In an emergency, call 911.
The Tourist Police can help you get started at their office in central San José, at the airports and at several beaches. If you simply lost the passport, a report is still useful as proof, and some embassies ask for one.
Step 2
Contact Your Embassy in San José
Almost every country with an embassy in Costa Rica has it in San José. Call or check your embassy’s website before you go, since many only see citizens by appointment.
U.S. citizens
The U.S. Embassy is in Pavas, on the west side of San José, at Calle 98, Vía 104. The main number is +506 2519-2000, and the after-hours emergency line is +506 2220-3127. Check the embassy’s website at cr.usembassy.gov for current appointment rules and hours before you go.
You’ll report the lost passport on form DS-64 and apply for a new one on form DS-11. Fill them out ahead of time if you can.
Other nationalities
Canada, the United Kingdom and many European and Latin American countries have embassies or consulates in San José. Each sets its own forms, fees and processing times. If your country has no office in Costa Rica, its embassy in a nearby country usually covers Costa Rica.
Step 3
What to Bring to the Embassy
Requirements vary by country. For a U.S. replacement, bring:
| Item | Notes |
|---|---|
| Forms DS-64 and DS-11 | Completed but not signed; you sign the DS-11 in front of a consular officer |
| Passport photo | One photo that meets U.S. passport photo rules |
| Photo ID | A driver’s license or other government ID, if you still have it |
| Proof of citizenship | A copy of your lost passport, a birth certificate or other proof |
| Travel plans | Your flight booking, especially if you need an emergency passport |
| Police report | Your OIJ denuncia and case number, if you filed one |
| Payment | Check accepted payment methods with the embassy |
Embassies have strict security screening. Leave bags, laptops, food and anything sharp at your hotel, and check the embassy’s rules on phones.
Costs and timing
How Long It Takes and What It Costs
- U.S. adult passport book: $165, made up of the $130 application fee and the $35 execution fee. Fees for children and other nationalities differ.
- Emergency passport: if you have a flight coming up, ask about a limited-validity emergency passport, which is usually much faster. It’s meant to get you home or on to your next stop, and you’ll replace it with a full passport later.
- Full-validity passport: takes longer because it’s printed outside Costa Rica, so plan on waiting weeks rather than days if you go this route.
Ask the embassy to confirm current fees and timing, and keep receipts. Some travel insurance policies cover replacement costs and extra nights; see our guide to travel insurance for Costa Rica.
Before you fly
Leaving Costa Rica With a New Passport
Your new passport won’t show the stamp from when you entered Costa Rica. Before your flight, ask your embassy if you need anything from Migración (DGME), Costa Rica’s immigration agency, and carry your police report, flight details and a copy of the old passport to the airport. Tell your airline about the new passport number before check-in.
You’ll still need proof of onward travel and a stay within the days you were granted. Our guides to Costa Rica’s onward ticket rules and the Costa Rica airport guide cover the basics.
Money
If Your Wallet and Cards Are Gone Too
- Cancel your cards right away using your bank’s international number or app.
- Get money sent: family or friends can send funds by a money-transfer service such as Western Union for pickup in Costa Rica. You’ll need ID to collect it, so ask the service what it accepts if your passport is gone.
- Ask about embassy help: U.S. citizens who are crime victims can ask the embassy for help contacting family and arranging funds.
- Stay near the embassy: if you need a place to stay in San José, see our guide to hotels in San José. Taxis and Uber are the easiest way to reach Pavas.
Once you have cash and cards again, see our guide to money in Costa Rica.
Prevention
How to Avoid Losing Your Passport in Costa Rica
- Leave the original in your hotel safe and carry a copy of the photo page and your entry stamp. The U.S. State Department advises carrying copies of your ID and immigration papers, but authorities can ask for the original, so keep it where you can get it.
- Never leave it in a car. Car break-ins are common at beaches, trailheads and viewpoints, even when bags are in the trunk.
- Don’t carry it in a back pocket or an outside bag pocket on buses or in crowds.
- Save digital copies of your passport, driver’s license and travel insurance.
- Check your passport’s validity before you go. See our passport tips for Costa Rica.
For more, read our guides to staying safe in Costa Rica and Costa Rica travel tips.
FAQ
Lost Passport in Costa Rica FAQ
What should I do first if I lose my passport in Costa Rica?
File a police report (denuncia) with the OIJ if it was stolen, then contact your embassy in San José. U.S. citizens can call the U.S. Embassy at +506 2519-2000.
Where is the U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica?
In Pavas, San José, at Calle 98, Vía 104. Check its website for appointment rules and hours before you go.
How much does it cost to replace a U.S. passport in Costa Rica?
$165 for an adult passport book: a $130 application fee plus a $35 execution fee. Confirm current fees with the embassy.
Can I get an emergency passport in Costa Rica?
Yes, if you need to travel soon. Ask your embassy about a limited-validity emergency passport, and bring proof of your upcoming flight.
Do I need a police report to replace my passport?
Not always, but it helps. You’ll need one for insurance claims, and some embassies ask for it.
Do I have to carry my passport in Costa Rica?
Carry copies of your passport photo page and entry stamp. Authorities can ask for the original, so keep it somewhere safe and easy to reach.
The short version
File an OIJ report, contact your embassy in San José and tell your airline.
U.S. citizens: forms DS-64 and DS-11, $165 for an adult passport, emergency passports for urgent travel.
Next time: original in the safe, copies on you, scans in the cloud.