Passport and Visa Requirements for Costa Rica
Passports:
All visitors to Costa Rica are required to present a current passport from their country of citizenship. The passport must be valid for at least 30 days after you depart Costa Rica. An on-ward or round trip air or bus ticket is also required. Though this is not always requested at international airports, it is a recommended to have one just in case.
Visas:
U.S. Citizens: U.S. citizens are not required to have a visa to visit Costa Rica. A tourist visa is automatic upon entry into the country and allows visitors to stay up to 90 days. If you intend to stay longer, you must leave the country for 72 hours before returning for another tourist visa. If you want to stay long term, you must look into student or employment visas, both of which require a sponsor. Residency is required to stay full time.
Canadian Citizens: Canadian citizens are not required to have a visa to visit Costa Rica. A tourist visa is automatic upon entry into the country and allows visitors to stay up to 90 days. Canadians must follow the same procedures should they want to stay longer than this period.
United Kingdom: Citizens of the United Kingdom are not required to have a visa to Visit Costa Rica. A tourist visa is automatic upon entry into the country and allows visitors to stay up to 90 days. They must follow the same procedures should they want to stay longer than this period.
Ireland: Citizens of Ireland are not required to have a visa to visit Costa Rica. A Tourist visa is automatic upon entry into the country and allows visitors to stay up to 30 days. They must follow the same procedures should they want to stay longer than this period.
This is the current list of countries that do not require a visa to enter Costa Rica:
Andorra, Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Germany, Denmark, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Monaco, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Panama, Puerto Rico, Portugal, Paraguay, Romania, Sweden, Slovenia, Trinidad and Tobago, United States, Uruguay
It is important to note that Visa and Passport requirements change constantly. It is always recommended that you check directly with the Costa Rica Consulate or Embassy in your country of citizenship to get the most up to date and current list of requirements for your visit to Costa Rica.
As an added note, always make copies of the photo page of your passport, and visa page (if you have one) and keep those in your luggage or carry on separate from your actual passport. If you don’t need a visa, make a copy of the page where you receive the tourist visa stamp upon arrival and carry that around. Copies are just as valid within the country as the real thing. Also, this way if your passport is lost or stolen you will have an easier time getting an emergency replacement.
