Consular Services

VISA EXEMPTION FOR ENTRY – FOR NATIONALS (Groups 3 & 4) WITH CONSULAR | CONSULTED OR RESTRICTED VISA REQUIREMENTs

Nationals of countries with a consular or restricted visa requirement who meet any of the exceptions established below, may dispense with consular visas or restricted visas to enter Costa Rican territory:

I. Entry with visas and residences of the United States of America and Canada.

Nationals of countries with consular or restricted visa requirements who are holders of visas or residences that allow multiple entries in any category, including the category of refugee and/or asylum, as well as type D and C1/D visa exclusively, with a minimum validity of one (1) day in the United States of America and Canada, do not need a consular visa or a restricted visa to enter Costa Rica and can remain in the country for a maximum period of 30 days.  The term of one (1) day must be counted from the day you intend to enter Costa Rica.

The visas of the United States of America type C1, C2 and C3, correspond to transit visas and will not be accepted.

II. Entry with residences from Scotland, Wales, England, Northern Ireland, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and the countries of the European Union.

Nationals of countries with a consular or restricted visa requirement who have a residence in any category that allows multiple entries and with a minimum validity of 90 days, -excluding the category of refugee and/or asylum - in Scotland, Wales, England, Northern Ireland, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and the countries of the European Union may dispense with a consular visa for enter Costa Rica. The period of 90 calendar days must be counted from the day of entry to Costa Rica.

The nationals of the entry group with a consular or restricted visa, who do not have the legal permanence of six months required, may request a consular visa or provisional visa at the Costa Rican consulate of the country of legal permanence and present the identity document that accredits the stay, as well as visa requirements. The visa will be granted under the guidelines established in Executive Decree 36626-G, Regulations for the Granting of Visas. The period of stay will be a maximum of 30 calendar days, and the passport validity will be six months, except for those specified for Nicaragua and Colombia.

III. Entry with visa categories “C” and “D” from the Schengen Area*

Nationals of countries with a consular or restricted visa may be exempt to enter Costa Rica, if they have a Schengen Area visa category “C” exclusively for multiple entries (short-term visa that allows its holder to reside in a country of the Schengen Area for a maximum of 90 days) or category “D” also exclusively multiple entries (visa is granted for study, work, or home). In both cases, the minimum validity of the visa may be one (1) day. Counted from the day you intend to enter Costa Rica.

*The countries that make up the Schengen Area are:

*General requirements for entry to Costa Rica:

1. Travel continuity ticket or return to the country of origin.
2. Demonstration of economic solvency, which corresponds to USD 100.00 for each month of permanence in Costa Rica 
3. Passport in good condition. The minimum validity must be according to the Costa Rican Legislation.
4. The guidelines indicated by the Ministry of Health of Costa Rica.
5. Vaccination against yellow fever

Vaccination against yellow fever

Before entering Costa Rica, any person who has remained in countries at risk must vaccinate against yellow fever, verified by the “International Certificate of Vaccination against Yellow Fever”, which is valid from 10 days after vaccination.

In their trajectory to Costa Rica, people who have been in transit through countries at risk, in airports, ports, and inter-border posts in countries of risk are exempted from the yellow fever vaccination requirement.

Are also exempted from the vaccination requirement the people who, having been in countries considered at risk before entering the national territory, have remained for at least six days in a country that is not at risk and have not developed a fever in that period.

Institutional link: https://www.migracion.go.cr/Paginas/Visas.aspx

Application: Foreigners who require a consular visa (group 3) to enter Costa Rica, who submit an application to an Honorary Consulate or who, for special reasons, must be authorized by the General Migration Office of Costa Rica.

Document pack – pre-submission quality check:

Appointment: Please send an email to conhcr-sa@rree.go.cr
Cost: As established by the consular tariff.
Approximate duration: Once all the requirements are submitted, the Consul sends them to the Restricted Visa and Refugee Commission of the General Migration Office of Costa Rica. The process will take at least six to eight weeks but will depend on several factors. The process can take up to 3 months.
Requirements:

1. Request addressed to the Consul of Costa Rica that includes:

• • Full name and surname
  • Nationality
  • Passport number
  • Place of residence
  • The reason for the trip
  • Expected time of stay in Costa Rica
  • Place and approximate date of arrival and departure of the country
  • Profession or trade
  • Exact address of the place where you will remain in Costa Rica
  • Date and place of birth of the interested party
  • Fax to receive notifications
  • Date
  • Signature

2. Passport or travel document, valid with an expiration date not less than six months. In addition, a copy of all its pages.
3. Tentative reservation of the ticket, ticket or return ticket or continuation of the trip.
4. Proof of the economic means for their subsistence during their stay in the country.
5. Provide a valid criminal record. If in another language, provide a proper translation into the Spanish language.
6. Birth certificate, duly legalized orapostilledand translated into Spanish
7. The Consul may request, if necessary, any additional documents issued in the country of origin of the applicant when their presence is essential for the analysis in the granting of the visa. If the Consul has any doubt about the documents presented, he/she may request clarification and may also request a personal interview with the applicant.

Institutional link: http://www.trundialmigratorio.go.cr/Normativa/Reglamentos/Reglamento%20para%20el%20otorgamiento%20de%20visas%20de%20ingreso%20a%20Costa%20Rica.pdf