Requirements to enter as a tourist: !

1. Present a valid aerial or terrestrial ticket for exit.

2. Demonstrate economic solvency with a minimum of $200.

3. Valid passport, with not less than 6 months validity remaining.

Tourists will be able to remain in the country only for the time that a specific visa grants them, which depends on the country of origin and which we will explain in further detail below. If the individual remains longer than the authorized time, he is considered an illegal.

Tourists are able to enter and to leave the country the number of times they wish without problem, as long as they fulfill the two following conditions.

1. Leave the country before the visa expires.

2. Fulfill the requirements to enter again as a tourist, previously indicated.

Illegal tourists, that is, those that did not leave the country before their visa expires, have the following disadvantages:

1. $41 of departure taxes will have to be paid, while legal tourists only pay $17.

2. After three times leaving Costa Rica as an illegal, the civil employees of Immigration will put a seal on your passport indicating that it will be the last time you are able to enter the country or that you must begin with the residence process.

3. A fine of ¢300 per month. However the collection of this fine is suspended at the moment as Immigration is making a study to modify the situation of the illegal tourists.

When tourists are in process of getting their residence, in order to get into the country they must still fulfill the requirements of entering as a tourist.

The regulations on entrance visas and permanence for tourists depend on their country of origin and can be:

With consular visa: In this the visa must be solicited in a Costa Rican consulate before entering into the country.

Without consular visa: They enter into the country directly.

The nationals of the following countries will be able to enter without consular visa with a validity of 90 days, in regard to existing Agreements and International treaties with these countries:

Argentina - Germany - Austria - Belgium - Brazil - Canada - South Korea - Denmark - Spain - United States - Finland - France - Holland - Hungary - Israel - Italy - Japan - Luxembourg - Norway - Panama - Paraguay - Poland - Portugal - Puerto Rico - United Kingdom - Rumania - Switzerland - Sweden - Uruguay

The nationals of the following countries will be able to enter without consular visa with a validity of 30 days.

Saudi Arabia - Australia - Bahamas - Bahrain - Bearded - Belize - Bolivia - Bulgaria - Dominican - Colombia - Chile - El Salvador - Philippines - United Arab Emirates - Slovakia - Guatemala - Guyana - Kenya - Mexico - Kuwait - New Zealand - Republic of China - Republic of Ireland - Russia - South Africa - Santa Lucia - Singapore - Vatican - Turkey - Venezuela.

The nationals of the following countries will be able to enter with consular visa and a validity of 30 days.

Andorra - Belarus - Cyprus - Croatia - Egypt - Ecuador - Slovenia - Estonia - India - Indonesia - Latvia - Malaysia - Malta - Morocco - Moldova - Nicaragua - Peru - Dominican Republic - Thailand - Ukraine

The nationals of the following countries will be able to enter with restricted and consular visa. In this case they are those visas that are asked for previously in a Consulate of Costa Rica, but in addition the Consulate must consult directly with the Main directorate of Migración and Extranjería in Costa Rica who will determine the validity and terms*.

Afghanistan - Albania - Angola - Algeria - Bangladesh - Cameroon - Korea - Cuba - Guinea - Ethiopia - Iraq - Haiti - Jordan - Lebanon - Libya - Mongolia - Mozambique - Nepal - Nigeria - Pakistan - Continental China - Palestine - Syria - Uganda - Vietnam - Yemen - Zaire.

*The nationals of countries not indicated in the previous lists, are included in this last point

We recommend to all tourists who really reside in Costa Rica to apply for legal residency. This is simply due to the fact that Immigration is constantly changing the migratory policies. If you feel you do not meet the requirements to obtain your residency, you may consult our offices for the possibilities open to allow you to reside legally in Costa Rica. Please contact us at 233-8068

© El Residente ARCR Administración S.A. San José, Costa Rica N.B. Like all information on the internet, this article may currently be incorrect or out of date.