DD-214 / Military Records · Costa Rica
DD-214 / Military Records Apostille for Costa Rica
Route, timeline, translation and price for using a DD-214 / Military Records in Costa Rica — based on the official Hague Convention status table.
Quick answer
Costa Rica accepts a U.S. apostille. Your DD-214 / Military Records needs one apostille from the U.S. Department of State — 10–12 business days with us. Certified Spanish translation required.
- Route
- Apostille — one step
- Hague member since
- 14 December 2011
- Issuing authority
- Department of Defense / National Personnel Records Center
- Translation
- Certified Spanish translation required.
Is Costa Rica a Hague Convention country?
Yes. The Apostille Convention has been in force for Costa Rica since 14 December 2011, and for the United States since 15 October 1981 — so a U.S. apostille is accepted in Costa Rica with no embassy step.
The route to Costa Rica
A DD-214 / Military Records is issued by Department of Defense / National Personnel Records Center, a federal authority, so it is authenticated by the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. — never by a state office. For Costa Rica, that apostille is the finish line.
People most often send documents to Costa Rica for residency, retirement, property. Receiving offices set their own requirements, so confirm what yours asks for — we’ll help you read it.
About the DD-214 / Military Records
How to apostille a DD-214 or military service record for use abroad.
This is one of the documents we can obtain for you. If you don’t have your DD-214 / Military Records yet, we can request it and prepare it for Costa Rica in the same order.
Timeline and price
| Stage | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. Department of State apostille | 10–12 business days | Hand-delivered in Washington, D.C. |
| Certified translation | Alongside | Ordered with the authentication so nothing waits in sequence |
| Return shipping | 1–3 days in the U.S. | Tracked courier; worldwide delivery available |
Price: $299 per document, government fees and U.S. shipping included.
Translation for Costa Rica
Certified Spanish translation required. We coordinate certified translation alongside the authentication so the document arrives ready to file.
How it works
Confirm the route
Tell us you’re sending a DD-214 / Military Records to Costa Rica. We confirm route, price and timing before any payment.
Get the document to us
Ship it to our processing office, or to any of our U.S. offices and we route it internally.
Pre-submission review
We check it against authentication requirements to catch the problems that cause rejections.
Department of State
Hand-delivered to the Office of Authentications in Washington, D.C.
Certified translation
Arranged alongside so it arrives ready to file in Costa Rica.
Delivery
Returned to you by tracked courier, or sent directly to your recipient in Costa Rica.
Sources: HCCH — Apostille Convention status table (updated 30 June 2026) · U.S. Department of State — Authenticate Your Document.
DD-214 / Military Records for Costa Rica — FAQ
Is Costa Rica part of the Hague Apostille Convention?
Yes. The Convention has been in force for Costa Rica since 14 December 2011, so a U.S. apostille is accepted there directly.
How long does it take to prepare a DD-214 / Military Records for Costa Rica?
About 10–12 business days for the U.S. Department of State apostille, plus return shipping. Certified translation runs alongside.
How much does it cost to send a DD-214 / Military Records to Costa Rica?
$299 per document, with government fees and U.S. shipping included. We confirm your exact price before any payment.
Do I need a translation for Costa Rica?
Certified Spanish translation required. We can arrange certified translation with your order.
Can you obtain the DD-214 / Military Records for me?
Yes — we can request it and prepare it for Costa Rica in one order.
Do I have to be in the United States?
No. Most Costa Rica orders are handled entirely by mail, and we can ship the finished document anywhere.
Related: DD-214 / Military Records — full guide · All documents for Costa Rica · Apostille vs. embassy legalization · Why apostilles get rejected
Ready to start?
Order online in minutes, or call and we will walk you through it. Federal documents from anywhere in the U.S. — one flat price, all government fees included.