Visas and immigration in Costa Rica
Visas and immigration in Costa Rica6 routes from official government sources, grouped by type. Each guide covers who it's for, the requirements and where to apply.
Visiting Costa Rica
Short-stay rules by passport, from official sources. Last checked October 16, 2026.
- 95 passports visa-free
- 154 passports need a visa
Passports that can visit without a visa
- Andorra
- Antigua & Barbuda
- Argentina
- Australia
- Austria
- Bahamas
- Barbados
- Belgium
- Belize
- Bolivia
- Brazil
- Brunei
- Bulgaria
- Canada
- Chile
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czechia
- Denmark
- Dominica
- El Salvador
- Estonia
- Fiji
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Grenada
- Guatemala
- Guyana
- Honduras
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Israel
- Italy
- Japan
- Kiribati
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malaysia
- Maldives
- Malta
- Marshall Islands
- Mauritius
- Mexico
- Micronesia
- Monaco
- Montenegro
- Nauru
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Norway
- Palau
- Panama
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Philippines
- Poland
- Portugal
- Qatar
- Romania
- Russia
- Samoa
- San Marino
- São Tomé & Príncipe
- Serbia
- Seychelles
- Singapore
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Solomon Islands
- South Africa
- South Korea
- Spain
- St. Kitts & Nevis
- St. Lucia
- St. Vincent & Grenadines
- Suriname
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Taiwan
- Tonga
- Trinidad & Tobago
- Türkiye
- Tuvalu
- Ukraine
- United Arab Emirates
- United Kingdom
- United States
- Uruguay
- Vanuatu
- Vatican City
Andorra
Antigua & Barbuda
Argentina
Australia
Austria
Bahamas
Barbados
Belgium
Belize
Bolivia
Brazil
Brunei
Bulgaria
Canada
Chile
Croatia
Cyprus
Czechia
Denmark
Dominica
El Salvador
Estonia
Fiji
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Grenada
Guatemala
Guyana
Honduras
Hungary
Iceland
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Japan
Kiribati
Latvia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malaysia
Maldives
Malta
Marshall Islands
Mauritius
Mexico
Micronesia
Monaco
Montenegro
Nauru
Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
Palau
Panama
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Qatar
Romania
Russia
Samoa
San Marino
São Tomé & Príncipe
Serbia
Seychelles
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
Solomon Islands
South Africa
South Korea
Spain
St. Kitts & Nevis
St. Lucia
St. Vincent & Grenadines
Suriname
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan
Tonga
Trinidad & Tobago
Türkiye
Tuvalu
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom
United States
Uruguay
Vanuatu
Vatican CityVisit & tourism1 pathway
Permanent residence1 pathway
Status in-country2 pathways
2 more pathways for members
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Investors & entrepreneurs2 pathways
2 more pathways for members
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Visit & tourism1 pathway
Permanent residence1 pathway
Status in-country2 pathways
2 more pathways for members
Subscribe to open every country, with full requirements, fees, steps and your score on each pathway.
Get started
Investors & entrepreneurs2 pathways
2 more pathways for members
Subscribe to open every country, with full requirements, fees, steps and your score on each pathway.
Get started
Official sources
Government pages behind these routes.
- DGME - Directrices Generales de Visas de Ingreso y Permanencia para No Residentes (AJ-484-11-2025), La Gaceta Alcance 148, 17 Nov 2025
- Reglamento de Extranjería, Decreto Ejecutivo 37112-G (TSE copy of official text)
- SCIJ – Ley General de Migración y Extranjería N° 8764 (full text, JavaScript viewer)
- Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería (DGME) – official site (blocked by bot check on 2026-10-17)
- Instituto Costarricense de Turismo – Digital Nomads
- ICT – Digital Nomads: Requirements
- ICT – Digital Nomads: Requirements for dependents
- ICT – Digital Nomads: Issuance of the immigration document
- ICT – Digital Nomads: Renewal
- DGME – Nómadas Digitales (blocked by bot check on 2026-10-16)