Welcome to Costa Rica!
Entry Requirements COVID-19
Air and marine entry to Costa Rica has been opened for all countries.
The country is allowing entry at land border crossings by tourists from groups one and two in the general guidelines for entry visas and stays by non-residents, who do not require a visa. Those belonging to nationalities in groups three and four, who do require a visa to enter the country, may enter Costa Rica by land once the Costa Rican consulates begin handling applications at a date to be determined. Meanwhile, nationals of these countries can opt for air or marine entry.
International arrivals by air are only possible on international private or commercial flights landing in Juan Santamaría International Airport or Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport.
Marine entry may be done by yachts or sailboats, exclusively at the marinas of Golfito, Los Sueños, Pez Vela, Banana Bar and Papagayo.
Tourists must comply with all applicable visa requirements as well as all requirements put in place during the pandemic.
The Costa Rican Government is not requiring coronavirus tests as a requirement to enter the country by land crossings or by air, nor has it issued quarantine orders for those entering the country by air or land.
Those entering by sea who have not made stops elsewhere are likewise not required to undergo quarantine, provided that they have been at sea for over 14 days.
Tourists visiting Costa Rica are requested to comply with the applicable public health protocols for all tourism activities in the country.
Requirements to enter the country
Tourists can check whether they can enter without a visa at the following link: https://migracion.go.cr/Paginas/Visas.aspx.
The countries in the first, second, third and fourth groups may be found in CIRCULAR DG-004-2021-UI-AJ, a publication by the Costa Rican Government, which is available at:
https://migracion.go.cr/Documentos%20compartidos/Circulares%20y%20Directrices/2021/DIRECTRICES%20GENERALES%20DE%20INGRESO%20Circular%20DG-004-2021-UI-AJFEB%202021.pdf
The following additional requirements have been established due to the pandemic:
- Completing the HEALTH PASS online form available at https://salud.go.cr
- Acquiring medical insurance
The Health Pass can only be completed within the 72 hours prior to departure. It must be accessed on up-to-date browsers, with the exception of Internet Explorer. One form must be completed per person, including minors, without exception.
Tourists must acquire mandatory travel insurance that covers lodging in the event of quarantine as well as medical expenses due to contracting COVID-19.
If the tourist has already been vaccinated, this does not exempt them from this requirement, and they must acquire an insurance policy as described. This requirement remains in force.
International Policies
The insurance policy may be obtained from any international insurance company that meets the following requirements:
- Valid for the entire stay in Costa Rica (coverage dates).
- 50,000 USD for medical expenses, including those from COVID-19.
- 2,000 USD for lodging expenses in the event of COVID-19 quarantine.
Please request a certificate or letter from the insurance company, in English or Spanish, that indicates the following:
- Traveler’s name.
- Effective dates of the policy during the visit in Costa Rica (travel dates).
- Guaranteed coverage of at least 50,000 USD for medical expenses in the event of contracting COVID-19 in Costa Rica.
- Minimum coverage of 2,000 USD for lodging expenses due to quarantine or travel interruption.
This certificate must specify that the policy covers COVID-19 and must be attached to the HEALTH PASS for review and approval by the Costa Rican authorities. Insurance cards are not accepted. The information must be provided in the form of a document.
Costa Rican Policies
Tourists can also opt for any of the following Costa Rican insurance companies, which sell products that are registered and authorized by the Office of the Superintendent General of Insurance of Costa Rica.
INS: https://micrositios.ins-cr.com/seguroviajero/
Sagicor: https://tiendasagicor.com/en/
BlueCross BlueShield: https://www.bluecrossblueshieldcr.com/rod
IMPORTANT: For international policies, the minimum coverage has been set at USD 50,000. However, the minimum coverage for policies sold by Costa Rican insurance companies is USD 20,000.
Foreigners with temporary or permanent residence or with temporary status who are returning to Costa Rica and who are not up-to-date with their payments to the Costa Rican Social Security Agency must acquire a temporary local insurance policy for 22 days or an international insurance policy that complies with the same requirements as the mandatory policies for foreign tourists.
Foreigners with permanent or temporary residence or those under a special category, with the exception of those who fall under the subcategory of students, must demonstrate that they are covered by Costa Rican social security and that their coverage is currently in effect, which can be verified at the following address: https://sfa.ccss.sa.cr/servMedicos/validarDerechos.do
Tourists who are passing through the country in transit must acquire an insurance policy with a minimum coverage of five days.
Costa Rican citizens do not require medical insurance.
If you wish to renew or extend your stay in the country, please send an email to seguros@ict.go.cr with a copy of your passport and the policy with which you entered the country as attachments.
Extended stays in the country will remain in force until June 1, 2021.
Tourists are urged not to attach personal documents that have not been requested such as copies of credit cards, passwords or other information when uploading documents to the Health Pass (https://salud.go.cr) or sending an email to seguros@ict.go.cr. Remember that only a copy of the insurance policy must be attached.
Questions
Entry by air or land crossing – For any questions regarding the requirements or conditions of the medical insurance policies, please get in touch by email at seguros@ict.go.cr
Marine entry – For any questions regarding the requirements or conditions of the medical insurance policies for passengers and crew of yachts or sailboats, please get in touch by email at seguros.marinas@ict.go.cr.
Failure to comply with these requirements will result in passengers being unable to enter the country.
Documents on new travel requirements by COVID-19 to the United States
Documents on new travel requirements by COVID-19 for International Tourists
Welcome to Costa Rica! To visit our country there are some requirements which must be met.
Remember that:
A return flight ticket is needed when entering Costa Rica. The immigration officer will ask for it upon your arrival. It is advisable to make a photocopy or take a picture of your passport with the entry stamp to carry at all times during your stay.
- Your country of origin determines the amount of days available to stay in Costa Rica as a tourist.
- In some cases, the Immigration official may request you show economic solvency for your stay in the country.
- Even with a 90-day tourist visa, the immigration official determines the duration of your stay as allowed by your passport.
Visitors to Costa Rica must have a valid passport as well as proof of their intent to exit the country before their visa or entry stamp expires, usually within 90 days.
All non-resident travelers must possess a return ticket or a ticket as proof of when they intend to exit the country, commonly referred to as an outbound exit or onward ticket. An onward ticket is required of non-residents who are:
- Traveling on a one-way ticket
- Entering the country with a return ticket dated more than 90 days after arrival
- Flying into Costa Rica and flying out of another country
By law, an onward ticket includes any of the following on approved, commercial transport:
- A pre-purchased bus ticket out of the country
- A pre-purchased flight out of the country
- Proof of passage on a cruise ship
Obligation to Declare when entering or leaving Costa Rica:
When entering or leaving a port in Costa Rica, if you carry an amount equal to or greater than the US $ 10,000 or its equivalent in other currencies, cash or securities, you must request and complete the form provided for this purpose at the migration post and present it to the Customs Authority for verification; The declaration must be made before finalizing the corresponding immigration procedures. The omission of what is established by Costa Rican law (No. 8204, article 35) will result in the immediate loss of money.
What inoculations do I need before entering Costa Rica?
Starting on July 30, 2007, all travelers coming from the following countries must possess a yellow fever vaccination certificate before entry into Costa Rica will be allowed: 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.
For more information click here
Planning your Trip to Costa Rica
#EssentialCostaRica
