Foto de Pasaporte de Costa Rica

Costa Rica Passport Photo -- TSE Requirements Explained

Costa Rica stands out in Central America by assigning passport issuance to its electoral authority rather than a police or immigration agency. The Tribunal Supremo de Elecciones (TSE -- Supreme Electoral Tribunal) handles all Costa Rican passport applications through its offices across the country, with the main processing center in San Jose. Costa Rica adopted the biometric passport (pasaporte biometrico) in 2010, and the TSE has since aligned its photo requirements closely with ICAO 9303 standards. The country processes approximately 250,000 passport applications annually, and the TSE reports that photograph issues account for roughly 15% of initial application delays -- a figure they have been working to reduce through clearer public guidance and better studio calibration.

The TSE publishes its passport photo specifications at tse.go.cr/pasaporte.htm. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores y Culto) coordinates consular services for Costa Ricans abroad. The same requirements apply to both first-time applications and renewals, whether filed domestically or at a Costa Rican consulate abroad.

Technical Photo Specifications

Dimensions and resolution:

• 35 x 45 mm (413 x 531 pixels at 300 DPI)
• Head height from chin to top of head: 28-35 mm
• Face horizontally centered with equal spacing on left and right
• Eyes positioned approximately in the center horizontal band of the photo

Background:

• White, plain, and uniform throughout
• No shadows cast on the background by the subject or by studio lighting
• No visible objects, wall textures, or furniture behind the subject

Expression and pose:

• Neutral expression with lips closed -- no smiling, no teeth visible
• Both eyes open and looking directly into the camera lens
• Head straight and square to the camera, not angled, tilted, or turned
• Ears visible on both sides of the head

Digital upload (for online scheduling):

• JPEG format
• Minimum 600 x 600 pixels
• Maximum file size 1 MB
• Color photo only -- no greyscale, no sepia
• No filters, beauty modes, or AI enhancement
• The photo must be taken natively as a digital image -- scans of printed photos are detectable and may be rejected

Costa Rica-Specific Photo Rules

Glasses policy: The TSE now follows the growing international trend of discouraging glasses in passport photos. Prescription glasses may be worn only if the applicant wears them continuously in daily life. Lenses must be clear -- no tinting, no photochromic transition, no colored coatings. Frames cannot cover the eyebrows or any part of the eyes. The TSE recommends removing glasses to avoid potential rejection from glare or reflection.

Head coverings: Not permitted unless worn for sincere religious belief. Costa Rica's largely Catholic population rarely encounters this issue, but applicants of any faith may wear religious coverings provided the full face from forehead to chin remains visible and no shadow falls on the facial features.

Facial hair: Beards and mustaches are permitted as long as they do not obscure facial features. If the applicant has grown or shaved significant facial hair since their previous passport photo, the new photo must reflect their current appearance.

Clothing: Normal civilian attire. Avoid white tops, which blend with the white background and create poor contrast. No military, police, or OIJ (Organismo de Investigacion Judicial) uniforms.

Photo recency: Must be taken within six months of the application date. The TSE cross-references submitted photos with the cedula de identidad (national ID card) database and may flag photos that appear inconsistent with the applicant's known appearance.

Digital alteration and filters: The TSE prohibits any digital retouching of passport photos. Beauty filters, skin smoothing, AI enhancement, and facial feature modification are all detectable by the biometric system and will result in rejection. The photo must represent the applicant's unmodified, natural appearance. This applies to both printed submissions and digital uploads.

Number of photos: Two identical 35x45mm prints for the standard application. Bring four as backup.

Where to Get Passport Photos in Costa Rica

Photo studios in San Jose (Estudio fotografico): Studios in the San Jose city center, particularly around Avenida Central and near the TSE headquarters in Zapote, specialize in passport-compliant photography. A set of four prints typically costs 3,000-5,000 CRC (Costa Rican colones). Studios near TSE offices process hundreds of passport applicants weekly and are the most reliable for correct framing and background compliance.

Mall photo kiosks: Shopping malls including Multiplaza Escazu, Mall San Pedro, Lincoln Plaza, and City Mall Alajuela have automated photo kiosks or small photo-service counters. Pricing runs 2,500-4,000 CRC for a set. These kiosks display positioning guides on screen and produce calibrated output, though the lighting quality varies between locations.

Farmacias and supermarkets: Some pharmacy chains and larger supermarkets in the Greater Metropolitan Area (GAM) offer passport photo services at their print counters. Expect 2,000-3,500 CRC per set. Quality can be inconsistent -- verify the white background and head positioning before accepting the prints.

