Do you need a visa for Costa Rica?
The official link goes to migracion.go.cr. NUM isn’t a government agency or a visa service. Rules change, so confirm on the official site before you pay or travel.
What your passport needs for Costa Rica.
No visa for a short visit · 25
- American citizens
- Canadian citizens
- Mexican citizens
- Brazilian citizens
- British citizens
- Irish citizens
- German citizens
- French citizens
- Italian citizens
- Spanish citizens
- Dutch citizens
- Swiss citizens
- Russian citizens
- Turkish citizens
- Israeli citizens
- Emirati citizens
- Taiwanese citizens
- Japanese citizens
- South Korean citizens
- Singaporean citizens
- Malaysian citizens
- Filipino citizens
- Australian citizens
- New Zealand citizens
- South African citizens
Visa needed before you travel · 8
What Costa Rica checks.
- Before you go. None for visa-exempt nationals. Costa Rica sorts nationalities into four groups (DGME guidelines, La Gaceta 17 Nov 2025): Group 1 no visa, up to 180 days, not extendable unless fewer than 90 days were granted; Group 2 no visa, up to 30 days, extendable to 90; Group 3 consular visa, up to 30 days, extendable to 90; Group 4 restricted visa (approved by the DGME visa commission), up to 30 days, extendable to 90. The officer sets the actual stay on the passport stamp (ICT).
- Your passport. Under the DGME visa guidelines of Nov 2025 (as reported by El Financiero): Group 1 passports must be valid at least 1 day (FCDO: at least 1 day after you plan to leave; US State Dept: valid for the whole stay); Group 2 at least 90 days; Groups 3 and 4 at least 180 days. Visa applicants at the Costa Rican Embassy in the UK must show 7 months' validity. The passport must be machine-readable to ICAO standards (ICT). Damaged passports, or passports reported lost or stolen, are refused.
- Onward ticket. Required for all travellers: a return or onward ticket out of Costa Rica, such as a flight, a pre-bought bus ticket or a cruise booking. Airlines enforce it if you arrive one-way, if your return is more than 90 days after arrival, or if you fly in and out of different countries (ICT). The US State Dept also requires proof of onward travel.
- Money for the stay. Officers may ask for proof of at least USD 100 for each month, or part month, of permitted stay (General Law of Migration 8764, art. 42; Decree 36769-G, art. 30, as cited by ICT).
- Travel insurance. Not an entry requirement for tourists. FCDO only advises appropriate cover. Insurance is mandatory for the digital-nomad stay.
- Also. Overstaying brings a fine of USD 100 per month of overstay and can lead to refusal of future entry.
- Also. Unpaid debts (for example from car accidents or medical bills) and unpaid child support can stop you leaving the country.
The visitor visas for Costa Rica.
| Visa | Who it’s for | Stay |
|---|---|---|
| Visa consular de turismo (Group 3); visa restringida (Group 4) USD 30 (Costa Rican Embassy UK; another list shows USD 76) | Group 3 nationals without a qualifying US/Canada/Schengen visa or residence (e.g., CN, IN, ID, SA, TH, VN, NG, AE). Group 4 needs prior approval from the Restricted Visas Commission. | Up to 30 days, extendable to 90 in total |
| Estancia para trabajadores y prestadores remotos de servicios (digital nomad, Law 10008) USD 100 deposit per applicant; application fee amount not stated | Remote workers or service providers earning from outside Costa Rica, plus dependants | 1 year, renewable once for another year |
| Residencia temporal - pensionado | Retirees with a lifetime pension | Temporary residence (renewable) |
| Residencia temporal - rentista | People with stable passive income | Temporary residence (renewable) |
| Residencia temporal - inversionista | Investors | Temporary residence (renewable) |
Data the moment you land in Costa Rica
A NUM eSIM on Claro 4G: install on wifi before you go, switch it on when you land, keep your own number. Your NUM concierge comes with it.
Get my Costa Rica eSIM All plans and networks
Prices on 4 Nov 2026; the shop shows today’s, and the price on the pay button is the price you pay. Full refund if we can’t issue it.
Recent and coming changes in Costa Rica.
- 2026-08-31 — Costa Rican citizens and residents travelling to yellow-fever risk destinations must now be vaccinated at least 10 days before travel and carry the certificate.
- 2026-05-19 — FCDO updated the customs rules on its Costa Rica entry page: declare USD 10,000 or more and keep the certified declaration.
- 2025-11-17 — New DGME 'Directrices generales de visas de ingreso y permanencia para no residentes' published (La Gaceta Alcance 148). Taiwan, Malaysia, the Philippines and Turkey are in Group 2 (30 days); Russia is in Group 2 but gets 90 days by treaty; the UAE, Israel and South Africa are reported in Group 1 (180 days).
How to spot a copycat visa site.
- Check the address. Costa Rica’s official link on this page goes to migracion.go.cr. Look-alike sites use similar names and flags.
- Compare the fee. If the price is far above the government fee, you’re paying a private service. It should say so plainly.
- Ignore “fast-track” upsells. Nobody outside the government can speed up or promise a decision.
The short answers.
Do I need a visa for Costa Rica?
It depends on your passport. Of the 33 passports NUM checks, 25 need no visa for a short visit and 8 need a visa before travelling. Pick your passport on this page for the exact rule, the fee and the stay.
Does Costa Rica have an eVisa?
Not for most visitors: 25 of the 33 passports NUM checks need no visa for a short visit. The rest apply for a visa before they travel, and the official site, migracion.go.cr, says how.
How long must my passport be valid for Costa Rica?
Under the DGME visa guidelines of Nov 2025 (as reported by El Financiero): Group 1 passports must be valid at least 1 day (FCDO: at least 1 day after you plan to leave; US State Dept: valid for the whole stay); Group 2 at least 90 days; Groups 3 and 4 at least 180 days. Visa applicants at the Costa Rican Embassy in the UK must show 7 months' validity. The passport must be machine-readable to ICAO standards (ICT). Damaged passports, or passports reported lost or stolen, are refused.
Does NUM issue Costa Rica visas?
No. Only the government issues them. NUM isn’t a government agency or a visa service: it explains the rule for your passport and links the official site, free.
Need the rest? The full Costa Rica entry requirements cover customs, vaccines, travelling with children and every passport in one table.