ABOUT THE LIVING LIFE IN COSTA RICA BLOG

I (Vicki Skinner - aka "THE Sarong Goddess") created this blog in 2007 to share DETAILED Finds•Lists•Info•Events•Experiences to help bring more EASE to people living in, visiting or thinking of moving to Costa Rica since DETAILS are NOT easy to find!
I’m NOT an expert (an "expert" 2 ME knows 101%-NOT me). I believe in sharin info•helping where I can! And with over 2,200 entries, so some things might be out of date, so if you find old info PLEASE help each other by getting the updated info & sharing it with me to revise. At least you have some basic info to get you started.
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Better yet - do you have extra time on your hands & looking for a volunteer project? Since this blog is a labor of love & RARELY does anyone share a donation (even though MANY have said how much it's helped them), I could REALLY use help updating info. Spanish speakers ESPECIALLY welcome since my VicLish can be somewhat limited at times!!

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Wednesday, September 26, 2012

FINGERPRINTING - Where to get FingerPrinted for your Residency in Costa Rica

When applying for Residency in Costa Rica - 
FingerPrinting - "Comprobante de Huellas" 
MUST be done IN Costa Rica and IN PERSON by the applicant.

This FREE service is now ONLY done at the 
Ministerio de Seguridad PublicaMinistry of Public Security
www.SeguridadPublica.go.cr 
(note you MUST put the www. first because their webmaster did NOT code their web address properly and if you don't type it in - it shows as a bad address) 
facebook.com/MinisterioSeguridadPublicaCR

 2-586-4000
(GENERAL NON Appointment number)
(though NO ONE has spoken English the few times I've called so if your Spanish isn't so great, have someone with good Español assist you!!)

Once your fingerprints have been done, it's then run through Interpol.


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STEP-BY-STEP PROCESS FOR DO-IT-YOURSELF FINGERPRINTING FOR RESIDENCY IN COSTA RICA:

HOURS:
Monday through Friday - from 7am-3pm.

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WHERE TO GET YOUR FINGERPRINTS in Costa Rica
MAIN OFFICE:

The ONLY PLACE to get your Fingerprints is at
the Ministerio de Seguridad Publica in 


NEW LOCATION:
San Jose - Barrio Francisco Peralta
150 meters East of Casa Italia.
(the gate is directly ACROSS the street from Centro Comercial del Sur)
google.com/maps?oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&channel=sb&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=Ministerio+de+Seguridad+Publica+san+jose&fb=1&hq=Ministerio+de+Seguridad+Publica+san+jose&cid=5908364645377297455&sa=X&ei=CLF3VPK6AcqfggSHq4OYAw&ved=0CCYQrwswAA

(though this map does not show which side the entrance is on)
What I'm reading these days is NO appointment is needed - just show up and Wait (some have shared they waited 40 minutes to 1-1/2 hours.  But if you're over 65, I'm sure you can go to the front of the line as that's pretty much the policy in Costa Rica for Seniors)


Mike from Siquirres shared his recent experience:

Step 1
Enter the property

Step 2
Once you enter the property, t
here's a PHOTOGRAPHER immediately to the LEFT of the gate who will take the required photos for 2,000-c.

You will need to get at least 
3 PHOTOGRAPHS
one of yourself facing front and one of each side.
See the note below on where to get the pictures taken as if it were ME, I'd wait till I got THERE to do it so I KNEW it was EXACTLY what they wanted!!). 
 

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Step 3
The Fingerprint Office is to the LEFT, along a covered passage.
 There's a big sign saying "Huellas" 
(FingerPrints [funny - translate.google says FOOTprints!]).

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Step 4
 Hand your passport and other documents to the clerk, then wait in line with everyone else until your name is called. 

(he wasn't sure if they had an appointment as his lawyer took care of everything and even brought them.  
Personally, if I was doing residency and going through a lawyer, I'd forgo the escort to save me $100-$200 or so and go myself since you now have DETAILED instructions!!)


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Here are some other topics I've shared information on pertaining to
APPLYING FOR RESIDENCY:

FREE LAWYER CONSULTATION FOR AN ATTORNEY INSIDE COSTA RICA MIGRACION:
LivingLifeInCostaRica.blogspot.com/2013/12/ImmigrationLawyerAtMigracionCR.html


STEP-BY-STEP PROCESS FOR DOING FINGERPRINTING FOR RESIDENCY IN COSTA RICA:
 LivingLifeInCostaRica.blogspot.com/2012/09/residency-fingerprinting-phone-numbers.html


CHECK YOUR STATUS - Is your Costa Rican Residency Pending?  Want to check your status??
Click here for how to do it YOURSELF - for FREE!!!
LivingLifeInCostaRica.blogspot.com/2013/12/CheckPendingResidencyStatus.html


NOTARIZED DOCUMENT FROM YOUR EMBASSY
You NO LONGER NEED to have your proof (a Notarized statement) that you’ve registered with your consulate as they are now able to access that verification online (but MAKE SURE YOU HAVE REGISTERED WITH THEM BEFORE SUBMITTING ALL YOUR PAPERS!)
LivingLifeInCostaRica.blogspot.com/2013/11/ResidencyDontNeedNotarizedSTEPCR.html


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Has this DETAILED information been helpful to you - brought more ease into your life, saved you time and/or $$$/¢¢¢¢?

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DONATION

ANY amount is appreciated since this is my ONLY source of "income" and VERY FEW people give back/donate!!!

Go to the top LEFT corner of the blog for details.


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LivingLifeInCostaRica.blogspot.com/2012/09/residency-fingerprinting-phone-numbers.html
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4 comments:

eazyinge said...

Any place near Perez Zeledon to get fingerprinted?

Living Life in Costa Rica 1 said...

I don't know of any other location BUT - if I were seeking that type of information, I'd join the message boards/forums & ask:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CostaRicaLiving
http://forums.arcr.net
http://WeLoveCostaRica.com

Are you a member of ChayoteVine - the weekly e-mail newsletter for the Southern Zone? If not, email ChayoteVine@gamil.com (tell them Vicki Connected you)


(I [& others I'm sure!] would REALLY APPRECIATE it if you Shared any findings you had!!!)

Anonymous said...

We had our fingerprints done yesterday (21Jan14) for residency purposes. While the address above is "sort-of" correct, here's the actual place where you get them done:
the gate is directly across the street from Centro Comercial del Sur. There's a photographer immediately to the left of the gate who will take the required photos for CRC2000.
Once through the gate, the fingerprint office is to the left, along a covered passage. There's a big sign saying "Huellas". Hand your passport and other documents to the clerk, then wait in line with everyone else until your name is called.
I don't know if we had an appointment, or if there was a fee involved - our lawyer took care of all that. We arrived at 830, and were out of there by 915.
Mike Wise
Siquirres

Living Life in Costa Rica 1 said...

THANX SOOOO MUCH Mike!!! I'll update the blog listing!!!

PLEASE share any other corrections, additions/enhancements on ANY topic you find here or feel would be beneficial to put on the blog!! Send it to me at LivingLifeInCostaRica@gmail.com

Vicki