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LGBTQ+ Safety — Costa Rica
What travelers need to know about lgbtq+ safety in Costa Rica. What is legal at home can be a serious crime here — each rule links to its official source.
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Costa Rica no longer bars same-sex marriage - the Family Code clause that made it "legally impossible" was struck down and now appears only as annulled. But no general law stops private businesses such as hotels or tour operators from discriminating against you over sexual orientation: the government's anti-discrimination decree binds only the Presidency and the government ministries.
§ SINALEVI (Sistema Nacional de Legislación Vigente, Procuraduría General de la República) - Ley 5476 "Código de Familia", art. 14, "Versión del artículo: 5 de 5"; and Decreto Ejecutivo 38999-MP-RE-JP-SP-MG-H-MAG-MEIC-MINAE-MOPT-MEP-S-MTSS-COMEX "Versión de la Norma: 3 de 3" (https://sinalevi.go.cr/ResultadosNormativa/Informacion?param1=79466¶m2=142689¶m3=1); page footer "© 2026 Procuraduría de la Republica"Verified Aug 30, 2026
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LawLert is an independent app and is not affiliated with any government. It summarizes laws from official government and U.S. State Department sources for general information only. This is not legal advice, and laws change. Always confirm with official sources and local authorities before you travel.