Foreigners seeking to settle in Costa Rica in 2026 face significant delays in obtaining their DIMEX cards, impacting daily life and administrative processes, despite recent efforts to modernise and streamline the system.
For foreigners trying to settle in Costa Rica in 2026, the immigration process has often demanded more than paperwork: it has required patience. Applicants are facing delays both in the decision-making stage for residency files and again after approval, when they wait for the DIMEX card, the identity document that proves foreign-resident status. The Tico Times reported that these delays are affecting retirees, remote workers, investors and families alike, with knock-on effects for banking, licensing, healthcare registration and other routine tasks.
The scale of the problem has been substantial. Costa Rica’s immigration authority, the General Directorate of Migration and Foreign Affairs, acknowledged in Resolution DJUR-0045-02-2026-JM that operational overload, staffing constraints, incomplete applications and wider administrative bottlenecks have all contributed to the slowdown. Industry updates from immigration advisers in February and March 2026 said temporary residents were seeing waits of up to four months for DIMEX issuance, while permanent residents and special-category applicants were also encountering extended timelines. Other reports put the backlog at more than 20,000 pending DIMEX cases, with some applicants still waiting on documents filed in late 2025.
The delays have not been limited to card delivery. According to Fragomen and other immigration advisers, Costa Rican authorities introduced temporary measures to ease pressure on the system, including simplified document checks for certain DIMEX procedures and acceptance of expired passports, expired DIMEX cards or valid Costa Rican driving licences where the personal details match the immigration file and the document remains in good condition. The aim, according to those updates, has been to keep cases moving while reducing unnecessary administrative friction.
There have also been signs that officials are trying to modernise the process. In March 2026, the General Directorate of Migration and Foreign Affairs signed an agreement with Banco de Costa Rica that could eventually allow some branches to validate applicants’ information and print DIMEX cards directly. Fragomen reported that the arrangement would cover approved renewals, duplicates and some first-time applicants, with the possibility of same-day card delivery at designated branches. That change, if fully implemented, would shift part of the workload away from the central immigration office and could help shorten waiting times.
For residents, however, the practical problem remains immediate. Without the physical card, people can still encounter difficulties with travel, bank transactions, driver’s licence procedures and other everyday formalities. Immigration lawyers quoted in the updates stressed an important distinction: a missing card does not necessarily mean a person has lost legal status. In many cases, appointment confirmations, approval resolutions and payment receipts can serve as evidence that the application remains active and valid.
For anyone planning a move to Costa Rica, the message is clear: prepare carefully, keep every receipt and filing, and expect delays. The country remains attractive to international residents for its stability, healthcare and quality of life, but the residency system in 2026 has been strained enough that even straightforward cases may take far longer than in the past.
Source Reference Map
Inspired by headline at: [1]
Sources by paragraph:
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– Paragraph 2: [1], [3], [4], [6]
– Paragraph 3: [2], [3], [4]
– Paragraph 4: [5], [7]
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Source: Noah Wire Services
Verification / Sources
- https://ticotimes.net/2026/06/18/costa-rica-residency-delays-in-2026-what-foreign-residents-should-expect – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://www.fragomen.com/insights/costa-rica-processing-delays-for-residence-card-issuance.html – This article discusses the ongoing delays in the issuance of DIMEX residence cards in Costa Rica as of February 24, 2026. The General Immigration Directorate (DGME) has acknowledged these disruptions and introduced temporary measures to mitigate their impact. These measures include accepting expired passports, expired DIMEX cards, or valid Costa Rican driver’s licenses for DIMEX-related procedures, provided the biographical details match those in the individual’s immigration file and the document is in good condition. The article also notes that processing times have worsened for certain categories, now reaching approximately four months for Temporary Residence holders. Foreign nationals affected by these delays are advised to consult their immigration professionals for case-specific advice. (fragomen.com)
- https://publicaciones.bdsasesores.com/en-us/blog/delays-in-the-issuance-of-dimex-cards-in-costa-rica – This article highlights the significant delays in the issuance of the Immigration Identity Document for Foreign Individuals (DIMEX) in Costa Rica as of March 3, 2026. The General Immigration Authority (DGME) has been experiencing these delays, leading to concerns and ongoing inquiries from both foreign individuals and employers. Historically, the DIMEX delivery timeframe was approximately one month; however, processing times have now extended considerably, reaching up to four months for the handover of the physical document. The article clarifies that this delay is not related to the approval of immigration applications but specifically to the documentation and issuance phase of the DIMEX, managed in coordination with Correos de Costa Rica (Costa Rica’s Postal Service) or Banco de Costa Rica. (publicaciones.bdsasesores.com)
