Costa Rica Entry Requirements
Visa, immigration, and customs information
Visa Requirements
Entry permissions vary by nationality. Find your category below.
Costa Rica divides visitors into three groups: visa-free, electronic authorization, and consular visa. Citizens of the United States, Canada, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, and many Latin-American countries may enter without a visa for tourism.
Passport holders of Group 1 countries may enter Costa Rica without any prior visa.
Passport must be valid at least one day beyond entry date for US/CA/UK/EU; three months for others.
Citizens of Group 2 countries must obtain an online authorization before boarding.
Cost: No fee
Authorization is valid for 30 days from issue; travel must commence within that window.
Group 3 and 4 nationals must secure a consular visa in advance.
Processing can take 15–30 days; visas are multiple-entry for up to 60 days total stay in any 180-day period.
Arrival Process
Expect two stops: health (if arriving from a yellow-fever risk country) and immigration. Have printed documents ready; Wi-Fi can be spotty when you need to open e-mails.
Documents to Have Ready
Tips for Smooth Entry
Customs & Duty-Free
Costa Rica allows generous duty-free alcohol and moderate tobacco, but protects its agriculture. Declare anything questionable—fines start at US $50.
Prohibited Items
- Fresh meat, cold cuts, unpasteurized cheese—animal-disease risk
- Untreated wooden souvenirs—forest pest threat
- Explosives, firearms without prior Ministry of Public Security permit
- Pornography or counterfeit goods
Restricted Items
- Medications containing pseudoephedrine, codeine, or strong painkillers—bring prescription and original bottle
- Drones over 250 g—register with DGAC before arrival
- Gold or archaeological items—export permit required
Health Requirements
Costa Rica no longer asks for COVID-19 tests or health insurance, but vaccines and insurance can still protect your trip.
Required Vaccinations
- Yellow fever if arriving from Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, DRC, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Sudan, or designated risk areas in the Americas such as parts of Colombia, Venezuela, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador.
Recommended Vaccinations
- Hepatitis A & B
- Typhoid (routine boosters)
- Typhoid for rural travel
- Rabies for spelunkers or wildlife handlers
Health Insurance
Not mandatory, but Costa Rica travel insurance covering medical evacuation ($50 k+) is strongly advised; many travelers combine it with adventure-sports riders for zip-lining or surfing.
Protect Your Trip with Travel Insurance
Complete coverage for medical emergencies, trip cancellation, lost luggage, and 24/7 emergency assistance. Many countries recommend or require travel insurance.
Get a Quote from World NomadsImportant Contacts
Essential resources for your trip.
Special Situations
Additional requirements for specific circumstances.
If only one parent or a non-parent is accompanying, carry notarized consent plus child’s birth certificate. Airlines check this before boarding.
Dogs/cats need current rabies shot (at least 30 days before travel but within 1 year), internal/external parasite treatment within 14 days, and an endorsed health certificate (USDA/CFIA or local authority). Present documents to SENASA at the airport.
Leave for 72 hours (Nicaragua or Panama) to reset 90-day tourist stamp, or apply for a 90-day extension online for roughly US $100. For longer periods investigate pensionado or digital-nomad residency.
Know what to pack
Climate-specific clothing, travel documents, electronics, and gear — with shopping links for every item.
View Costa Rica Packing List →