U.S. citizens in Costa Rica
Online notary for U.S. citizens in Costa Rica
Costa Rica keeps one time zone all year, so the gap with New Jersey changes when New Jersey changes its clocks. From Costa Rica, a New Jersey notary can see and verify you by secure video, for a document with a U.S. connection. Sessions start at $50 plus the state notarial fee.
✓ New Jersey commissioned notary, no. 50244803, insured for errors and omissions. See the credentials
Matthew Coleman, NJ Notary Public and NNA Certified Loan Signing Agent. Cranford, NJ. Fee confirmed before your session. Card charged only after it is complete. We aim to confirm within 15 minutes, 7am to 9pm.
Local facts
Costa Rica at a glance
- Capital
- San José
- Official languages
- Spanish
- Currency
- Costa Rican colón (CRC)
- Time zones
- UTC-6 (CST)
- Population
- 5,160,700 (2026 estimate)
- U.S. Embassy
- San José
- Apostille Convention
- Party since 14 December 2011
- U.S. consulates
- None listed
Sources: Wikipedia and its list of U.S. diplomatic missions, read October 2026.
Scheduling
New Jersey time and San José time
| In New Jersey | San José in winter | San José in summer |
|---|---|---|
| 9:00 a.m. | 8:00 a.m. | 7:00 a.m. |
| 1:00 p.m. | 12:00 p.m. | 11:00 a.m. |
| 5:00 p.m. | 4:00 p.m. | 3:00 p.m. |
In January San José is 1 hour behind New Jersey, and in July it is 2 hours behind New Jersey. Sessions from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. New Jersey time fall between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. in San José in winter, and from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. in summer. Online sessions run 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Eastern time, 7 days a week, by appointment. Clocks change on different dates in different countries, so we confirm the time in both places when you book.
Get it notarized online today
Online notary: open now until 9 PM ET · sessions by appointment · times confirmed by email
A New Jersey notary can notarize this with you on a video call, from anywhere in the U.S. or, on the terms below, from abroad. The fee shows in the booking form before you confirm. Open 7 am to 9 pm ET, every day, by appointment.
What you need
- A valid government photo ID
- A computer or phone with a camera
- The unsigned document
Our certificate states the act was performed using communication technology, as New Jersey law requires. What it must say
Signing from outside the U.S.? We can notarize when the document is for a U.S. court or agency, involves U.S. property, or relates to a transaction connected with the U.S., and signing isn't prohibited where you are. Check your document.
Most U.S. recipients accept a remotely notarized document; check with whoever will receive it. What to ask them · Several signers
Documents for use in Costa Rica
Apostille or remote notary?
Wikipedia's table of Apostille Convention parties lists Costa Rica as a party, with the convention in force there since 14 December 2011. A U.S. public document meant for use in Costa Rica is normally authenticated with an apostille rather than by embassy legalization. The receiving office has the last word on what it accepts.
From Costa Rica, we can notarize such a document by video only when it also has a U.S. connection, such as U.S. property or a U.S. court or agency matter. See apostille services for documents going the other way.
Embassy option
The U.S. embassy in San José
San José is the seat of the U.S. Embassy. No U.S. consulates are listed for Costa Rica.
Whichever country you are in, the video session works the same way, described on the hub page. The State Department's page on notarial services explains the consular side.
This is not legal advice, and local rules in Costa Rica are not something we can speak to, so check with whoever will receive the document.
Looking for a particular document? See notarizing a power of attorney, deed, affidavit or bank form from abroad.
FAQ
Costa Rica notary questions
Does the U.S. embassy in San José notarize documents?
San José is the seat of the U.S. Embassy. No U.S. consulates are listed for Costa Rica. Consular rules are summarised above. When you cannot reach a post, a video session with a New Jersey notary is the other route for a U.S.-connected document.
Other countries: Portugal, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, Canada.
All countries · Remote online notarization · Apostilles for documents used abroad