Costa Rica Visa and Passport Requirements
| Passport required | Return ticket required | Visa Required | |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU | Yes | Yes | No |
| USA | Yes | Yes | No |
| Canadian | Yes | Yes | No |
| Australian | Yes | Yes | No |
| British | Yes | Yes | No |
Passports
Passports must be valid for 90 days from your entry date is the standard advice. In reality, passports can be valid for one day, 90 days or 180 days depending on your nationality. You can check the regulations on the migracion.go.cr site here.
Passport Note
In addition to a valid passport, visitors need to present a return ticket, adequate insurance and financial capability.
Visas
Costa Rica allows citizens of many countries to visit without a visa for up to 90 days. Some of these countries include Andorra, Argentina, Austria, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Chile, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, Montenegro, New Zealand, Netherlands, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, South Africa, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Trinidad and Tobago, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States of America, Uruguay, and Vatican City.
While in theory visitors from a visa-free country can stay for up to 90 days, the exact length of stay is at the discretion of the immigration officer on arrival.
Nationals from countries not listed here are advised to contact the nearest high commission for visa requirements to Costa Rica.
Types and Cost
The cost of tourist visas varies according to nationality; check with the consulate.
Application to
Consulate (or consular section at embassy).
Temporary residence
You may apply for a temporary residency in Costa Rica. Please contact the nearest embassy.
Working days
Applications usually take up to six working days.
Sufficient Funds
Visitors may be asked to show they have sufficient funds to pay for expenses.
Entry Documents
A Yellow Fever vaccination certificate is required if visitors are from Angola, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ecuador, Gabon, Gambia, Guinea, Guyana, Liberia, Nigeria, Peru, Sierra Leone, Sudan, and Venezuela.
Entry with pets
Owners of cats and dogs may be able to bring their pets to Costa Rica if:
• Dogs are treated against tapeworm and vaccinated against rabies, distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis and parvovirus.
• Cats are treated against tapeworm and vaccinated against rabies, calicivirus, herpes, feline leukaemia and panleukopenia.
• Having a USDA health certificate (if coming from the US).
• Obtaining an import permit.
• Visiting a veterinarian for a certificate within 14 days of entry.
You're advised to check the National Animal Health Services site www.senasa.go.cr for the latest list of requirements.
This page reflects our understanding of current rules for the most common types of travel to the said country. However, please note that each authority sets and forces entry rules, hence we strongly recommend that you verify critical information with the relevant embassy before travel.
