Costa Rica
Costa Rica is a small Central American country between the Pacific and the Caribbean, holding an estimated 5% of the world's species on a fraction of a percent of its land and protecting roughly a quarter of its territory in parks and reserves. It abolished its army in 1949. Most visitors enter visa-free for up to 90 days, and holders of a valid Schengen or US visa can do so regardless of nationality.
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Visa Requirements for Costa Rica
Costa Rica runs one of the more open entry regimes in the Americas. A large list of nationalities — including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the EU member states among many others — enters visa-free for tourism or business for up to 90 days, with no advance application and no fee. Beyond that list there is a provision worth knowing about because it is unusual and because it saves some travellers an entire consular process: holders of a valid Schengen visa or a valid US visa of any category can enter Costa Rica visa-free even where their nationality would otherwise require an application. The visa simply has to be current rather than expired, and it does not need to have been used. Requirements are light for everyone. The passport-validity rule is the one that surprises people: Costa Rica formally requires validity of only one day beyond your date of entry, which is among the most relaxed anywhere — but airlines, and any country you travel on to afterwards, commonly apply the conventional six-month standard of their own, so six months remains the practical figure to travel on. You will also need a return or onward ticket, which is checked at the airline desk more often than at immigration, and proof of sufficient funds for your stay, calculated per month and demonstrable by cash, card or bank statement; the amount is set by the authorities and revised periodically, so confirm the current figure before travelling. Extensions beyond the initial period are applied for at an immigration office before the existing stay expires, with a fee and evidence of funds and onward travel. Nationalities outside both the visa-free list and the visa-holder shortcut apply through a Costa Rican consulate with the standard documentation.
Visa types
Visa-Free Entry
Tourism or business for the large list of eligible nationalities, which includes the US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the EU states among many others. No advance application, no fee, no online form — the stamp is issued on arrival.
Schengen or US Visa Exemption
For nationals who would normally need a Costa Rican visa but already hold a valid Schengen visa or a valid US visa of any category — a visitor, student or work class all qualify. The visa must be current rather than expired, and this route removes the consular application entirely, which makes it the single most useful provision in the regime for the travellers it covers.
Tourist Visa (Consular)
For nationalities eligible for neither visa-free entry nor the visa-holder shortcut. Applied for at a Costa Rican consulate before travel, with a completed application, photographs, evidence of funds, accommodation bookings and a return ticket.
Extension of Stay
For visitors wanting to stay beyond the period granted on arrival. Applied for at an immigration office before the current stay expires rather than after, with a fee, proof of financial means and evidence of onward travel. Approval is not automatic, and overstaying carries fines assessed on departure.
Guides
Costa Rica is small — a day's drive from the Pacific to the Caribbean — and that compactness is the whole proposition. Volcanic highland, cloud forest, dry tropical forest, lowland rainforest and two entirely different coastlines sit within a few hours of one another, which means a week here can hold more distinct landscapes than a fortnight almost anywhere else. The country protects roughly a quarter of its land in parks and reserves and holds an estimated 5% of the world's species on a fraction of a percent of the planet's surface, and that density is what visitors actually come for: wildlife here is met on ordinary walks rather than sought on expeditions. The two coasts read as different countries. The Pacific side is drier in the north, wetter and wilder in the south, and carries a long surf culture; the Caribbean side runs on Afro-Caribbean rhythms, cocoa and a slower pace. Two international airports — one in the central valley, one serving the north Pacific — make a two-region trip straightforward without backtracking. Getting around is by road and it takes longer than the map suggests. What Costa Rica does not offer is grand architecture or old cities; what it offers is the most efficient access to tropical nature anywhere in the Americas, and a tourism industry mature enough that the sustainability claims are more often real than not.
Costa Rica travel guide →
The full guide — Arenal's cone, Monteverde's canopy, Tortuguero's turtles and the two-base plan.
Money in Costa Rica →
Colones and dollars in practice — where each works, ATM reality and honest trip costs.
Eating in Costa Rica →
Mild, fresh and modest — the soda's fixed-price plate is the institution that explains it all.
Getting around Costa Rica →
Small and slow — mountain roads turn 100 km into three hours; the two-airport trick saves a day.
Health & safety in Costa Rica →
Among the region's safest — rip currents, adventure activities and mountain roads matter, not crime.
Cities & planning
Regions
Embassies & missions
Accredited missions for Costa Rica
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a visa to visit Costa Rica?
Most visitors don't — citizens of the US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, EU member states and many other countries can enter visa-free for tourism or business for up to 90 days.
I hold a valid Schengen or US visa — does that help me enter Costa Rica?
Yes — holders of a valid Schengen visa or valid US visa (any category) can enter Costa Rica visa-free for up to 90 days, even if their own nationality would normally require a Costa Rican visa. The visa just needs to still be valid, not expired.
What currency does Costa Rica use, and are US dollars accepted?
The Costa Rican Colón (CRC) is the official currency, but US dollars are widely accepted everywhere, with many prices quoted directly in USD. ATMs typically dispense both currencies.
Can I extend my stay beyond 90 days?
Yes, extensions are possible through an immigration office, applied for before your current stay expires, with a fee and proof of financial means and onward travel required.
Do national parks require reservations or entry fees?
Yes to both, for most parks. Foreign visitors pay an entry fee that varies by park and is revised periodically, so check the current figure for the ones you plan to visit and budget them separately from tours. Several of the busiest parks also cap daily numbers and require booking ahead in high season. Bring cash — cards are not always accepted at park entrances, and the remoter parks have no ATM anywhere near them.
Is Costa Rica safe to visit?
Generally yes — it's a stable, safe country, though petty theft occurs in tourist areas. Take normal precautions: avoid displaying valuables and use authorised taxis or ride-hailing apps.
What language is spoken, and do I need Spanish?
Spanish is the official language. English is widely spoken in tourist areas but less common in rural regions, so basic Spanish is helpful outside the main hubs.
When can I see sea turtles nesting at Tortuguero?
Female green sea turtles come ashore to lay eggs at Tortuguero between July and October, returning to the same beach where they themselves were born.
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Visaja keeps this page's contact details and visa guidance under continuous review — still, requirements can change at short notice, so confirm the essentials with the mission or the official government portal before you travel.