Costa Rican passport
A Costa Rican passport is an identity document issued to Costa Rican citizens to travel outside Costa Rica. Currently, it is valid for 6 years. It is issued to people born on Costa Rican soil, and to children of Costa Rican citizens born abroad, who are reported to the nearest Costa Rican consulate. Children born overseas to a Costa Rican citizen are Costa Rican by birth, not by naturalisation, as stated in the Constitution of Costa Rica.
As of 1 October 2019, Costa Rican citizens had visa-free or visa on arrival access to 150 countries and territories, ranking the Costa Rican passport 27th overall and first among Central American countries, in terms of travel freedom according to the Henley Passport Index.
In 2017, the Costa Rican government confirmed plans to begin issuing biometric passports by 2020. Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic the government of Costa Rica postponed the plans until 2022.
As of early 2022 the Costa Rican government began issuing the new biometric passports. The new passports showcase four important elements of the country: Biodiversity, Renewable Energy, Education and Peace, and Talent.