Costa Rica photo specifications
Photo sizes and rules for 3 documents issued in Costa Rica, taken from the issuing authorities and linked to their official pages.
At a glance
The documents covered for Costa Rica are the passport, the cédula ID card and the consular visa. The passport photo is taken at your appointment, the TSE photographs you for the cédula and only consulates accept two printed photos, and the consular visa takes one colour photo of 5 x 5 cm glued to the form at the Bogotá embassy.
Overview
Three bodies handle these documents. The Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería (DGME) issues the passport, with applications received at the Banco de Costa Rica, Correos de Costa Rica and consulates abroad. The Tribunal Supremo de Elecciones (TSE) issues the cédula de identidad to citizens aged 18 or over. Costa Rican embassies and consulates receive consular visa applications.
The photo is handled differently for each. For the passport and for the cédula inside Costa Rica, the office captures the picture, and you bring no print. The cédula at a consulate takes two printed photos, in a size that depends on the post. For a consular visa, Bogotá asks for a single colour 5 x 5 cm photo glued to the paper form. The DGME also issues the DIMEX card to foreign residents.
Photo specifications by document
Passports
| Document | Print size | Digital size | Background |
|---|---|---|---|
| Passport | — | — | Not published: the camera at the office or… |
Visas and travel authorisations
| Document | Print size | Digital size | Background |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visa | 50 × 50 mm | — | White |
Identity cards
| Document | Print size | Digital size | Background |
|---|---|---|---|
| ID card | 50 × 50 mm | — | TSE offices: the tone the TSE sets for its… |
Frequently asked questions
The passport, the cédula de identidad and the consular visa. Each has its own page with its photo rules, sources and where the pages disagree.
The Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería issues the passport, and the Tribunal Supremo de Elecciones issues the cédula. Foreign residents hold the DIMEX, issued by the DGME.
No. The photo is taken at your appointment at the Banco de Costa Rica, a Correos window or the consulate. Only a Bogotá consular register form asks for a passport-size print.
The Bogotá embassy asks for one colour photo of the face, 5 x 5 cm, on white, glued to the visa form. Ottawa asks for a passport-size photo on white and gives no dimensions.
Nearby countries
Other countries in Central America:
Official sources
- DGME, Correos de Costa Rica and RACSA (service 1311). Requisitos de trámites para pasaportes: primera vez, renovación y menores racsa.go.cr. Checked 2 November 2026.
- Tribunal Supremo de Elecciones de Costa Rica. Solicitud de Documento de Identidad ante el Consulado tse.go.cr. Checked 2 November 2026.
- Embajada de Costa Rica en Colombia. Requisitos visa de turismo para único ingreso a Costa Rica (Bogotá) embajadadecostarica.org. Checked 2 November 2026.
Cite this page
"Costa Rica photo specifications". WorldPhotoSpecs. Last updated 4 November 2026. https://worldphotospecs.org/costa-rica