Entry requirements in times of a COVID-19 pandemic

The entrance to Costa Rica is enabled for tourists from all the countries of the world by air, land and sea.

By land, the country admits tourists from groups one and two included in the general guidelines for entry and stay visas for non-residents, that is, they do not require a visa. Individuals whose nationality is in the third and fourth groups and who require a consular or consulted visa to enter, may visit Costa Rica by land when the Costa Rican consulates return to attend these procedures, on a date yet to be defined. In the meantime, they can opt for air or sea entry.

By air, you can enter the country on commercial or private international flights that land at the Juan Santamaría (SJO) and Daniel Oduber Quirós (LIR) airports.

In the case of entering the country by sea, you can enter the country on yachts and sailboats only through the marinas of Golfito, Los Sueños, Pez Vela, Banana Bay and Papagayo.

The tourist must meet the visa requirements, when required, as well as the requirements established in the framework of the pandemic.

The Government of the Republic does not require coronavirus detection tests, nor does it issue sanitary confinement orders to enter the country by air or land.

Those who enter the country by sea and who have not made a stopover elsewhere, should not be subjected to isolation if they have been sailing for more than 14 days.

Tourists visiting Costa Rica are requested to abide by the sanitary protocols in place for carrying out all tourist activities in the country.

Country entry requirements

Tourists can verify if they require entry with or without a visa at the following link:  https://migracion.go.cr/Paginas/Visas.aspx.

The CIRCULAR DG-004-2021-UI-AJ that details the countries in the first, second, third and fourth groups 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

In the framework of the pandemic, the following requirements were also established:

1. Complete the digital form called HEALTH PASS and available at https://salud.go.cr

   The Health Pass can only be completed within 72 hours of arriving in the country. It must be accessed in updated browsers with the exception of Internet Explorer. One form must be completed per person, including minors, without exception.

2. Travel policy
   

   * Important update for minors and individuals who are fully vaccinated *

   As of August 1, 2021, all tourists under 18 years of age can enter the country without a travel policy.

   As of August 1, 2021, all tourists who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and inoculated with Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech, AstraZeneca or Johnson & Johnson can enter the country without a travel policy. The last dose of the vaccine must have been applied at least 14 days before arrival in Costa Rica.

   Vaccinated tourists must attach the vaccination certificate to the Health Pass. As proof, vaccination certificates and vaccination cards that contain at least the following information will be accepted:

   1. Name of the person who received the vaccine
   
   2. Date of each dose
   
   3. Pharmaceutical house

   In the case of U.S. travelers, the "COVID-19 vaccination record card" will be accepted.
   
   Tourists not vaccinated, with incomplete vaccination or vaccinated with a serum other than those admitted by the Costa Rican authorities, must purchase mandatory travel insurance that covers lodging in case of quarantine and medical expenses due to COVID-19 disease as detailed below.

International Policies

Regarding the policy, you can choose any international insurance company that meets the following requirements:

1. Valid during the entire stay in Costa Rica (coverage dates).

2. $50,000 for medical expenses, including COVID-19 disease.

3. $2,000 for lodging expenses in case of COVID-19 quarantine.

Ask your insurance company for a certificate/letter in English or Spanish stating the following:

1. Name of the person traveling.

2. Validity of the effective policy during the Costa Rica visit (travel dates).

3. Guarantee of coverage for medical expenses in case of COVID 19 in Costa Rica, for at least $50,000

4. Minimum coverage of $2,000 for lodging expenses for quarantine or trip interruption for this same amount.

This certificate must specify that the policy covers COVID-19 and must be uploaded to the HEALTH PASS to be reviewed and approved by the Costa Rican authorities. Insurance cards are not accepted, it must be a document that allows the verification of the coverage mentioned.

Costa Rican policies

The tourist can also choose any of the following Costa Rican insurance companies, which sell products registered and authorized by the General Superintendency of Insurance of Costa Rica.

INS: https://www.grupoins.com/seguros-para-viajero/seguro-viajero-ingreso-costa-rica/

Sagicor: https://tiendasagicor.com/en/

BlueCross BlueShield: https://www.bluecrossblueshieldcr.com/rod   

IMPORTANT: For international policies, the minimum coverage was set at $50,000, while for policies sold by Costa Rican insurers the minimum was set at $20,000.

Foreigners with temporary or permanent residence, or temporary category who return to Costa Rica, and who are not up to date with the corresponding payments with the Costa Rican Social Security Fund, must acquire a temporary local insurance for 22 days or an international insurance that complies with the same requirements that are applied to a foreign tourist.

In the case of foreigners with the immigration category of permanent or temporary resident, or special category in the latter case (with the exception of the Student Subcategory), they must demonstrate the assurance by the Costa Rican social security, which is in force and can be verified in the link: https://sfa.ccss.sa.cr/servMedicos/validarDerechos.do

Tourists who are in transit through the country must purchase insurance with a minimum coverage of five days.

Costa Rican citizens do not require health insurance.

Tourists are requested and warned not to attach unsolicited personal documents, such as copies of credit cards, keys or private passwords or others in the link of the Health Pass: https://salud.go.cr nor in an email to seguros@ict.go.cr. Reminder that only a copy of the insurance policies should be attached.

Questions

Entry by air or land - In case of questions or concerns about the requirements or conditions of medical insurance, write to the email address seguros@ict.go.cr.

Entry by sea - In case of questions or concerns about the requirements or conditions of medical insurance, passengers and crew members of yachts or sailboats can write to the email address seguros.marinas@ict.go.cr.

Failure to comply with these requirements makes it impossible for the passenger to enter the country.

FAQ about entry requirements for fully vaccinated tourists and minors

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PDF

FAQ on travel requirements to enter the United States during COVID-19

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PDF

FAQ about COVID-19 testing sites in Costa Rica

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PDF

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