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1 min

12 Mar. 2023

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Traveling to Costa Rica: entry rules, necessary documents and useful contacts

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Costa Rica

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Traveling to Costa Rica: entry rules, necessary documents and useful contacts

Costa Rica attracts tourists with incredible landscapes, white beaches, and clear blue water off the coast. Every year, many travelers come here for relaxation and adventure. We tell you about the rules for entering the countries, the necessary documents for traveling and useful contacts

An insurance policy is a guarantee of your safety and peaceful stay outside your home country
An insurance policy is a guarantee of your safety and peaceful stay outside your home country
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According to the latest Global Peace Index, Costa Rica is recognized as the safest country in Latin America, with a relatively low crime rate and high political stability. Travelers to the country are attracted by Costa Rica's tourism potential: the Caribbean coast with great beaches, surfing and atmospheric parties, as well as national parks where you can enjoy amazing views.
We talk about the rules for entering the country and useful information for tourists.

Buying real estate in Costa Rica as a foreign national: a detailed guide

• Visa requirements for travel to Costa Rica

- Tourists from all countries of the world are allowed to enter Costa Rica.
- The visa policy of the state divides the countries of the world into four groups:
Foreign citizens who need a Costa Rican consular visa are most of the countries in Africa and Asia, as well as some European countries. The maximum period of stay is 30 days.
- Tourists who need a limited Costa Rica visa. Citizens of these states must obtain permission from the Commission on Restricted Visas to process documents. The maximum period of stay is 30 days.
- Visa-exempt citizens who are allowed to travel to Costa Rica only with a passport that must be valid for at least one more day after entry. This category includes citizens of the United States and member states of the European Union. Foreigners are allowed to stay in Costa Rica for a maximum of 90 days.
- Visa-exempt citizens who are only allowed to travel to Costa Rica with a passport that must be valid for at least three months from the date of arrival. Tourists from this category are allowed to stay in Costa Rica for a maximum of 30 days.

• Quarantine restrictions in connection with the epidemic of COVID-19 in Costa Rica

As of April 1, 2022, Costa Rica has lifted most quarantine restrictions for foreign tourists. However, from January 13, 2023, certain requirements have been imposed for visitors from China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan who have been in these territories within the last 14 days. Tourists must provide a negative PCR or Covid-19 antigen test performed in a laboratory less than 72 hours prior to their entry into Costa Rica. In addition, persons from the above-mentioned places of origin (over the age of 12) must have a document confirming the presence of vaccination against Covid-19.

• List of travel documents:

- valid foreign passport;
- visa (if necessary, depending on the citizenship of the foreigner);
- return ticket – the border guard officer may ask to show it upon your arrival;
- in some cases, the immigration service may ask the tourist to provide information about the economic ability to pay for the stay in the country;

Importantly! We recommend that you make a photocopy or take a photo of your passport with the entry stamp and have this information with you throughout your stay.


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• Filling out the customs declaration
A foreigner must request and fill out a declaration form at the migration post office and submit it to the customs authority for verification if he is transporting an amount equal to or greater than $10,000 (or its equivalent in another currency) in cash or securities.

• Vaccination
Effective July 30, 2007, travelers entering Costa Rica must have a yellow fever vaccination certificate if they are traveling from one of the following countries: 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.

• Travel with an animal to Costa Rica

- Costa Rica does not require your pet to be identified with a microchip, but recommends having one in case the pet gets lost.
- All dogs and cats over 3 months of age entering Costa Rica must have a current rabies vaccination and individual vaccines depending on the animal species.
- A blood titer test is not required to enter Costa Rica from any country.
- The International Health Certificate must be completed by a veterinarian licensed to practice veterinary medicine in the country of residence and then presented to a government official for endorsement and stamp (CFIA in Canada, USDA if your animal is traveling from America, etc. ). A clinical examination to obtain a certificate must be completed within 2 weeks before departure to Costa Rica.

• Useful contacts
The emergency number is 911;
Police - 1117;
Fire service - 1118;
Red Cross - 1128 or 2221 5818.

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