Costa Rica cuts DIMEX backlog 85% with simplified residence rules

Four-month waits hit DIMEX issuance

Costa Rica's immigration agency, the Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería (DGME), has acknowledged backlogs of up to four months for issuing and renewing DIMEX residence cards, the identification document most foreign residents rely on for legal status. Specialist firms tracking the queue report Temporary Residence holders waiting roughly four months from their DIMEX appointment, with Permanent Residence and Special Category applicants facing three months or more, per Fragomen.

DGME responded with resolution DJUR-0045-02-2026, a temporary simplification of DIMEX requirements running from Feb. 16, 2026 through Feb. 16, 2027. First-time issuance, renewals and duplicates now require only proof of active CCSS (CAJA) coverage, proof of the required payments and the informed consent form. Other ancillary documents are waived for the duration. DGME said the measure has cut its DIMEX delivery backlog by roughly 85%, though processing times remain stretched.

Residents and nomads in the queue

Temporary residents on pensionado, rentista, investor and worker categories feel the squeeze most directly, alongside Permanent Residence and Special Category holders who depend on DIMEX as their main ID. Digital nomads processed under estancia and similar short-stay regimes are in the same queue, with approvals often issued well before the physical card arrives.

Tourists on visa-exempt entries aren't affected because they don't hold DIMEX. Anyone planning to switch from tourist to resident or nomad status inside the country should expect longer total timelines between filing and card pickup.

Renewing without falling out of status

DIMEX can be renewed up to three months before the printed expiry date and late renewals trigger monthly surcharges. Appointments are booked through Banco de Costa Rica or Correos de Costa Rica branches, with DGME offices handling over-65 applicants and heavily overdue cases.

The standard government fee runs about $120 to $125, plus bank commission and shipping, bringing the total to roughly $140 to $150 per person at BCR. During delivery gaps, residents should keep application receipts, approval notices and any DGME circulars extending validity on hand when dealing with banks, employers or border officials. DGME publishes updates to its circulars and Facebook channel regularly, so check those before assuming an expired card means lost status.

Read our full Costa Rica guide for the complete picture.