According to the immigration department of Costa Rica, there are 4 different groups of international countries that have four different visa requirements for their citizens to enter, visit and stay in Costa Rica. Citizens of the first and second group of countries do not require a Costa Rica visa. They will receive a visa on arrival and obtain an entry stamp in their passport. After receiving the entry visa, make sure to always double check the entry and exit stamps! Sometimes the authorities can make a mistake which can cause you some problems later on.
Citizens of the third and fourth groups of countries will be required to register for a restricted Costa Rica Visa which must be applied at least 90 days before expected travel.
FOR CITIZENS OF THE THIRD AND FOURTH GROUPS OF COUNTRIES, IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT TICKETS FOR TRAVEL NOT BE PURCHASED UNTIL AFTER A RESTRICTED VISA HAS BEEN APPROVED AS THERE IS NO GUARANTEE A VISA WILL BE GRANTED, AND IF IT IS DENIED THE APPLICANT MUST WAIT 6 MONTHS BEFORE RE-APPLYING.
Here are the official groups for the Costa Rica visa requirements:
Citizens of the first group of countries do not require a Costa Rica visa.
They must have a valid passport with at least one day left and arrive in Costa Rica with a return ticket proving they will leave the country within the tourist visa period, usually granted for 90 days upon arrival in Costa Rica. The length of the tourist visa granted is at the discretion of the immigration official at the point of entry to Costa Rica, but is usually granted for a stay of 90 days.
The First Group of Countries are:
ANDORRA, ARGENTINA, AUSTRALIA, AUSTRIA, BAHAMAS, BARBADOS, BELGIUM, BRAZIL, BULGARIA, CANADA, CROATIA, CZECH REPUBLIC, CHILE, CYPRUS, DENMARK, ESTONIA, FINLAND, FRANCE, GERMANY, HOLLAND, HUNGARY, IRELAND, ICELAND, ISRAEL, ITALY, JAPAN, LATVIA, LIECHTENSTEIN, LITHUANIA, LUXEMBOURG, MALTA, MEXICO, MONACO, MONTENEGRO, NORTHERN IRELAND, NORWAY, NEW ZEALAND, PANAMA, PARAGUAY, POLAND, PORTUGAL, PUERTO RICO, REPUBLIC OF SOUTH KOREA, SAN MARINO, SERBIA, SOUTH AFRICA, SLOVAKIA, SLOVENIA, SPAIN, UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN, UNITED STATES.
Citizens of the second group of countries do not require a visa.
They must have a valid passport with at least three months left and arrive in Costa Rica with a return ticket proving they will leave the country within the provided length of time in the visa. The length of the tourist visa granted is at the discretion of the immigration official at the point of entry to Costa Rica, but is usually granted for a stay of 90 days.
The Second Group of Countries:
ANTIGUA , BARBADOS, BELIZE, BOLIVIA, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, EL SALVADOR, FIJI, GRANADA, GUATEMALA, GUYANA, HONDURAS, MARIANA ISLANDS, MARSHALL ISLANDS, SOLOMON ISLANDS, KIRIBATI, MALDIVES, MAURICIO, MICRONESIA (FEDERATED STATES), NAURU, PALAU, PHILIPPINES, KINGDOM OF TONGA, RUSSIA, SAMOA, SAINT KITTS AND NEVIS, ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES, ST. LUCIA, SAO TOME, AND PRINCIPALITY, SEYCHELLES, SURINAM, TUVALU, TURKEY, VANUATU.
Citizens of the THIRD group of countries require a visa.
The request for a restricted Costa Rica Visa must be addressed to the Commission of Restricted Visas. The application must be admitted by the applicant and their relative residing in Costa Rica or indeed their attorney. The relationship to the applicant as well as the qualifications have to be stated. The documentation has to be authenticated by an attorney accredited for said purposes. The length of the tourist visa granted is at the discretion of the immigration official granting the visa entry to Costa Rica, but is usually granted for a stay of 30 days but can be up to 90 days.
Citizens of the third groups MUST consult with a Costa Rican consulate before traveling to Costa Rica.
