You are planning to travel the green country of Latin America and the big question is : Do you need a visa to go to Costa Rica ? Like everywhere else, this will depend on your nationality, purpose of visit, country of residence and length of your stay. So whether you are an European, Indian, or US citizen, here is everything you need to know about the visa policy of this green democracy.
Not all people who wish to travel to Costa Rica need an entry visa, which means that there is no need to apply for a specific visa in advance (no consular visa required). However, all foreigners who enter Costa Rica, regardless if they require a visa or not, must comply with the Costa Rica passport requirements and expiration rules.
Passport Requirements & Passport Expiration Rules
- Have your original passport signed and in good condition (without rips, holes and smudges).
- Have a passport with at least 3 months validity at the time of entry to Costa Rica
- Have a onward ticket (proof that you’ll leave Costa Rica within 180 days
- Proof that you have sufficient financial (at least 100 USD for every month you stay in Costa Rica)
Which countries need a visa ?
Costa Rica separates countries into 4 different groups, each with their own requirements.
Group 1 and group 2 includes countries with Easy Entry into Costa Rica : Passport holders from these countries do not need to obtain a Consular Visa in advance. They will get a tourist visa (a stamp issued by an immigration officer at the airport). Tourist visas range from 30 days to 180 depending on the group.
US, Canada and European passport holders do not need a consular visa.
For tourism purposes, they can automatically stay up to 180 days.
- Group 1 : Citizens of the following countries can remain in the country for a maximum of 180 days.
United States of America, Canada, European Union, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Switzerland, Paraguay, Uruguay, Panama , Chile, Argentina, Peru, Mexico, South Africa, Australia, Liechtenstein, South Korea, Japan, Bahamas, Barbados, Puerto Rico, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Trinidad and Tobago, Brazil, Montenegro, Andorra, San Marino, Iceland, New Zealand, Serbia, Israel, Singapore, Vatican City.
- Group 2 : Citizens of the following countries can remain in the country for a maximum of 30 days.
Russia, Antigua and Barbuda, Guatemala, Mauritius, Saint Lucia, Tonga, Belize, Guyana, Micronesia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Turkey, Bolivia, Honduras, Nauru, Samoa, Tuvalu, Brunei-Darussalam, Kazakhstan, Northern Mariana Islands, São Tome and Príncipe, Ukraine, Dominica, Palau, Seychelles, Vanuatu, El Salvador, Malaysia, Philippiness, Solomon Islands, Venezuela, Fiji, Maldives, Russia, Surinam, Granada, Marshall Islands, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Taiwan
- Group 3 : Citizens of the following countries must apply for a consular visa and and have a valid passport for at least six months. The visa will give them right for a 30 day stay, extendable for 90 days.
Albania, China, Ecuador, India, Nicaragua, South African, Vietnam, Angola, Argelia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Benin, Belarus, Bhutan, Bosnia and herzegovina, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cape Verde, Cambodia, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Colombia, Republic of Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, Comoros, Djibouti, Dominica Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Egypt, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Nambia Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Sahrawi Arab, Saudi Arabia, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Swaziland, Tajikistan, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
- Group 4 : Citizens of the following countries must apply for a consular restricted visa before entering the country. and have a valid passport for at least six months. The visa will give them right for a 30 day stay, extendable for 90 days.
Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cuba, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Haiti, Iran, Irak, Jamaica, Myanmar, North Korea, Palestine, Syria, Somalia, Sri Lanka
Nomad Digital Visa, 1 year renewable
Read the blog dedicated to this visa, click here
Temporary and permanent residency permit
Temporary residence permits for students : Many educational institutions do not require you to have a student TRP (you can enter Costa Rica as a tourist and take a short course until your tourist permit expires), it becomes mandatory if you wants to stay in Costa Rica for longer than 90 days and if you are following a programme that leads to a degree.
Temporary residence permit for workers : First, you have to know that getting a work permit in Costa Rica is very complicated due to the high level of restrictions the government has put in place to ensure that foreigners do not take the jobs Costa Rica nationals can have. So you will need a job offer and a statement explaining why you are more qualified for the job than a tico. Theoretically, a work permit can be granted to executives, managers, representatives of foreign companies, self-employed individuals, artists and entertainers, members of the clergy, investors, academic researchers, professors, teachers, athletes, correspondents, technicians or scientists who work for a company accredited by the immigration service.
- Pensionado permit : If you are looking to retire in Costa Rica, the pensioner visa is made for you! Costa Rica grants a temporary residency visa under the category of “pensionado” to foreigners who have a monthly pension of at least 1000 USD, such as social security, annuities, retirement funds, military pensions or other guaranteed retirement benefits.
The permit has a validity of 2 years, and may be renewed on condition. For renewal, it must be proved you have lived in the country at least 4 months per year, continuous or discontinuous.
- Rentista permit : If you are a self-employed individual, the Person Of Independent Means Visa is made for you! Costa Rica grants a temporary residency visa under the category of “rentista”, to foreigners who have a regular monthly income of at least 2500 USD from a guaranteed source for two years. This requirement can be met by making a bank deposit of 60000 USD at a local bank.
The permit has a validity of 2 years, and may be renewed on condition. For renewal, it must be proved you have lived in the country at least 4 months per year, continuous or discontinuous.
- Inversionista permit : Costa Rica grants a temporary residency visa under the category of “inversionista”, to foreigners who have made an big investment in the country. The required investment amount is 200000 USD and may be in active business, real estate, stocks or securities, or 100000 USD in a forest plantation or an ecological project.
The permit has a validity of 2 years, and may be renewed on condition. For renewal, it must be proved that you have lived in the country at least 6 months per year, continuously or discontinuously.
Once you have legally resided in Costa Rica with any temporary residence permit for 3 or more years, you may be eligible for permanent residence. You can also get a residence permit under the category of “vinculo” if are married or have a first degree relationship (spouse, child, parent, brother or sister) with a Costa Rican citizen who is willing to sponsor the residence.
