Choosing a country: required documents

Required documents � What are the required documents to be allowed to enter Costa Rica? Will you need a Visa or other pre-entry permission? And how long are you allowed to stay?

Travel documents

Passport

Everyone will need a valid passport to be allowed to enter Costa Rica. The required validity changes per nationality. The majority of nationalities will need a passport with a six-month validity from the date of entering Costa Rica. Please click here to view the different country groups of the Visa Directive.

Visa

Depending on your nationality, purpose of visit, country of residence and duration of stay you will need to apply for a consular visa. However, most people are without problems granted a tourist visa, which allows you to stay in Costa Rica for 90 days.

Are you thinking of staying longer than 90 days?

That is not a problem at all. Just leave the country for 72 hours and visit beautiful neighboring countries! When you return to Costa Rica, your permit will automatically be renewed for 90 more days.

If you would like to apply for an official working visa you must apply at the Costa Rican Consulate.

Exit ticket

It is obliged for all visitors, it does not matter from which origin, to have an entry and exit ticket before you enter Costa Rica. This exit ticket may be by air or by land (bus tickets).

Other documents

Vaccinations

Recommendations for vaccinations are different for each country. Please consult your national health care department for your specific recommendations.

Nonetheless, please note that from July 30, 2007, the Costa Rican authorities will demand that all travelers have a yellow fever vaccination certificate when coming from the following countries: Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Gambia, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Bolivia, Venezuela, Brazil, Peru, Colombia and Ecuador as well as the Republic of Guyana.

International driver s license

Up to a duration of three months, you are allowed to drive with you normal driver s license.

Credit cards

All major credit cards are widely accepted. However, MasterCard and Visa Card are the most common. You will find ATM machines distributed throughout the country.

Please be aware that requirements may change. Therefore, before your departure you should check the current requirements for your nationality. For more information please consult www.costaricaembassy.com

Also if you need more information about your respective ambassy, you can find more information here