State Certification of Residency Documents
Prior to taking your documents to the Costa Rica Embassy you will need to obtain certification from the Secretary of State where they were issued. The certification is a signed and sealed cover letter (see example document) from one party in each U.S. state that the Costa Rica embassy can recognize.
What exactly is this Certification?
Here is the technical definition from the state of Missouri webpage.
A certification or authentication is a sealed certificate that confirms the authority of a public official, such as a notary public, recorder of deeds, or county clerk, to act in a particular capacity in connection with a document that he or she has signed. The authentication certificate will verify that the named individual and their position are a matter of record in the Secretary of State’s Office.
What is an Apostille?
Esentially, an apostille is a document that shortens chain authentication so that it passes through fewer hands. It’s unimportant because Costa Rica is not a party to the international treaty that recognizes Apostille. If you make a mistake and get the apostille format of the certification, then your documents may be rejected by the embassy.
Do I Need a Notary?
The Secretary of State in your home state is able to certify the signature of any public official acting in official capacity with respect to a state document. You DO NOT need to notarize your birth certificate or police clearance letter because these are official documents. Just find the person who can help you in your state capital and take it from there.
Does the Federal Government Need to Certify Anything
If your police clearance letter and birth certificate are issued by individual states or the District of Colombia, then you should not need to put your documents through the U.S. Department of State. The Costa Rica embassy will accept these documents with just the state certification.
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Filed Under: Expat Living
