Immigrate to Costa Rica: Visa Requirements per Country
In this comprehensive guide about immigrate to Costa Rica, we offer essential information regarding visas to visit Costa Rica, distinguishing between various visa types and shedding light on temporary and permanent residency application processes.
Costa Rica Attorneys by the U.S. and U.K. Embassy:
We are lawyers registered with the US Embassy and UK Embassy; with us by your side, you will be able to hire expert visa advice.
We care about your safety and security; we take care of the client and advise on travel, places to visit in Costa Rica, investment opportunities, the establishment of partnerships, and more.
So we provide travel advice, attached to the Costa Rican law, focused on being your Costa Rican immigration agency.
Visa by country of origin:
Official 2023 Costa Rica Government table Visas
The following table shows the subdivision of groups by country of origin.
Official 2023 Costa Rica Government table Visas
| Group | VISA | Country |
|---|---|---|
| First Group |
Entry without a visa. Maximum stay: up to 180 calendar days, non-extendable. |
The United States of America and Canada are in this group, and their territorial dependencies receive the same treatment. This applies to visitors to Costa Rica for tourism travel, business travel, medical evacuation, travel health, and adventure sports, with or without travel insurance or medical insurance.
The countries in this group are Germany, Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Chile, Cyprus, Denmark, United Arab Emirates, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, State of Qatar, United States of America, Estonia, Finland, France, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Montenegro, Norway, New Zealand, Netherlands (Holland), Panama, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Principality of Monaco, San Marino, Peru, Puerto Rico, Serbia, South Africa, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Czech Republic, Republic of Korea (South Korea), Hellenic Republic (Greece), Romania, Holy See Vatican, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland, Trinidad and Tobago, Ukraine, Uruguay. Minimum validity of 1 day in their original passport. |
| Second Group: |
Entry without a visa Maximum stay: up to thirty calendar days |
The countries in this group are Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Bolivia, Dominica, El Salvador, Brunei Darussalam, Russian Federation, Philippines, Fiji, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Northern Mariana Islands, Marshall Islands, Solomon Islands, Kiribati, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Micronesia (Federated States), Nauru, Palau, Kingdom of Tonga, Samoa, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saint Lucia, São Tomé and Príncipe, Seychelles, Suriname, Taiwan (Region), Tuvalu, Turkey, Vanuatu.
Minimum Passport Validity: 90 days. |
| Third Group: | Entry with Consular VISA
VISA validity: single entry only. Deadline to stamp the visa in the passport: three months once authorized. Deadline to enter Costa Rica: Once stamped in the passport, the visa must be used within a maximum period of sixty days. Maximum stay: up to 30 calendar days, extendable up to 90 calendar days. |
The countries in this group are Albania, Angola, Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Armenia, Bahrain, Benin, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Burkina Faso (Upper Volta), Burundi, Bhutan, Cape Verde, Cambodia, Cameroon, Colombia, Ivory Coast (Côte d’Ivoire), Comoros, Chad, Ecuador, Egypt, Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, Kosovo, Kuwait, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Lebanon, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Morocco, Moldova, Mongolia, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Papua New Guinea, Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (Western Sahara), Central African Republic, North Macedonia (formerly Republic of Macedonia), Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire), People’s Republic of China, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Dominican Republic, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan (North Sudan), South Sudan, Thailand, Tanzania, East Timor, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Djibouti, Zambia, Zimbabwe.Minimum passport validity: 180 calendar days. |
| Fourth group: | VISA validity: single entry only.
Deadline to stamp the visa in the passport: three months once authorized. Deadline to enter costa rica: Once stamped in the passport, the visa must be used within a maximum period of sixty days.
|
This group includes some countries such as Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Cuba, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Haiti, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Mauritania, Myanmar (Burma), Pakistan, Palestine, Syrian Arab Republic, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea), Somalia, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan.
Mandatory passport validity: 180 calendar days. |
Specific regulations exist for El Salvador, Russia, Nicaragua, China and Administrative Regions, Colombia, Venezuela.
You can check it in the official decree of the Costa Rican government: Costa Rica VISA official Decree
Exceptions for entry group with consular visa or restricted visa:
Nationals of countries with these types of visas, who have visas or residencies that allow multiple entries in any category, including refugee and asylum category and type D and C1/D visas only, with a minimum validity of 90 calendar days in the United States of America and Canada, may enter Costa Rica.
Do you need an entry or transit visa? If you are from a restricted visa country and are only passing through on your way to another destination, you must obtain a transit visa.
Costa Rica visa requirements for Indian citizens:
India falls under the third group of visa types for Costa Rica, which offers a single-entry visa with 60 days to enter the country, allowing for a maximum stay of 30 calendar days, extendable up to 90 days. The passport must have a minimum validity of 180 days.
