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NARA Records · Costa Rica

NARA Records Apostille for Costa Rica

Route, timeline, translation and price for using a NARA Records in Costa Rica — based on the official Hague Convention status table.

Quick answer

Costa Rica accepts a U.S. apostille. Your NARA 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
National Archives and Records Administration
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 NARA Records is issued by National Archives and Records Administration, 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 NARA Records

How to apostille National Archives (NARA) records for citizenship by descent, genealogy and historical proof of status.

This is one of the documents we can obtain for you. If you don’t have your NARA Records yet, we can request it and prepare it for Costa Rica in the same order.

A genealogy-site printout won't do. Research sites are for finding records, not proving them. Foreign consulates require the certified copy issued by the National Archives itself.

Timeline and price

StageTimeNotes
U.S. Department of State apostille10–12 business daysHand-delivered in Washington, D.C.
Certified translationAlongsideOrdered with the authentication so nothing waits in sequence
Return shipping1–3 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

  1. Confirm the route

    Tell us you’re sending a NARA Records to Costa Rica. We confirm route, price and timing before any payment.

  2. Get the document to us

    Ship it to our processing office, or to any of our U.S. offices and we route it internally.

  3. Pre-submission review

    We check it against authentication requirements to catch the problems that cause rejections.

  4. Department of State

    Hand-delivered to the Office of Authentications in Washington, D.C.

  5. Certified translation

    Arranged alongside so it arrives ready to file in Costa Rica.

  6. 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.

NARA 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 NARA 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 NARA 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 NARA 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: NARA 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.