Costa Rica Visa: Requirements, Types, Fees & How to Apply
Start your applicationIt depends on your passport. Citizens of the United States do not require a visa to enter Costa Rica for tourism purposes for stays up to 90 days. A visa or entry does not guarantee entry — border officials make the final determination at the port of entry.
Costa Rica visa at a glance
- Government fee
- $0 — no visa required for stays up to 90 days
- Official processing
- Confirm with the Embassy of Costa Rica
- Validity / stay
- Varies
- Visa types
- 5
Do you need a visa for Costa Rica?
For longer stays, a Digital Nomad Visa is available. Other nationalities may need a tourist visa, business visa, or transit visa. Confirm the current requirement with the Costa Rica consulate/embassy for your nationality before traveling.
Entry requirements for all travelers: Visitors must have a returning ticket to exit Costa Rica (must show entry and exit of the country). The passport must also be valid for a minimum of one day from the day you enter Costa Rica. Costa Rica Exit Tax: there is a $29 USD departure tax payable at the airport with USD/Costa Rican cash or VISA, Mastercard or American Express. This tax must be paid before you check in for your flight.
Costa Rica visa types
- Visa-free (US citizens)
- Tourism, business — Up to 90 days
- Digital Nomad Visa
- Long-term digital nomad stays — Varies
- Tourist visa
- Tourism, leisure — Common validity
- Business visa
- Business meetings, conferences — Common validity
- Transit visa
- Passing through Costa Rica to a third country — Per transit rules
Who is eligible
Whether you need a visa for Costa Rica depends on your nationality:
Your legal residence also matters. Apply through the embassy or consulate responsible for your country of residence.
Your legal residence also matters. Apply through the embassy or visa authority responsible for your country of residence.
US citizens do not require a visa for tourism for stays up to 90 days.
Visa-exempt nationalities may enter visa-free under bilateral agreements.
Visa-required nationalities need a tourist visa, business visa, or transit visa.
Digital Nomad Visa is available for eligible remote workers.
Documents required for a Costa Rica visa
What the consulate expects in your file. The controlling checklist is always the one published for your country of residence.
- Valid passportVisa-free entry (US citizens) · valid for a minimum of one day from the day you enter Costa Rica.
- Return or onward travel ticketVisa-free entry (US citizens) · must show entry and exit of the country.
- Proof of accommodation readily availableVisa-free entry (US citizens) · Proof of accommodation readily available.
- Valid passportDigital Nomad Visa · 6+ months validity, 2+ blank pages.
- Completed and signed visa application formDigital Nomad Visa · Completed and signed visa application form.
- Proof of remote work or self-employmentDigital Nomad Visa · Proof of remote work or self-employment.
- Proof of income or financial meansDigital Nomad Visa · Proof of income or financial means.
- Recent passport photoDigital Nomad Visa · Recent passport photo.
- Valid passportTourist visa · 6+ months validity, 2+ blank pages.
- Completed and signed visa application formTourist visa · Completed and signed visa application form.
- Recent passport photoTourist visa · Recent passport photo.
- Proof of travel itineraryTourist visa · Proof of travel itinerary.
- Proof of accommodationTourist visa · Proof of accommodation.
- Proof of financial meansTourist visa · Proof of financial means.
- Valid passportBusiness visa · 6+ months validity, 2+ blank pages.
- Completed and signed visa application formBusiness visa · Completed and signed visa application form.
- Recent passport photoBusiness visa · Recent passport photo.
- Business letter from your companyBusiness visa · Business letter from your company.
- Invitation letter from the Costa Rican hostBusiness visa · Invitation letter from the Costa Rican host.
- Proof of financial meansBusiness visa · Proof of financial means.
- Valid passportTransit visa · 6+ months validity.
- Confirmed onward ticket to a third countryTransit visa · Confirmed onward ticket to a third country.
- Proof of sufficient funds for the transit periodTransit visa · Proof of sufficient funds for the transit period.
Costa Rica visa fees and processing time
- Government fee
- $0 — no visa required for stays up to 90 days
- Expedify processing fee
- Not applicable
- Validity / stay
- Varies
- Official processing
- Confirm with the Embassy of Costa Rica
Government fees are passed through at cost. Processing times are the authority's official estimate, stated as a fact — not a delivery promise.
How to apply for a Costa Rica visa
The official route, step by step.
Confirm you need a visa
Check the Costa Rica visa-exemption list for your nationality. If you're exempt, you don't need this process.
Get the current form and checklist from the Embassy of Costa Rica for your country. Requirements differ by country
use their list, not a generic one.
Gather your documents
see the checklist in Required documents for a Costa Rica visa above.
Submit your application
online where available, or in person at the embassy or authorized visa center. Pay the government visa fee.
Wait for processing
confirm the official ETA with the embassy. Apply at least 7-10 days before travel. Don't book non-refundable flights until approved.
Collect your passport when a decision is made and a visa is issued
Collect your passport when a decision is made and a visa is issued.
Applying yourself vs. with Expedify
The authority decides your visa either way. The difference is how much of the process you carry.
Research
- Apply yourself
- Check Costa Rica's requirements yourself
- With Expedify
- We confirm what you need for your route
Document check
- Apply yourself
- Common errors cause refusals
- With Expedify
- Pre-reviewed before submission
Appointments
- Apply yourself
- You book and attend yourself
- With Expedify
- We prepare your application and guide you
Status tracking
- Apply yourself
- You check the embassy portal
- With Expedify
- We track and notify you at every step
Government fee
- Apply yourself
- Same
- With Expedify
- Same — passed through at cost, no markup
At the border: what to expect
A visa lets you present yourself for entry — it does not guarantee admission. Entry into Costa Rica is decided by immigration officials at the port of entry.
Entry requirements
- Valid passport with your visa or exemption stamp.
- Return or onward travel ticket.
- Proof of accommodation and itinerary.
- Evidence of sufficient funds for your stay.
Conditions of stay
- Stay length is set by the officer at entry — it can be less than your visa's maximum.
- A tourist visa is not a work permit — no employment.
- No full-time study on a tourist visa.
- Depart before your permitted stay ends; overstaying is an immigration violation.
Common reasons a Costa Rica visa is refused
Knowing these before you apply reduces your risk.
Incomplete or inconsistent documentation
documents that don't match your application form.
Insufficient financial means
evidence that doesn't clearly cover your trip.
Unclear travel purpose
an itinerary that doesn't explain where you're going and why.
Weak ties to your home country
limited evidence you'll return after your stay.
Frequently asked questions
Costa Rica visa questions, answered.
More for your Costa Rica trip
How we reviewed this page
Last verified Reviewed by Expedify Compliance Review
About this service
Expedify is a private application-assistance service, not a government agency, embassy, or consulate. Visas are granted solely by the destination country's authorities, and no third party can influence or guarantee a decision. Our agency fee covers preparation, review, and tracking of your application, and is separate from any consular fee. The information on this page is general guidance, not legal or immigration advice — requirements change and vary by nationality. Always confirm with the official embassy or consulate of the country you're visiting.