- https://www.yourmovetocostaricaguide.com/faq.html – This FAQ page provides information on various aspects of moving to Costa Rica, including the reasons behind delays in DIMEX delivery in 2026. The Costa Rica’s Immigration Authority (DGME) confirmed a backlog of over 20,000 DIMEX pending delivery, with applications from October 2025 still being processed. Wait times can exceed four months. To address this, a temporary simplification of requirements was implemented from February 17, 2026, to February 16, 2027, aiming to accelerate the issuance process. The page also advises applicants to disregard requests for additional documents not on the new official list. (yourmovetocostaricaguide.com)
- https://quatro.legal/immigration-update-dimex-processing-times/ – This article provides an update on the DIMEX processing times in Costa Rica as of February 9, 2026. Foreign nationals are currently facing longer-than-usual delays in the issuance of both new and renewed DIMEX cards. Processing times have continued to increase across several immigration categories. Temporary residents may experience wait times of up to four months, while short-stay visa and temporary residence applicants are seeing delays of two months or more. Permanent residents and special category holders may face processing periods of three months or longer, counted from the date of the DIMEX appointment. The article notes that under current regulations, foreign nationals remain in legal status as long as their DIMEX appointment has been scheduled or completed. However, the absence of a physical card may limit certain activities, including international travel, driver’s license procedures, and banking and financial transactions. There is no official timeline for when these delays will be resolved. In limited and exceptional circumstances—such as medical emergencies or essential business travel—it may be possible to request expedited processing, subject to Immigration’s discretion. Affected individuals are advised to seek case-specific guidance to evaluate their options and ensure compliance. (quatro.legal)
- https://www.teletica.com/nacional/migracion-acumula-atraso-de-casi-20-mil-dimex-o-cedulas-sin-entregar_402862 – This article reports on the significant backlog in the delivery of DIMEX or identity cards in Costa Rica as of February 24, 2026. The immigration authorities have accumulated a delay of nearly 20,000 pending documents, prompting the implementation of a temporary plan to expedite the processing of these documents. The measure aims to reduce waiting times in the issuance, renewal, and duplication of these documents for foreign individuals. The General Directorate of Migration and Foreign Affairs of Costa Rica has been executing a temporary simplification of the requirements for DIMEX processing since February 17, 2026, with the goal of accelerating the attention to requests. (teletica.com)
- https://www.fragomen.com/insights/costa-rica-resident-card-issuance-expanded-through-bank-partnership.html – This article discusses the expansion of resident card issuance in Costa Rica through a new agreement between the General Immigration Directorate (DGME) and the Bank of Costa Rica (BCR) as of March 10, 2026. Under the previous arrangement, applicants attended BCR branches to register and submit their Resident Identity Card applications, while the printing and issuance of the DIMEX card remained with DGME. Under the new agreement, BCR will also assume responsibility for printing and delivering DIMEX cards for approved renewals, duplicates, and first-time applicants whose status has been granted and whose biometrics have been recorded at authorized BCR branches. Effective sometime in March 2026, applicants completing these procedures at designated BCR service points will receive their DIMEX cards directly from the bank, expected on the same day. This operational change is expected to help reduce backlogs and improve processing times, which have been significantly delayed in recent months. (fragomen.com)
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score: 8
Notes: The article was published on June 18, 2026, providing recent information on residency delays in Costa Rica. However, similar reports from earlier in 2026, such as those from Fragomen in February and March 2026, indicate that the issue has been ongoing for several months. (fragomen.com)
Quotes check
Score: 7
Notes: The article includes direct quotes from immigration lawyers and officials. However, these quotes cannot be independently verified through the provided sources, raising concerns about their authenticity. (fragomen.com)
Source reliability
Score: 8
Notes: The Tico Times is a reputable English-language newspaper in Costa Rica, known for its coverage of local news. However, the article relies on information from Fragomen, a law firm, and other sources that may have a vested interest in the topic, which could affect objectivity. (fragomen.com)
Plausibility check
Score: 9
Notes: The reported delays in residency processing align with previous reports from earlier in 2026, indicating consistency in the information. However, the article does not provide specific data or independent verification of the current backlog, which would strengthen its credibility. (fragomen.com)