Keeping your passport secure

Costa Rican authorities used to require foreigners to carry their original passports on them at all times. Because of the large number of thefts of foreign passports in Costa Rica, however, the Costa Rican immigration authority (Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería) now permits foreign tourists to carry just a copy of their passports on their persons as they tour Costa Rica, allowing them to leave the original passports in a secure location (e.g., a hotel safe). 

The U.S. Embassy recommends that tourists carry with them a clear, legible photocopy of the biographic-data page of the passport, and of the page showing the Costa Rican entry stamp, when they are touring. The original passport must be easily accessible to the tourist, however, if Costa Rican officials request to see it. 

Please note that a photocopy of a passport may not be used to enter or exit Costa Rica, as the original passport must be presented to Costa Rican immigration officers upon entry or exit. 

Returning a found U.S. passports, at no cost to you: 

In order to simplify the return to the U.S. Embassy of U.S. passports found in Costa Rica, the U.S. Embassy and DHL have initiated a new program. Starting January 20th 2005, any person who finds a U.S. passport can return it to the Embassy in San Jose via DHL express mail service.

This is a free service. DHL facilities throughout Costa Rica will pack, address and send the document to the Embassy. This means that the only thing that the person who finds the passport will have to do is take it to DHL. The company will take care of the rest of the process. DHL’s offices in Costa Rica are as follows:

DHL Offices in Costa Rica:

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