The Websites of the General Directorate for Migration and Aliens (Direccion General de Migracion y Extranjeria) and of the Embassy of Costa Rica in Washington, DC provided the following information on the requirements to be met before a minor can exit the country (Costa Rica n.d.a; ibid. n.d.b). Only parents or legal guardians who exercise parental authority (patria potestad) over a minor may authorize the child's travel outside of the country (ibid.). In addition, the General Directorate for Migration and Aliens works in coordination with judicial authorities to monitor and prevent the illegal departure of minors from the country (ibid. n.d.a.).

According to the Website of the General Directorate for Migration and Aliens, to obtain permission for a minor to travel outside of the country, an application form must be completed and the following documentation submitted:

- The minor's valid passport;

- For minors under 12 years of age, a birth certificate, and for minors between 12 and 18 years of age, a youth identification document (documento de identificacion de personas menores de edad);

- A recent passport-sized photograph of the minor;

- The parents' identity cards (cedula de identidad) (ibid.).

The Website of the Embassy of Costa Rica in Washington, DC corroborated the preceding information, adding that a letter of authorization (carta de autorizacion) must also be submitted; this letter should include:

- The name, surname, address and identity card number of the authorizing parents or guardians;

- The name, surname, date of birth, destination and reason for travel of the minor;

- The name and identification information of the individual travelling with the minor;

- The signature of the authorizing parents or guardians, which must be added to the letter only in the presence of a consular official (ibid. n.d.b.).

The entry/exit requirements section of the travel report on Costa Rica found on the Foreign Affairs Canada Website also mentioned that

[a]ny adult travelling with children may be required to show evidence of parental/custodial and/or access rights. Foreign and Canadian authorities may also require evidence that the adult has the consent of the parents, legal guardian, and/or the court to travel with the children (Canada 26 July 2005).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Canada. 26 July 2005. Foreign Affairs Canada. "Travel Report: Costa Rica." http://www.voyage.gc.ca/dest/reportPF-en.asp?country=67000 [Accessed 19 July 2005]

Costa Rica. N.d.a. Direccion General de Migracion y Extranjeria. "Permisos de salida de personas menores de edad." http://migracion.go.cr/paginas/permisosmenores.html [Accessed 27 July 2005]

_____. N.d.b. Embassy of Costa Rica, Washington, DC. "Permiso de viaje de menores de edad." http://www.costarica-embassy.org/consular/travel/menores.htm [Accessed 2 Aug. 2005]

Additional Sources Consulted

Internet sites, including: Embassy of Costa Rica in Canada, Embassy of Costa Rica in the United States, Ministerio de Relaciones Exterioires y Culto, United States - Reciprocity Schedule.