Studios in provincial capitals (Limon, Puntarenas, Liberia, Ciudad Quesada): Outside the GAM, photo studios near municipal government buildings serve passport applicants for 2,000-4,000 CRC. In more rural cantons, availability may be limited -- call ahead to confirm the studio offers passport-sized prints at the correct 35x45mm dimensions.

DIY approach: Stand against a plain white wall (or hang a white bedsheet against a door) with natural window light facing you. Photograph from roughly 1.5 meters distance at eye level. Use the rear camera, not the selfie camera, for better resolution and reduced distortion. Crop to 35x45mm using an online passport photo tool, then print at any photo kiosk or Kodak Express outlet. Total cost under 1,000 CRC if you have access to a printer. Verify the head height and framing before printing.

Ticos abroad: Costa Ricans applying at consulates in Washington, Los Angeles, New York, Mexico City, Panama City, or Madrid can use any local studio producing 35x45mm photos with a white background. Ensure the studio does not default to the host country's format -- US studios produce 51x51mm by default.

Baby and Child Passport Photos

Costa Rican law requires every citizen, including newborns, to hold an individual passport for international travel. The TSE applies the same photo specifications to all age groups, with limited tolerance adjustments for very young children:

Infants under 12 months: The baby must be photographed against a white background. Lay the infant on a white blanket and shoot from above, or hold the baby upright with the parent hidden behind the child. Eyes do not need to be open for newborns under 3 months. No pacifiers, toys, hats, or hair accessories allowed. The white blanket should be smooth without wrinkles.

Children aged 1 to 5: Both eyes open, facing the camera, with a neutral expression. The TSE acknowledges the difficulty of photographing toddlers and allows mild expression tolerance for children under 3. The child must be the sole subject -- no parent hands, arms, or faces visible. Use a small chair against a white backdrop.

Children 6 and older: Adult specifications apply completely. Parents or legal guardians must accompany the minor to the TSE office and co-sign the application.

Passport validity for minors: Costa Rican passports for children under 18 are valid for 5 years (adults receive 10-year passports). Photos must be current at the time of each application. Children's appearances change rapidly, particularly for infants and toddlers, so even if you have leftover prints from a previous session, take fresh photos for the new application.

Common Rejection Reasons

The TSE's review process flags these issues most frequently:

1. Glasses glare -- Reflections from flash photography or overhead fluorescent lights create white patches over the eye area, obscuring iris detail needed for biometric verification
2. Shadow behind the head -- Standing too close to a wall with overhead lighting produces a hard shadow outline on the white background
3. Non-white background -- Cream-colored walls, light grey paint, or off-white backdrops that do not read as true white under the scanner
4. Head tilted or turned -- Even a slight rotation, often caused by the subject looking at themselves in a mirror instead of the camera lens, triggers rejection
5. Photo not recent -- Submitting a photo that does not match the applicant's current appearance as compared against their cedula record
6. Incorrect dimensions -- Photos cropped to non-standard sizes or printed on letter-size paper without proper cut lines

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I schedule my TSE passport appointment online? A: Yes. The TSE offers online appointment scheduling through its website at tse.go.cr. Some steps require uploading a digital photo -- use JPEG format, minimum 600x600 pixels, under 1 MB.

Q: Are glasses allowed in Costa Rican passport photos? A: Technically yes, if they are your daily-wear prescription glasses with clear, non-tinted lenses. However, the TSE recommends removing them to avoid glare-related rejections. This is the single most controllable rejection risk.

Q: How many photos do I need for a Costa Rica passport? A: Two identical 35x45mm prints are required. Bring four -- the extras serve as backup if any are damaged or if the TSE office requests additional copies during processing.

Q: Can I use the same photo for my cedula de identidad and passport? A: If the photo meets both sets of specifications and was taken within six months, yes. The TSE manages both documents and uses the same biometric standards. However, the cedula uses a different physical print size, so you will need separate prints formatted to each specification.

Q: My child is a dual citizen (e.g., Costa Rica and the US). Do I need separate photos for each passport? A: Yes. Each country has its own photo specifications. Costa Rica uses 35x45mm; the US uses 51x51mm. You cannot use the same physical prints for both applications, though you can take both sets of photos in the same session.

Q: How long is a Costa Rican passport valid? A: Adult passports are valid for 10 years. Minor passports (under 18) are valid for 5 years. The photo must be taken within six months of the application date regardless of passport duration.