Entry #2796: Right to change legal gender in Costa Rica

Current Version

Region	Costa Rica
Issue	Right to change legal gender
Status	Legal, no restrictions
Start Date	Jun 28, 2018
End Date	(none)
Description	In 2018, Costa Rica allowed for legal gender recognition on the basis of self-identification.
Sources	https://www.hrw.org/news/2018/08/08/costa-rica-joins-global-push-recognize-legal-gender-self-identification https://www.nacion.com/el-pais/politica/personas-trans-podran-ajustar-sus-nombres-en/SO45OS4SE5CSPFHINE3R6JXGBU/story/ https://news.co.cr/transgender-population-in-costa-rica-will-be-able-to-choose-the-name-shown-in-their-id/73032/

Revision History (19)

4 weeks ago

edited by DaisyGeekyTrans. Improving entry.

Helpful?

	Old Value	New Value (Current)
Start Date	2018	Jun 28, 2018
Description	Legal since 2018.	In 2018, Costa Rica allowed for legal gender recognition on the basis of self-identification.
Description	Show Difference Legal since 2018. In 2018, Costa Rica allowed for legal gender recognition on the basis of self-identification.
Sources	https://www.hrw.org/news/2018/08/08/costa-rica-joins-global-push-recognize-legal-gender-self-identification https://news.co.cr/transgender-population-in-costa-rica-will-be-able-to-choose-the-name-shown-in-their-id/73032/	https://www.hrw.org/news/2018/08/08/costa-rica-joins-global-push-recognize-legal-gender-self-identification https://www.nacion.com/el-pais/politica/personas-trans-podran-ajustar-sus-nombres-en/SO45OS4SE5CSPFHINE3R6JXGBU/story/ https://news.co.cr/transgender-population-in-costa-rica-will-be-able-to-choose-the-name-shown-in-their-id/73032/
Sources	Show Difference https://www.hrw.org/news/2018/08/08/costa-rica-joins-global-push-recognize-legal-gender-self-identification https://news.co.cr/transgender-population-in-costa-rica-will-be-able-to-choose-the-name-shown-in-their-id/73032/ https://www.hrw.org/news/2018/08/08/costa-rica-joins-global-push-recognize-legal-gender-self-identification https://www.nacion.com/el-pais/politica/personas-trans-podran-ajustar-sus-nombres-en/SO45OS4SE5CSPFHINE3R6JXGBU/story/ https://news.co.cr/transgender-population-in-costa-rica-will-be-able-to-choose-the-name-shown-in-their-id/73032/

Nov 13, 2022

edited by JordanB3047

Helpful?

	Old Value	New Value
Start Date	(unknown)	2018
Description	Missing non binary options. legal since 2018. Non binary options pending.	Legal since 2018.
Description	Show Difference Missing non binary options. legal since 2018. Non binary options pending. Legal since 2018.
Sources	https://www.hrw.org/news/2018/08/08/costa-rica-joins-global-push-recognize-legal-gender-self-identification https://news.co.cr/transgender-population-in-costa-rica-will-be-able-to-choose-the-name-shown-in-their-id/73032/	https://www.hrw.org/news/2018/08/08/costa-rica-joins-global-push-recognize-legal-gender-self-identification https://news.co.cr/transgender-population-in-costa-rica-will-be-able-to-choose-the-name-shown-in-their-id/73032/
Sources	Show Difference https://www.hrw.org/news/2018/08/08/costa-rica-joins-global-push-recognize-legal-gender-self-identification https://news.co.cr/transgender-population-in-costa-rica-will-be-able-to-choose-the-name-shown-in-their-id/73032/ https://www.hrw.org/news/2018/08/08/costa-rica-joins-global-push-recognize-legal-gender-self-identification https://news.co.cr/transgender-population-in-costa-rica-will-be-able-to-choose-the-name-shown-in-their-id/73032/

Reports (2)
Status is not correct "it is no legal to change one’s sex assigned at birth and the proceedings aren’t recognised by the state"
Sep 15, 2023
Status is not correct "Gender cannot be changed. It just was removed from Id official documents. People are recognized as their sex at birth for public office, for example."
Apr 21, 2023

Sep 3, 2018

edited by Ausyk

Helpful?

	Old Value	New Value
Sources	https://www.hrw.org/news/2018/08/08/costa-rica-joins-global-push-recognize-legal-gender-self-identification	https://www.hrw.org/news/2018/08/08/costa-rica-joins-global-push-recognize-legal-gender-self-identification https://news.co.cr/transgender-population-in-costa-rica-will-be-able-to-choose-the-name-shown-in-their-id/73032/
Sources	Show Difference https://www.hrw.org/news/2018/08/08/costa-rica-joins-global-push-recognize-legal-gender-self-identification https://www.hrw.org/news/2018/08/08/costa-rica-joins-global-push-recognize-legal-gender-self-identification https://news.co.cr/transgender-population-in-costa-rica-will-be-able-to-choose-the-name-shown-in-their-id/73032/

Reports (2)
Status is not correct "Since 2018, transgender people can change their name by just filling out a form and signing it. Legal sex/gender cannot be changed yet. However, ID cards issue since around October 2018, do not include people's sex or gender.

