As on Thursday, anyone who wants to change their name on the ID card can do so at the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE). During this first day of the process, the institution received 118 requests.
Andrei Cambronero, TSE spokesman, explained that people can request change at the headquarters and at the 32 regional headquarters. For the time being, they do not know the deadline for issuing the new cédula, but it would be expected to be no longer than one month.
This procedure is possible after reforms to the Civil Registry and Cédulas which established the new possibility of changing the name according to people’s self-perception of gender identity, as well as the removal of the characteristic “gender” (Feminine-Male) in the document.
The magistrates justified the changes in the framework of the Consultative Opinion issued by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (Inter-American Court of Human Rights), for the benefit of the LGBTI population. In simple words, every Costa Rican of age who wishes to change their name in the National Registry, because they believe it does not correspond to their gender identity, can do so.
The magistrates of the TSE decided, that for now it will be up to a judicial unit to readjust the procedure for minors, in accordance with the parameters set by the Inter-American Court.