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Key facts
- Same-sex marriage: legal since May 26, 2020. That was when a 2018 Constitutional Chamber (Sala IV) ruling took effect, following a 2018 Inter-American Court of Human Rights advisory opinion [1][2].
- Same-sex relations and events: the U.S. State Department notes that Costa Rica has no legal restrictions on same-sex relations or on gay and lesbian events [3].
- First in Central America: Costa Rica was the first country in the region to allow same-sex marriage [1][2].
What law does not guarantee
Legal equality does not mean everyone accepts it. Costa Rica remains socially conservative in many places, and some travellers report stares or comments, particularly outside the main tourist areas [5].
Getting married here
Foreign couples can marry in Costa Rica, but the paperwork and recognition at home depend on your own country’s rules. Talk to a Costa Rican lawyer or notary, and to your home authorities, before you plan a wedding.
Sources (checked October 29, 2026):
- Presidencia de la República de Costa Rica, 25 May 2020: equal civil marriage takes effect on 26 May 2020
- Reuters, 26 May 2020: Costa Rica allows same-sex marriages, a first for Central America
- U.S. Department of State: Costa Rica travel advisory (Local laws: gay and lesbian travelers)
- U.S. Department of State: Gay and lesbian travelers, general guidance
- IGLTA: Costa Rica destination guide