Since 2009, the Civil Registry has referred 566 marriages for investigation to the Attorney General’s Office. In 49 cases a criminal conviction has been successful, and in 70 others a criminal investigation is ongoing. In every case, the event that triggered the investigation was the marriage of a foreign national, who sought naturalization to become a citizen of Costa Rica.
Before referring the case to the Attorney General, registry officials have first contacted the Costa Rican person and asked for more information. In most cases the foreign spouse is from the Dominican Republic, Colombia, Cuba or China.