Costa Ricaportal |
The visa policy of Costa Rica requires that any foreign national wishing to enter Costa Rica must obtain a visa from one of the Costa Rican diplomatic missions, unless they hold a passport issued by one of the 95 eligible visa exempt countries or if they fulfill the requirements for a substitute visa. Costa Rican visas are documents issued by the Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería, which is part of the Ministry of Interior and Police, with the stated goal of regulating and facilitating migratory flows.
Holders of passports of the following jurisdictions do not require a visa to visit Costa Rica: [1] [2]
180 days1 30 days24 |
1 - Passport must be valid for at least one day on arrival.
2 - Passport must be valid for at least three months on arrival.
3 - Including overseas territories of Australia, Denmark, France, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, United Kingdom, United States.
4 - Extendable up to 90 days.
In addition, nationals of China who hold passports endorsed "for public affairs" do not require a visa to enter Costa Rica for a maximum stay of 30 days.
Date of visa changes | ||
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Visa is not required for holders of diplomatic or service/official passports of Barbados (30 days), China (30 days), Colombia, Cuba (30 days), Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Indonesia, Morocco (30 days), Singapore (180 days), Thailand and Vietnam for up to 90 days (unless otherwise stated).
Nationals who would normally require visas may enter Costa Rica for a maximum of 90 days if they are holding a valid, multiple-entry visa or residence permit issued by the following countries. Residence permits and visas must be valid for more than six months on arrival. [1]
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1 - for holders of residence permits only.
2 - Green Cards or U.S. visas must be valid for more than six months on arrival except for holders of B or D visas. Not applicable to holders of C1, C2, and C3 visas.
Holders of passports of the following jurisdictions must have their visa approved by the Commission for Restricted Visas before arrival: [1]
Costa Rica also requires citizens of Afghanistan, Angola, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Republic of Congo, Cuba, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Haiti, India, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar (Burma), North Korea, Nigeria, Pakistan, Senegal, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Syria, Tajikistan, Togo, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Yemen and Nicaragua to apply for transit visas before transiting through the country. [1]
Most visitors arriving to Costa Rica were from the following countries of nationality: [19]
Country | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
United States | 1,199,241 | 1,233,277 | 1,077,044 | 997,262 | 929,402 |
Nicaragua | 429,990 | 440,049 | 446,870 | 463,959 | 476,678 |
Canada | 201,921 | 188,104 | 175,771 | 172,730 | 160,398 |
Mexico | 106,783 | 94,499 | 84,940 | 75,045 | 72,568 |
Panama | 104,795 | 99,917 | 97,135 | 68,340 | 98,275 |
El Salvador | 81,091 | 78,273 | 69,427 | 63,214 | 64,552 |
Guatemala | 78,032 | 65,063 | 57,600 | 55,677 | 56,756 |
United Kingdom | 76,173 | 71,392 | 47,499 | 39,545 | 35,198 |
Germany | 70,960 | 67,939 | 66,450 | 63,916 | 54,754 |
France | 69,803 | 61,503 | 54,773 | 49,681 | 39,728 |
Spain | 69,782 | 67,453 | 65,188 | 64,303 | 52,950 |
Total | 2,959,869 | 2,925,128 | 2,660,257 | 2,526,817 | 2,427,941 |
The visa policy of Canada requires that any foreign citizen wishing to enter Canada must obtain a temporary resident visa from one of the Canadian diplomatic missions unless they hold a passport issued by one of the 53 eligible visa-exempt countries and territories or proof of permanent residence in Canada or the United States.
Visitors to Japan must obtain a visa from one of the Japanese diplomatic missions, unless they come from one of the visa-exempt countries.
The Government of Namibia allows citizens of specific countries and territories to travel to Namibia for tourism, visiting friends and relatives as well as official purposes for 3 months with an ordinary, diplomatic and service passports without having to obtain a visa. All visitors must have a passport valid for at least 6 months.
Visitors to Venezuela must obtain a visa from one of the Venezuelan diplomatic missions, unless they come from one of the visa exempt countries.
Visitors are required to hold proof of sufficient funds to cover their stay and documents required for their next destination.
Visitors not holding return / onward tickets could be refused entry. Naturalized Venezuelan citizens, must hold in addition to their passport and National Identity Card, the original of the official decree of their naturalization issued by the Venezuelan government.
All visitors must hold a passport valid for 6 months.
Visitors to Israel must obtain a visa from one of the Israeli diplomatic missions unless they come from one of the visa-exempt countries. From January 2025, all visitors from visa-exempt countries must obtain an electronic travel authorization (ETA-IL) before traveling to Israel.
The visa policy of the Philippines is governed by Commonwealth Act No. 613, also known as the Philippine Immigration Act, and by subsequent legislation amending it.
The visa policy of South Africa is how the South African government determines who may and may not enter South Africa. Visitors to South Africa must obtain a visa from one of the South African diplomatic missions unless they come from one of the visa-exempt countries, in which case they get a "Port of Entry Visa". Visitors who require a visa must apply in person and provide biometric data.
The visa policy of Ireland is set by the Government of Ireland and determines visa requirements for foreign citizens. If someone other than a European Union, European Economic Area, Common Travel Area or Swiss citizen seeks entry to Ireland, they must be a national of a visa-exempt country or have a valid Irish visa issued by one of the Irish diplomatic missions around the world.
Visitors to Senegal require a visa unless they come from one of the visa exempt countries. Visitors must hold passports that are valid for at least 6 months from the date of arrival.
Visitors to the Dominican Republic must obtain a visa from one of the Dominican Republic diplomatic missions unless they are citizens of one of the visa-exempt countries.
Visitors to Chile must obtain a visa from one of the Chilean diplomatic missions unless they come from one of the visa exempt countries.
Visitors to Zambia must obtain a visa from one of the Zambian diplomatic missions, unless they come from one of the visa exempt countries or countries whose citizens are eligible for visa on arrival. Visitors may alternatively obtain an electronic visa.
Visitors to Uruguay must obtain a visa from one of the Uruguayan diplomatic missions unless they come from one of the visa exempt countries.
Visitors to Uganda must obtain an e-Visa, unless they come from one of the visa exempt countries.
Mozambique allows most countries that are not visa exempt to obtain a visa on arrival. However, nationals of certain countries must obtain a visa online or from one of the Mozambican diplomatic missions around the world before being allowed into the country.
Visitors to Barbados must obtain a visa from one of the Barbadian diplomatic missions unless they are citizens of one of the visa-exempt countries.
Visitors to Jamaica must obtain a visa from one of the Jamaican diplomatic missions or in certain cases from one of the United Kingdom diplomatic missions unless they are citizens of one of the visa-exempt countries or citizens who may obtain a visa on arrival.
Visitors to El Salvador must obtain a visa from one of the Salvadoran diplomatic missions, unless they come from one of the visa exempt countries. All visitors must hold a passport valid for 6 months.
Visitors to Honduras must obtain a visa from one of the Honduran diplomatic missions unless they come from one of the visa exempt countries. All visitors must hold a passport valid for 3 months.
The British Overseas Territories maintain their own entry requirements different from the visa policy of the United Kingdom. As a general rule, British citizens do not have automatic right of abode in these territories.