Costa Rica as a government has in the last few years worked to improve its processes in preventing child abductions. This is obviously a good thing! The primary target of Costa Rica law is men leaving the country with minor children.

Entry into Costa Rica as a male with a minor child or children is not an issue.  However, when a male attempts to leave Costa Rica with a minor the authorities will often challenge for adequate proof that the mother has granted permission for the minor to travel with the person on that specific travel date.

As a full-time father living here in Costa Rica, ensuring I could enter and most importantly exit Costa Rica with my child was a priority prior to my move. Now that my 12 year old daughter from a previous marriage is set to visit me and my son here in Costa Rica during her U.S. Summer vacation … it was again a priority to ensure proper documentation is brought so that parental rights and permission to travel are clearly established.

For these reasons, I recommend any adult have the following documentation on hand for each minor child traveling to Costa Rica:

1. Passport - current/valid.

2. Birth Certificate - original.

   • Best if authenticated by both the issuing State's Secretary of State and regional Costa Rica Consulate.

3. Letter of Consent for International Travel - original & notarized less than 30 days prior to travel.
   (click here for a sample Letter of Consent)

   • Consent should be from both parents establishing permission to travel with a certain person(s) for specific destinations on specified dates.

   • An English and Spanish version is always a good idea when traveling to Costa Rica or any other Spanish speaking country.

   • Best if authenticated by both the issuing State's Secretary of State and regional Costa Rica Consulate.

Having the Birth Certificate and Letter of Consent establishes both the identity of the parents as well as the permission to travel.  Even if the minor is traveling to Costa Rica with both parents, I recommend these documents ... just in case one parent does not accompany the other at the time of exit (ie: unexpected delay, illness, one parent must return home to attend to business or family matters, etc.).

The father of a native/naturalized Costa Rica minor can obtain permanent permission to travel outside of Costa Rica with his child or children by obtaining a 'Permission to Leave with Minor Child' or "Permiso de Salida de Personas Menores de Edad" issued by the Costa Rica Ministerio de Gobernación y Policia's Dirección General de Migración y Extranjeria, Departamento de Migraciones / Gestión Subproceso de Personas Menores ... or 'Immigration' for short ;o)

In order to obtain this permanent 'permission' designation, a legal document must be drafted by a Costa Rica attorney.  Then both the mother and father must present the document to Costa Rica Migración for review and approval. 

"Permiso de Salida de Personas Menores de Edad" passport stamp available to native
and naturalized Costa Rica minor children for permanent exit travel with their fathers.

Once approved, the "Permiso de Salida" is entered into the Costa Rica Migración computers as well as stamped into the minor's Costa Rica passport.  With this permanent 'permission' established, a father can exit Costa Rica with the child without the mother being present or needing to grant trip specific permission.  Again, this option is only available for native/naturalized Costa Rica minor children.

Parents with sole custody that cannot locate the other parent or those that will have regular Costa Rica travel with a minor child that is not a Costa Rica citizen should contact the Costa Rica Consulate and/or a Costa Rica attorney for specific requirements given their exact situation.

It is my hope that all travelers with minor children enjoy the many wonders that Costa Rica has to offer ... knowing that only authorized family representatives can exit the country with those same children that just had the opportunity to experience some !Pura Vida!