Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería

The Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería (DGME) serves as Costa Rica's immigration authority, managing the entry, stay, and departure of persons within the country. It is responsible for issuing and renewing passports, operating border control checkpoints, and maintaining the DIMEX database that records foreign nationals' residency and work permits. The directorate also offers online services such as appointment scheduling, verification of document requirements, and monitoring of immigration files for both citizens and applicants. These functions support individuals seeking travel documentation as well as foreign residents needing legal permission to live, work, or study in Costa Rica.

DGME’s distinguishing attribute is its exclusive mandate over immigration enforcement, making it the sole governmental body tasked with applying migration law in Costa Rica. Its specialization includes the integration of biometric and biographic data through the DIMEX system to ensure accurate identification and tracking of foreign residents. The agency’s operational resilience was evident during the cyber attack on 19 November 2024, when its public website was taken offline to protect internal networks while essential services like passport processing and border controls continued without interruption. To mitigate the impact on users, alternative channels such as call centers, a national bank’s online platform, and postal service portals were activated for appointment scheduling and other non‑critical functions until the website could be restored.

The organization’s headquarters are located in Costa Rica, as indicated by its official designation. It operates under the aliases Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería and the acronym DGME, which are used interchangeably in official communications and public notices. These identifiers appear on its website, forms, and outreach materials to convey its authority over migration matters.