Residency cédula renewals now available at BCR

Foreigners will have fewer headaches when renewing their national identification cards, under a new program introduced by Costa Rica government officials on Tuesday.

Those people with permanent resident status can now renew their cédulas –government-issued identification cards – in 32 of the Bank of Costa Rica (BCR) branches throughout the country.

Those applying for their first cédula still will have to make their appointments directly with the immigration department.

The renewal service begins with a call to 800-BCR-CITA. This is the same number Costa Ricans call to make an appointment for passport or driver’s license renewal, other services offered by the bank.

During and after the telephone call, the appointments clerk checks the residency status of the caller with the immigration department. So when the foreigner shows up at the designated bank branch for the appointment, much of the paperwork already is done. At the appointment, the bank clerk collects the $48 fee and a $5 fee for delivery of the cédula via Correos de Costa Rica. The foreigner submits prints of both index fingers and poses for a photo.

To apply for a cédula – which is used for everything from opening a bank account to renting a car – foreigners with permanent status should now be able to call for an appointment, make one trip to the bank and then wait 22 days to receive the card.

Edited on May 20, 2009 13:49