PASSPORT WITH NEW DESIGN AND BIOMETRIC TECHNOLOGY

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PASSPORT WITH NEW DESIGN AND BIOMETRIC TECHNOLOGY

[/vc_column_text][us_separator][vc_column_text] Starting Monday, March 7, 2022, biometric passports will begin to be delivered. Since last year, the celebration of the 200 years of our independence, we commemorate our symbols and the elements that represent us today. There are significant differences between the previous design and the new biometric passport; one could say that there is no other passport in the world with such visual richness. Every time you turn the pages of the biometric passport, you can see the elements that define us as Costa Ricans and that it is already beginning to transcend borders, conveying to the world what our essence, “Essential Costa Rica,” is all about. The project was carried out by the national authorities during 2021 in the midst of the pandemic, an achievement resulting from a coordinated effort between the “Essential Costa Rica” institutions in conjunction with the General Directorate of Migration and Foreigners. The final result has been very satisfactory.Design:The graphic design of the new biometric passport is based on four themes representative of Costa Rica:1.Biodiversity,2.Renewable Energy,3.Education and Peace, and,4.Talent. Authorities Report"This is the first time that a passport has been designed by Costa Ricans."; the document pages display elements relating to each of the topics, as follows:

• Biodiversity:islands, hammerhead sharks, waves, turtles, corals, butterflies and sloths.
• Renewable energy:volcanoes and hydroelectric plants.
• Education and peace: shows the act and the torch of independence, books, schools and the “Pura Vida”.
• Talent:pre-Columbian spheres, sculptures, Boruca masks, marimba, calypso and even the native Creole swing.

Emission:Any Costa Rican who requires a biometric ordinary passport must go to the central or regional Immigration offices, Banco de Costa Rica offices, Correos de Costa Rica VES counters, or Costa Rican Consulates General abroad to process their application for an ordinary passport. The new Costa Rican passport includes biometric features (fingerprinting) that will allow for identity validation of passport applicants, so it is necessary to capture the data in person.Safety measures:

• Chip:It has a chip and an antenna embedded in the passport to store the citizen's data and enable biometric validations, such as fingerprints.
• Polycarbonate Data Page:The new passport includes a flexible, thin data page made of 100% polycarbonate material, which provides a longer lifespan and allows for the incorporation of new security measures.
• Color photo:A glossy, durable color photograph is incorporated into the polycarbonate data page using a printing technique that combines vivid color photography with laser engraving. It must be taken in accordance with ICAO specifications, and the system will not allow further processing of the application until compliance is achieved.
• Biometric data:Fingerprints will be taken from those aged 18 and over, allowing for identity validation.

Validity:The passport will be valid for a period of ten years only.Cost:The cost of the passport is $75.00 dollars plus ₡250.00 colones.Deactivation of the “previous” ordinary passport.Passports issued before March 7 of this year will remain valid until their expiration date. When a Costa Rican applies for a passport, the previous passport is deactivated in the system, and the physical document presented by the applicant is also canceled. In exceptional cases, the cancellation of the physical passport may be omitted, but all previous documents must be deactivated in the system. Information on passports deactivated due to theft, robbery, loss, or other causes is entered daily into the Interpol system. Therefore, if the person reports it as stolen or otherwise, and the passport later reappears, they should not use it because it has already been reported to Interpol, and the Costa Rican may experience problems during their international transit.Passport withdrawal:Picking up an ordinary passport is done in person, as the Immigration Document System has a module for issuing passports using fingerprints, signatures, or justifying in the system why the request is not being made in person. In exceptional cases where passports are issued at Costa Rican Consulates, passports may be sent by courier. For this purpose, the user must provide proof of the request, releasing the consulate from any liability for non-receipt of their passport. The courier must deliver the passport to the holder only; in the case of minors, it must be collected by their parents or legal guardian. The ordinary biometric passport has a chip and antenna and must be packed in a special envelope for protection.Emergency passport:This document was created to be issued to Costa Ricans who hold a valid ordinary passport, but for some reason submitted the document for a visa application and it has not been returned to them by the corresponding Consulate and/or Embassy. It is also intended for those cases in which individuals find it difficult to appear at the consulate and comply with the established procedures for the biometric ordinary passport, such as the photo, signature, and fingerprints required for the issuance of an ordinary passport. To apply, you must explain your situation to the email addresspasaportes@migracion.go.crand within 24 hours, you will be provided with the information. This procedure is only carried out at the Immigration Office in La Uruca, Immigration Management. The emergency passport will be valid for one year, allowing the person to plan their trip to the consulate or to Costa Rica to process their document.TIM requirements for minors over 12 years of age:With the implementation of the new Migration Document System (SDM), children under 12 years of age are no longer required to present a Birth Certificate, as the system now provides access to the Supreme Electoral Tribunal if the appointment is made at the offices of the General Directorate of Migration and Foreign Affairs. Access and password requirements are being implemented at strategic partners Banco de Costa Rica (BCR) and Electronic Service Windows (VES)-Correos de Costa Rica. Therefore, if your application is made at one of these offices, you must present it.Consents:The interested party must sign an "informed consent" document regarding the use of their data, which the applicant for a passport or any other document must complete at the time of the process. Regarding consent for self-identification of gender/sex, this is included in the entry module of the Migration Document System. It is at the user's request. To do so, the user must have their identity card with the name appropriate for their gender identity.Passport Comparison:

[/vc_column_text][us_separator][vc_column_text]For any questions, you can write to us at the email addressmigracioncr@lexincorp.com. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]