Entry rules
Costa Ricaentry requirements
U.S. citizens don’t need a visa to visit Costa Rica. The officer decides how long you can stay, up to 180 days, and you must show a return or onward ticket and proof of at least US$100 per month of your stay. Travel insurance is no longer required.
Checked against official sources Oct 29, 2026 · Sources
Do you need a visa or travel authorization?
| Passport | What you need | Maximum stay |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. citizens | No visa needed Show a return or onward ticket (flight, bus or cruise) and proof of funds of at least US$100 per month of stay. The stay can’t be extended; overstaying costs US$100 a month. | Up to 180 days (the officer decides) |
| British citizens | No visa needed Show a return or onward ticket (flight, bus or cruise) and proof of funds of at least US$100 per month of stay. The stay can’t be extended; overstaying costs US$100 a month. | Up to 180 days (the officer decides) |
| Canadians | No visa needed Show a return or onward ticket (flight, bus or cruise) and proof of funds of at least US$100 per month of stay. The stay can’t be extended; overstaying costs US$100 a month. | Up to 180 days (the officer decides) |
| Australians | No visa needed Show a return or onward ticket (flight, bus or cruise) and proof of funds of at least US$100 per month of stay. The stay can’t be extended; overstaying costs US$100 a month. | Up to 180 days (the officer decides) |
| EU citizens | No visa needed Show a return or onward ticket (flight, bus or cruise) and proof of funds of at least US$100 per month of stay. The stay can’t be extended; overstaying costs US$100 a month. | Up to 180 days (the officer decides) |
Passport rules
Your passport must be machine-readable and valid at least until the day after you leave (GOV.UK). The stay you’re given can’t run past your passport’s expiry.
Airlines check this at check-in. If your passport is close to the limit, renew it first: see the 6-month passport rule explained.
Changing planes in Costa Rica
- All these passports: Nothing extra if you stay airside. No visa needed for these passports.
More: Do I need a transit visa?
Travel insurance
Not required for entry: Costa Rica’s official list of what visitors must show (passport, funds, onward ticket) no longer includes insurance, and the UK and Canadian governments list no insurance requirement. Medical cover is still sensible.
Good to know
- The airport departure tax is US$29; most airlines include it in the ticket price.
Official links
Watch for look-alike sites. Use only the official addresses above. Sites that “process” your application charge extra for the same official form. How to spot a fake visa site.
Official sources
- Costa Rica Tourism Board (ICT) – Entry requirements ·
Countries in the first group: up to 180 calendar days, non-extendable
· checked 2026-10-29 - DGME Directrices Generales de Visas DG-55-03-2023 (Procuraduría General database; marked no longer in force – superseded) ·
I. PRIMER GRUPO: INGRESO SIN VISA
· checked 2026-10-29 - GOV.UK FCDO – Costa Rica entry requirements (updated 19 May 2026) ·
You can visit Costa Rica without a visa for up to 180 days under a tourist visa waiver. The exact period is at the discretion of the immigration officer on arrival.
· checked 2026-10-29 - travel.gc.ca – Costa Rica travel advice (last updated 14 October 2026) ·
Tourist visa: not required for stays up to 180 days
· checked 2026-10-29
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Only when an official entry rule we track changes: a new travel authorization, a fee, a start date or a passport rule. At most once a week, with the official source for every change.