Institutions are encouraged to respect people's gender identity, but so far you cannot change it legally.

You can change your sex in your passport (M, F, or X). You can also change your sex in your residence card (DIMEX) if that's not allowed in your country of origin: M, F, X (non-binary), or N/I (no indication): http://www.pgrweb.go.cr/scij/Busqueda/Normativa/Normas/nrm_texto_completo.aspx?param1=NRTC&nValor1=1&nValor2=88066&nValor3=130722&strTipM=TC"
Aug 17, 2022
Status is not correct "Nonbinary it's tecnically recogniced. People can choose to be Female(M) Male(H) or (N/I) which is No Indicado (Not Especified). This would apply for Intersex, Nonbinary and people who wish to just avoid the gender mark. Click this page 
https://www.migracion.go.cr/Paginas/Formulario-Reconocimiento-Identidad-de-Género-en-el-DIMEX.aspx                  
 
 then click "Solicitud de Cambio de Nombre" and then "Formulario de Reconocimiento Identidad de Género". "
Jun 14, 2022

Aug 26, 2018

edited by Ausyk

Helpful?

	Old Value	New Value
Description	Missing non binary options. legal since 2018.	Missing non binary options. legal since 2018. Non binary options pending.
Description	Show Difference Missing non binary options. legal since 2018. Non binary options pending.
Sources	No	https://www.hrw.org/news/2018/08/08/costa-rica-joins-global-push-recognize-legal-gender-self-identification

Jul 18, 2018

edited by Ausyk

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	Old Value	New Value
Description	other changes being put in place.	Missing non binary options. legal since 2018.

Jul 7, 2018

edited by Ausyk

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	Old Value	New Value
Description	Name change yes.	other changes being put in place.

Jul 7, 2018

edited by Ausyk

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	Old Value	New Value
Value	(REMOVED)	Legal, no restrictions
Special Status	Ambiguous	Legal, no restrictions
Description	Name change yes. sex change not legal. Required legalization under 2018 IACHR ruling.	Name change yes.
Description	Show Difference Name change yes. sex change not legal. Required legalization under 2018 IACHR ruling.

Mar 29, 2018

edited by Ausyk

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	Old Value	New Value
Value	Illegal	(REMOVED)
Special Status	Illegal	Ambiguous

Feb 21, 2018

edited by Ausyk

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	Old Value	New Value
Description	Name change yes. sex change not legal.	Name change yes. sex change not legal. Required legalization under 2018 IACHR ruling.
Description	Show Difference Name change yes. sex change not legal. Required legalization under 2018 IACHR ruling.

Feb 16, 2018

edited by Ausyk

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	Old Value	New Value
Value	(REMOVED)	Illegal
Special Status	Ambiguous	Illegal

Jan 29, 2018

edited by Ausyk

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	Old Value	New Value
Value	Illegal	(REMOVED)
Special Status	Illegal	Ambiguous
Description	Full legalization pending.	Name change yes. sex change not legal.

Jan 25, 2018

edited by Ausyk

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	Old Value	New Value
Value	(REMOVED)	Illegal
Special Status	Ambiguous	Illegal

Dec 18, 2017

edited by Ausyk

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	Old Value	New Value
Value	Legal, but requires surgery	(REMOVED)
Special Status	Legal, but requires surgery	Ambiguous

Nov 2, 2017

edited by Ausyk

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	Old Value	New Value
Value	Illegal	Legal, but requires surgery
Description	Name change is allowed, changing gender is illegal.	Full legalization pending.

Feb 10, 2017

edited by Ausyk

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	Old Value	New Value
Value	Legal, no restrictions	Illegal
Description	Name change is allowed.	Name change is allowed, changing gender is illegal.

Jan 18, 2017

edited by Ausyk

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	Old Value	New Value
Value	Illegal	Legal, no restrictions

Nov 20, 2016

edited by Ausyk

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	Old Value	New Value
Value	Legal, but requires surgery	Illegal
Description	I think it is provided.	Name change is allowed.

Oct 13, 2016

edited by Ausyk

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-1

	Old Value (Original)	New Value
Value	Illegal	Legal, but requires surgery
Description	No	I think it is provided.

Jul 29, 2016

created by Ausyk

Helpful?

	Original entry
Status	Illegal
Start Date	(unknown)
End Date	(none)
Description	No
Sources	No