The Third Group of Countries:
ALBANIA, ANGOLA, SAUDI ARABIA, ALGERIA, ARMENIA, AZERBAIJAN, BAHRAIN, BENIN, BELARUS, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA, BOTSWANA, BRUNEI-DARRUSAL, BURKINA FASO (UPPER VOLTA), BURUNDI, BHUTAN, CAPE VERDE, CAMBODIA, CANERUN, COLOMBIA, IVORY COAST, COMOROS, CHAD, ECUADOR, EGYPT, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, GABON, GAMBIA, GEORGIA, GHANA, GUINEA, GUINEA-BISSAU, MALAYSIA, Equatorial Guinea, INDIA, INDONESIA, JORDAN, KAZAKHSTAN, KENYA, KIRQUIZISTAN, KOSOVO, KUWAIT, LESOTHO, LIBERIA, LIBYA, LEBANON, MADAGASCAR, MALAWI, MALI, MOROCCO, MAURITANIA, MOLDOVA, MONGOLIA, MOZAMBIQUE, NAMIBIA, NEPAL, NICARAGUA, NIGER, NIGERIA, OMAN, PAKISTAN, PAPUA NEW GUINEA, PERU, QATAR, ARAB REPUBLIC Saharahui (SAHARA WESTERN), CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC, PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA , REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA, REPUBUCA OF CONGO, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO, (ESBLIZACAIREDE) Democratic People’s LAOS, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, RWANDA, SENEGAL, SIERRA LEONE, SUDAN NORTH,SOUTH SUDAN, SWAZILAND, THAILAND, TAIWAN ,TANZANIA, TAJIKISTAN, EAST TIMOR, TOGO
TUNISIA, TURKMENISTAN, UKRAINE, UGANDA, UZBEKISTAN, VIET NAM, YEMEN, DJIBOUTI, ZAMBIA, ZIMBABWE.
Citizens of the fourth group of countries MUST obtain a visa from a Costa Rican consulate before traveling to Costa Rica.
Visas will rarely be granted unless for a minor or major with a disability or spouse or parents for family reunification.
The request for a restricted Visa must be addressed to the Commission of Restricted Visas, by the applicant and his relative residing in Costa Rica or his attorney, stating their qualities and the relationship to the applicant, and include the following information and documentation authenticated by an attorney duly accredited for said purposes.
The Fourth Group of Countries:
AFGHANISTAN, BANGLADESH, CUBA, ERITREA, ETHIOPIA, HAITI, IRAN, IRAQ, JAMAICA, MYANMAR (BURMA), PALESTINE, SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC, DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC NORTH KOREA, SOMALIA, SRI LANKA.
CITIZENS OF THE THIRD AND FOURTH GROUPS OF COUNTRIES MUST CONSULT A COSTA RICAN CONSULATE IN THEIR JURISDICTION TO OBTAIN A RESTRICTED VISA BEFORE MAKING TRAVEL PLANS.
The cost is $52.00 non-refundable. CONSULT THE COSTA RICA CONSULATE IN YOUR JURISDICTION FOR PAYMENT METHOD.
The request must be addressed to the Commission of Restricted Visas, by the applicant and his relative residing in Costa Rica or his attorney, stating their qualities and the relationship to the applicant, and include the following information and documentation authenticated by an attorney duly accredited for said purposes.
PROVIDING THESE DOCUMENTS DOES NOT MEAN THAT YOU WILL NECESSARILY BE GRANTED A VISA.
The cost is $ 52.00 non-refundable. CONSULT THE COSTA RICA CONSULATE IN YOUR JURISDICTION FOR PAYMENT METHOD.
You may be required to make a security deposit to the bank account of the General Office of Migration in Costa Rica. The amount will be determined by the Office of Migration once the tourist visa has been approved. The deposit will be returned upon your RETURN to your country of residence.
Once notified of the amount of your required deposit, you submit a copy of the deposit to the Consulate, and the visa will be stamped after verification of your deposit. Banks may charge a fee for the deposit.
Allow a minimum of 90 days after the documents have been sent to the General Office of Migration in Costa Rica to process your application.
Not everyone needs to apply for travel visas and many people who choose to stay for a longer period of time, opt to apply for a working visa or a residence permit. Residents will be allowed to travel in and out of Costa Rica much like nationals can. You cannot use the benefits of these until the residency is valid, not just in progress. Contact your embassy or consulate for the specific rules your country has for becoming a Costa Rica Resident, but know that the majority of the process will require you to obtain official documents from your country of residence that need to be translated to Spanish. Read more about relocating or moving to Costa Rica.
Costa Rica is a country worth traveling to! Come visit Costa Rica and enjoy your trip!
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