For more information about the town hall meetings and voter ballot assistance, contact Vote From Abroad expert Steve Johnson at (506) 7106-9505.

All passport application fees must be paid in advance through Pay.gov. Applicants should carefully verify that the payment amount matches the passport service requested. Payments that are not correctly made through Pay.gov cannot be accepted at the event.

Applicants must bring a completed passport application form:

• Form DS-82: For adult passport renewals involving passports with 10-year validity.
• Form DS-11: For first-time adult applicants and children younger than 16.

Applicants must also bring a printed Pay.gov payment confirmation attached to the application, one passport photo measuring 2-by-2 inches (5-by-5 centimeters), and original supporting documents, such as a current passport or birth certificate, along with photocopies of each document.

On-site printing services for passport-related documents will not be available.

For applicants younger than 16, both parents must be present and sign the application. For applicants ages 16 and 17, only one parent's signature is required.

All passport applications for minors must include an original birth certificate and a photocopy.

The passport application fees are:

• $130 for an adult passport renewal using Form DS-82.
• $165 for a first adult passport using Form DS-11 for applicants ages 16 and older.
• $135 for a passport for a child younger than 16 using Form DS-11.

Application forms are available through the Embassy website, the U.S. Citizen Services Navigator, or the Travel State website.

New passports will be available for pickup at the U.S. Embassy in San José approximately four weeks after the applications are submitted.

Applications involving stolen, lost or damaged passports cannot be processed at the town hall events. Applicants dealing with these situations must schedule an appointment at the embassy by emailing ACSSanJose@state.gov or visiting the embassy website.

For additional information about passport renewals or upcoming town hall events, call the embassy at (506) 2519-2000. Callers in the United States can dial 011-506-2519-2000.

The meetings are scheduled as follows:

Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026. U.S. Embassy Town Hall plus U.S. passport renewal, notarial services & voter ballot assistance. From 9:30 to 1:30 p.m. at La Galeria Slow Food Restaurant, between Central Avenue and Fifth Street in Heredia city, Heredia Province.   Event agenda includes: 9:30 – 11 am, U.S. voter ballot assistance; 11 am – noon, town hall & U.S. citizen services and noon – 1:30, lunch & live music by Lunda (blues, rock, soul & country).  This event is a MUST RSVP by visiting the Vore From Abroad Form website.

Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026. From 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Katana's Restaurant, between Second Avenue and Second Street in San Ramón Canton, Alajuela Province. The Vote From Abroad staff will provide ballot assistance only. No passport renewal services will be available from U.S. Embassy officials at this event.

Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026. From noon to 3 p.m. at Mandrágora Restaurant in Grecia Canton, Alajuela Province.   Driving directions to Mandrágora Restaurant: From León Cortés Castro School, head northeast for 77 meters on Route 711. Turn right at Vaini Tienda and continue for 120 meters. Then turn right at Almacén Barrantes y Rodríguez and continue for 150 meters.  The Vote From Abroad staff will provide ballot assistance only. No passport renewal services will be available from U.S. Embassy officials at this event.

Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026. From 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Baruch Café, at Eighth Avenue and First Street in Atenas Canton, Alajuela Province.

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Disclaimer: The views expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of A.M. Costa Rica. The newspaper assumes no responsibility for the content.