Costa Rica Visa / Passport Information

U.S. Citizens entering Costa Rica to vacation, must present a valid passport in good condition that will not expire for at least thirty days, and provide their roundtrip/outbound ticket. U.S. citizens are generally allowed to stay up to ninety days without a travel visa. Short Term visitors are required to pay a departure tax.  Travelers that have stayed longer than the ninety day limit can expect a delay at the airport when departing, a fine of $20, and may be denied future entry into Costa Rica.

You should always keep your passport close to your body, in an inside pocket, or in a secure, locked-up place. Make sure to bring a copy of your passport and keep it in a separate place.

If you are traveling with children, you must come prepared with certain documentation as many governments, including Costa Rica, are strictly working to abolish child abductions. Parents may be required to show evidence of the child's relationship to the accompanying parents and, if one of the parents is not traveling with the child, permission from the non-traveling parent for the child to travel. Having such documentation on hand may facilitate entry in, and departure from Costa Rica.

For further information please contact Embassy of Costa Rica. They will have the most authoritative and up-to-date information on Costa Rican entry and exit requirements.

-Consular Section of the Embassy of Costa Rica:  2112 “S” Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20008, telephone (202) 328-6628, fax (202) 234-6950, website http://www.costarica-embassy.org

-Costa Rican consulates in Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Juan (Puerto Rico), San Francisco, and Tampa. The Costa Rican immigration agency maintains a website at: http://www.migracion.go.cr.