Published on Wednesday, June 25, 2025
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

The U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica invites American citizens living in the Jaco Beach areas of Puntarenas province to attend a town hall meeting with senior Embassy officials.

The event is scheduled for Friday, June 27, at 2 p.m. and will take place at the "Centro Cívico por la Paz" (Peace Civic Center) in Garabito canton. The meeting aims to provide a platform for U.S. citizens to share their experiences living and traveling in Costa Rica, as well as to engage directly with Embassy representatives.

In addition to the town hall, Embassy staff will offer limited passport renewal services on-site.

Important: All passport service fees must be paid in advance via Pay.gov.

"Payment for passport renewal services must be made through pay.gov," said the Embassy in its statement. "Please pay close attention that the appropriate service requested matches your paid amount.  We regret that payments which are not correctly paid cannot be accepted for this event."

Applicants must bring the completed passport application form: DS-82 for adult renewals with 10-year validity, or DS-11 for first-time adult applicants and children under 16. Also, the printed payment confirmation from pay.gov attached to the application, one passport photo (2” x 2” or 5 cm x 5 cm), and original supporting documents such as a current passport or birth certificate, as well as photocopies of each.

On-site printing services will not be available.

For minors under the age of 16, both parents must be present and sign the application. For applicants aged 16–17, only one parent’s signature is required. All applications for minors must include an original birth certificate and a photocopy.

The form fees are as follows: $130 for an adult passport renewal (DS-82), $165 for a first adult passport (DS-11, age 16 and older), and $135 for a minor’s passport (under age 16, DS-11).

Forms can be downloaded from 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 submission. Alternatively, applicants may choose mail delivery via Correos de Costa Rica, which can take an additional two to four weeks.

For issues such as theft, loss, or damage, applicants must schedule an appointment at the Embassy by emailing ACSSanJose@state.gov or visiting the Embassy website. These types of applications cannot be processed at the town hall event.

For additional information about passport renewals or upcoming town hall events, individuals may call the Embassy at (506) 2519-2000, or from the U.S. at 011-506-2519-2000, or visit the Embassy website.

The Jaco Beach meeting is part of a broader outreach initiative by the U.S. Embassy. Recently, town hall meetings were held in Guanacaste.

In related news, U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem arrived in Costa Rica as part of a multi-nation tour through Central America aimed at addressing migration, border security, and transnational crime.

Mike Flores currently serves as the Chargé d’Affaires at the U.S. Mission to Costa Rica.

Meanwhile, President Donald Trump has nominated Melinda Hildebrand, a Houston-based businesswoman and philanthropist, to serve as the next U.S. Ambassador to Costa Rica. However, no Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing date has been announced for her nomination.

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Where else should the U.S. Embassy hold a town hall meeting?  We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com