Name: Cody L. Gear & Associates
Address: Plaza Rose, 600 mtrs sur este Casa Esquinera, Color Blanco, Verjas Negras, San Rafael de Escazu, San José Province, San Jose, 10203, CR
Telephone: 321-218-9209

Costa Rica Expat Emergency & Birth Parent Resource List

Essential Contacts When Crisis Hits—Embassies, Hospitals, PANI, Police, Media, Repatriation Services

Complete International Resource Directory for Costa Rica

2 AM at Hospital CIMA

Michael's phone rang at 2:17 AM. A panicked voice on the other end—Canadian accent, male, maybe thirty years old.

"My wife had an accident. We're at some hospital in Escazú. She's unconscious. They're asking for insurance information and I don't know what to tell them. I don't even know if our Canadian insurance works here. They want payment up front and I—"

"Slow down," Michael said, already pulling on clothes. "Which hospital?"

"CIMA. Hospital CIMA San José. We were driving back from Manuel Antonio and someone ran a red light—"

"I'll be there in twenty minutes. Here's what you do right now: call the Canadian Embassy emergency line. Have your passports ready. Tell them there's been a vehicular accident with injuries. They'll coordinate with the hospital."

"What's the number?"

Michael recited it from memory. After 27 years in Costa Rica, he'd memorized the embassy numbers, the hospital locations, the emergency contacts that expats needed when crisis struck and panic overrode rational thought.

Twenty-three minutes later, he walked into Hospital CIMA's emergency waiting room. The Canadian man—passport said James Morrison from Vancouver—stood near the admissions desk looking lost. His wife was in surgery. The hospital wanted 200,000 colones deposit. His credit cards weren't working. The Canadian Embassy emergency line had confirmed they'd coordinate with Canadian insurance but couldn't provide immediate payment authorization at 2 AM.

Michael made three phone calls. The hospital's international patient coordinator. The Canadian Embassy duty officer. James's insurance company emergency line in Vancouver. Within forty minutes, payment was authorized, surgery proceeded, and James collapsed into a waiting room chair.

"I didn't know who to call," he said quietly. "We've been in Costa Rica three months. I have her passport. I have our insurance cards. But I didn't know... I didn't have the phone numbers."

That's the problem. Expats arrive in Costa Rica with travel insurance and good intentions. Then midnight hits and someone's in the hospital or dead or arrested or needs their embassy and the phone numbers aren't in their contacts and panic makes Google searches impossible.

This resource page exists because emergencies don't wait for business hours. Birth parent searches don't pause for bureaucracy. Accidents happen on Saturday nights when government offices are closed and you need to know—right now—which hospital takes international insurance, which embassy number reaches a human being after hours, where PANI's regional offices are located, and how to get help when Costa Rica's systems feel impenetrable.

After 27 years working throughout Costa Rica helping American, Canadian, British, and French expats navigate crises, I've compiled every essential contact number, address, and resource that matters when something goes wrong or you need to locate biological family through Costa Rica's adoption system.

Save this page. Share it. Print it. Put these numbers in your phone before you need them.

COSTA RICA EMERGENCY NUMBERS

911 - All Emergencies (Police, Fire, Ambulance)

1193 - Red Cross Emergency

1147 - Child Protection Emergency (PANI)

128 - Traffic Police

International Embassies & Consulates

United States Embassy - San José

U.S. Embassy Costa Rica

Address: Pavas, San José (Carretera Pavas, frente al Centro Comercial Multiplaza)

Main Phone: +506 2519-2000

Emergency After Hours: +506 2220-3127

American Citizen Services: +506 2519-2000 ext. 2453

Website: cr.usembassy.gov

Email: acsanjose@state.gov

Services: Passport replacement, emergency assistance, notary services, citizen registration, birth reports, death reports, federal benefits

ACS Hours: Monday-Thursday 8:00 AM - 11:30 AM (by appointment only)

Emergency Services: Available 24/7 via after-hours number

Important for U.S. Citizens: Register with STEP (Smart Traveler Enrollment Program) at step.state.gov for emergency notifications and location updates. If staying long-term in Costa Rica, registration helps embassy locate you during emergencies.

Canadian Embassy - San José

Embassy of Canada to Costa Rica

Address: Oficentro Ejecutivo La Sabana, Edificio 5, Piso 3, Sabana Sur, San José

Main Phone: +506 2242-4400

Emergency After Hours: +1-613-996-8885 (Emergency Watch and Response Centre, Ottawa)

WhatsApp Emergency: +1-613-686-3002

Website: www.costarica.gc.ca

Email: sjose@international.gc.ca

Services: Consular assistance, passport services, notarial services, citizenship services, emergency assistance

Office Hours: Monday-Thursday 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM, 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM; Friday 8:00 AM - 1:00 PM

Emergency Services: 24/7 via Ottawa emergency line

Important for Canadian Citizens: Register with the Registration of Canadians Abroad service for emergency contact. Emergency consular assistance available 24/7 through Global Affairs Canada Emergency Watch and Response Centre.

British Embassy - San José

British Embassy Costa Rica

Address: Edificio Centro Colón, Piso 11, Paseo Colón entre Calles 38 y 40, San José

Main Phone: +506 2258-2025

Emergency After Hours: +506 8721-5554

London Emergency Line: +44 20 7008 5000

Website: www.gov.uk/world/costa-rica

Email: consularenquiries.costarica@fcdo.gov.uk

Services: Emergency travel documents, assistance in arrest, death notification, medical emergencies, repatriation

Office Hours: Monday-Thursday 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM; Friday 8:00 AM - 1:00 PM

Emergency Services: 24/7 via local emergency mobile or London FCO

Important for British Citizens: The embassy cannot pay medical bills, legal fees, or repatriation costs. However, they can help contact family/friends who can assist financially and coordinate with UK-based resources.

French Embassy - San José

Ambassade de France au Costa Rica

Address: Carretera a Curridabat, 200 metros sur y 25 oeste de la Rotonda de la Bandera, San José

Main Phone: +506 2234-4167

Emergency After Hours: +506 2234-4167 (répondeur avec numéro d'urgence)

Paris Emergency: +33 1 43 17 53 53 (Centre de Crise et de Soutien)

Website: cr.ambafrance.org

Email: info@ambafrance-cr.org

Services: État civil, passeports, visas, assistance consulaire, inscriptions consulaires

Heures d'ouverture: Lundi-Vendredi 8:00-12:00 et 13:30-16:00

Services d'urgence: 24/7 via répondeur puis numéro d'urgence fourni

Important pour les citoyens français: Inscription au registre des Français établis hors de France recommandée. En cas d'urgence, l'ambassade peut contacter la famille en France et coordonner l'assistance consulaire.

PANI (Adoption & Child Welfare Agency)

National Headquarters - San José

PANI Central Office

Full Name: Patronato Nacional de la Infancia

Address: Barrio Luján, San José, 100 metros norte de la Escuela Luján

Main Phone: +506 2523-0707 / +506 2523-0800

Emergency Hotline (24/7): 1147 (child protection emergencies)

Website: www.pani.go.cr

Email: info@pani.go.cr

Services: Adoption records access, child protection, birth parent searches, adoption file requests, historical adoption documentation

Office Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Legal Representation Required: Yes, for adoption record access requests