Entry to Costa Rica is allowed for tourists from all countries.
Each visitor must comply with the migratory processes established in the General Law of Migration and Immigration.
Starting April 1, the temporary migration measures established in the framework of the national health emergency due to COVID-19 are repealed.
During their stay in Costa Rica, tourists must follow the health protocols established by private companies in order to participle in any tourist activity.
In the framework of the pandemic, the following requirements were also established:
1. Important Update (April 01, 2022)
Starting April 1, the temporary immigration measures for entering Costa Rica – put in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic – are repealed. This eliminates the requirement to complete the epidemiological form known as the Health Pass and the requirement of medical insurance for unvaccinated foreigners.
All commercial establishments, activities, and events can operate at 100% capacity.
Costa Rica maintains the requirement for the mandatory use of masks, the protocol for washing hands and taking temperatures, as well as compliance with health protocols for each tourist activity.
Tourists can verify if they require a visa to enter Costa Rica using the following link: Visas Costa Rica
2. Types of Entry to the Country
Entry by air or land – By land, the country admits tourists from groups one and two included in the general guidelines for entry and stay visas for non-residents who do not require a visa. Tourists can email [email protected] if they have any questions or concerns about medical insurance requirements.
Entry by sea – On Sept. 1, Costa Rica reactivated cruise tourism for the 2021-2022 season. As a requirement, vessels must guarantee complete vaccination schedules against the COVID-19 virus in all crew members and 95% of passengers who are of age to be vaccinated.
Yacht and sailboat passengers and crew members can email [email protected] if they have any questions or concerns about medical insurance requirements.
3. Departure flight ticket
A return flight ticket is needed when entering Costa Rica. The immigration officer will ask for it upon your arrival. It is advisable to make a photocopy or take a picture of your passport with the entry stamp to carry at all times during your stay.
- Your country of origin determines the amount of days available to stay in Costa Rica as a tourist.
- In some cases, the Immigration official may request you show economic solvency for your stay in the country.
- Even with a 90-day tourist visa, the immigration official determines the duration of your stay as allowed by your passport.
Visitors to Costa Rica must have a valid passport as well as proof of their intent to exit the country before their visa or entry stamp expires, usually within 90 days.
All non-resident travelers must possess a return ticket or a ticket as proof of when they intend to exit the country, commonly referred to as an outbound exit or onward ticket. An onward ticket is required of non-residents who are:
- Traveling on a one-way ticket
- Entering the country with a return ticket dated more than 90 days after arrival
- Flying into Costa Rica and flying out of another country
By law, an onward ticket includes any of the following on approved, commercial transport:
- A pre-purchased bus ticket out of the country
- A pre-purchased flight out of the country
- Proof of passage on a cruise ship
4. Obligation to Declare when entering or leaving Costa Rica
When entering or leaving a port in Costa Rica, if you carry an amount equal to or greater than the US $ 10,000 or its equivalent in other currencies, cash or securities, you must request and complete the form provided for this purpose at the migration post and present it to the Customs Authority for verification; The declaration must be made before finalizing the corresponding immigration procedures. The omission of what is established by Costa Rican law (No. 8204, article 35) will result in the immediate loss of money.
Those who fail to comply with these requirements will not be permitted to enter the country.
To visit our country there are some requirements which must be met.
All international tourists are permitted to enter Costa Rica by air, land and sea. Tourists must meet the visa requirements, when applicable, as well as the requirements established in the framework of the pandemic.
The Government of Costa Rica does not require tourists entering by air, land or sea to present a negative COVID-19 test, nor quarantine upon arrival. Tourists visiting Costa Rica are requested to abide by the sanitary protocols in place when participating in tourist activities throughout the country.
Entry requirements for those who are fully vaccinated
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To fit into this category, the person must have received an approved vaccine: Moderna, Pfizer, AstraZeneca, or Johnson & Johnson (both Covishield & Vaxzevria are accepted). The last dose of the vaccine must have been administered at least 14 days before entering Costa Rica.
Starting on July 30, 2007, all travelers coming from the following countries must possess a yellow fever vaccination certificate before entry into Costa Rica will be allowed: Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Gambia, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Bolivia, Venezuela, Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador and the Republic of Guyana.
All travelers arriving from these areas are required to prove that they have been vaccinated through the presentation of a valid International Certificate of Vaccination against yellow fever. Please notice that this certificate will be valid only 10 days after vaccination.
Will be exempt from the requirement of vaccination against yellow fever those travelers in the following cases:
Travelers that have been in transit through the countries at risk above mentioned, whether in airports, sea ports or land borders.
Transit visitors coming from a country at risk and those visitors having to remain in Costa Rican territory for 24 hours of more, for reasons of force majeure, such as adverse weather conditions, or due to occasional delay in the arrival of a connecting flight or maintenance problems of the aircraft on which they are supposed to continue their trip.
Travelers who have been in countries considered at risk, but who have remained at least 6 days in a non-risk country before entering Costa Rican territory and who have not developed the yellow fever.
Migration authorities will request the International Certificate of Vaccination against Yellow Fever to all foreigners at the Migration check point. Those who do not have a valid certificate will be allowed to enter Costa Rica.
Foreigners with a contraindication for vaccination against yellow fever coming from countries at risk must provide a valid, legal medical report, endorsed by the national health authority of the country and must present it before entering Costa Rica.
Vaccination against yellow fever will be obligatory for all travelers, except for those with contraindications to the yellow fever vaccine.
The following conditions are considered absolute contraindications:
- Children under 9 months old.
- People with severe allergy to eggs.
- Immunosuppression.
- Persons with a thymus
There must be a medical assessment of the pros and cons of vaccination on travelers with the following conditions:
- Persons over 60 years old.
- Pregnant women or breastfeeding.
- Family history of adverse events associated with vaccination against yellow fever
- Hypersensitivity to gelatin.
- Asymptomatic HIV infection, with laboratory verification of adequate immune system function.
Protocols:
Strict sanitary and social distancing protocols in hotels, activities, transportation services, venues, and restaurants have been established by the government and are fully complied by TE DMC and its vendors to guarantee a Covid 19 free operation.