Exception: In Costa Rica, we do business with Indian companies, and we receive many visitors of Indian nationality but with permanent residence in the United States:
Suppose the Indian person has permanent residence in the United States or Canada. In that case, the rules of these two countries apply, and they can be exempted from the visa to enter Costa Rica. The visas of the United States of America type C1, C2, and C3 correspond to transit visas and are not accepted.
Apply for Costa Rica VISA:
You must complete a visa application form and send it to the Costa Rican Embassy or Consulate in your home country to apply for a visa. You must also provide the required documentation, such as a valid passport and other travel documents, such as photographs and proof of funds.
The processing time for a visa varies depending on the type of visa and the embassy or consulate to which you apply. However, you should expect to wait at least 2-3 weeks for your visa to be processed in certain countries.
Visa vs. Temporary Residency vs. Permanent Residency: Custom for you
The visa constitutes an authorization to enter a country:
Costa Rica enforces a regulation called Entry Visa Guidelines, which determines the type of visa a person must apply for based on their nationality.
There are two main types of Costa Rica residence permits: permanent and temporary.
On the other hand, the Costa Rican government issues a Temporary Residence Permit for a broader range of purposes. These may include work, study, investment, retirement, or family reunification, depending on your specific immigration category.
A Permanent Costa Rica Residence Permit is issued for the following reasons:
- If you have a Costa Rican family member that’s related by blood (parent, sibling, or child)
- After you have lived in Costa Rica with a temporary residence permit for at least three years.
The government grants permanent residence permits without an expiration date, while it issues temporary residence permits for up to two years, with the option to renew. You don’t need a visa for either permit.
The Costa Rican government encourages Canadian and U.S. citizens to stay in the country by passing new laws such as the Digital Nomads Law and the Tax Exemption Law.
Extending Your Stay in Costa Rica
An application for residency offers a bridge to an extended stay in Costa Rica. AG Legal guides you through the application process, ensuring a smooth transition to your new “pura vida” life.
Stay without a visa:
When you, have a residency application, the file number assigned to you by the Costa Rican authority serves as a document that validates your stay in the country legally; you do not have to leave the country or need a valid visa.
You can also plan travel abroad, make emergency travel, and enter or leave Costa Rica with the airline of your choice to the destination of your choice without any problem.
Answering Key Questions About Costa Rica Immigrate
Which countries require a visa according to local law?
Explore whether your nationality requires a tourist visa before visiting Costa Rica. Here is the complete official list of countries that require a VISA from the CR immigration authorities:
Suppose you have a Costa Rican child born in the USA, Canada, or Costa Rica. In that case, you can go to the nearest Bureau of Consular Affairs to meet their requirements and request a Costa Rican travel passport.</p>
<p>Travel advice for Costa Rica: Always try to consider times of the year prone to the rainy season in tourist areas and natural disasters, and also remember that Costa Rica is no longer a Covid-19 alert, so you do not need vaccination so that you can take advantage of your visit period, but if something were to happen to you (hopefully not) remember that in Costa Rica we have an excellent health service, with the best doctors and hospitals in the whole Central American region.</p>
Entry restrictions:
If you are traveling to Costa Rica from certain countries in South America or sub-Saharan Africa, then you will be required to present proof of the Yellow Fever vaccination.</p>
This health requirement is essential to ensure safe entry into the country and to protect public health.
The countries considered at risk are:
Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Guyana, and Venezuela. You can travel to Costa Rica ten days after the shot.
If you purchased a tour package months before your trip, then it’s essential to verify the current entry rules. Otherwise, your travel plans could be affected.
Costa Rica VISA for US citizens?
The US and Canadá are Visa-free countries for Costa Rica, and the others in the list above.
US permanent residents from other countries can easily explore Costa Rica’s offerings without a VISA.
Preferably, contact the embassy of Costa Rica or AG Legal in advance for information on any changes to entry into Costa Rica.
What travel documents do you need to fly to Costa Rica from the US?
US nationals must have a current, valid passport and a return ticket to exit Costa Rica within 90 days.
Whether you plan to return to your home country or continue your journey to another destination, your U.S. passport must be valid for at least 1 day.</p>
Additionally, you do not need a visa to enter.
What are the consequences of an overstay in Costa Rica?
If you overstay by one month, immigration authorities will, consequently, charge you a USD 100 fine. However, they will waive the fine if you apply for residency in Costa Rica.
Partner with AG Legal:
Visit AG Legal’s Immigration Law Services to explore how our seasoned team can assist you throughout the visa and residency process.
Importantly, the U.S.A. embassy in San Jose, Costa Rica, has officially registered us to provide accurate support throughout your Costa Rican immigration process.</p>
Contact Us: info@aglegal.com
