Welcome to Costa Rica!

Important update for individuals under 18 years of age and those who are fully vaccinated

 

Entry Requirements During the COVID-19 Pandemic

All international tourists are permitted to enter Costa Rica by air, land and sea.

Tourists must meet the visa requirements, when applicable, as well as the requirements established in the framework of the pandemic.

 

The Government of Costa Rica does not require tourists entering by air, land or sea to present a negative COVID-19 test, nor quarantine upon arrival.

Tourists visiting Costa Rica are requested to abide by the sanitary protocols in place when participating in tourist activities throughout the country.

 

*Important Update* From Dec. 1, 2021 to Jan. 7, 2022, commercial establishments must display their operation modality on their exteriors, indicating whether proof of vaccination via the QR code generated through the Health Pass is required to enter. Commercial establishments that do not require the QR code must operate under limited capacity. Minors will not be required to present proof of vaccination.

 

Country Entry Requirements

Tourists can verify if they require entry with or without a visa at the following link: https://migracion.go.cr/Paginas/Visas.aspx.

 

The CIRCULAR DG-004-2021-UI-AJ that details the countries in the first, second, third and fourth groups is available at:

https://migracion.go.cr/Documentos%20compartidos/Circulares%20y%20Directrices/2021/DIRECTRICES%20GENERALES%20DE%20INGRESO%20Circular%20DG-004-2021-UI-AJFEB%202021.pdf

 

In the framework of the pandemic, the following requirements were also established:

1. Complete the digital form called HEALTH PASS, available at https://salud.go.cr

The Health Pass can only be completed within 72 hours prior to arrival in the country. It must be accessed via updated browsers with the exception of Internet Explorer.

 

One form must be completed per person, including minors.

 

All tourists must complete the Health Pass.

2. Travel Policy

Tourists who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and individuals aged 18 and younger (even if unvaccinated) can enter the country without a travel policy. The last dose of the vaccine must have been applied at least 14 days prior to arrival in Costa Rica.

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The list of authorized vaccines include:

1. AstraZeneca: Covishield, Vaxzervia, AXD1222, ChAdOx1, ChAdOx1_nCoV19 India

2. Janssen: COVID-19 Vaccine Janssen, Johnson & Johnson y Ad26.COV2.S

3. Moderna: Spikevax, mRNA-1273

4. Pfizer-BioNTech: Comirnaty, BNT162b2 y Tozinameran

5. Sinovac: COVID-19 Vaccine (vero cell), Coronavac ™

6. Sinopharm: SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine (vero cell), Inactivated (InCoV)

7. Covaxin: BBV152, Bharat Biotech's COVID-19 vaccine

Vaccinated tourists must attach their vaccination certificate to the Health Pass.

 

As proof, vaccination certificates and vaccination cards that contain at least the following information will be accepted:

1. Name of the individual who received the vaccine

2. Date of each dose

3. Pharmaceutical site

In the case of U.S. travelers, the "COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card" will be accepted.

1. Documentation must be submitted in English or Spanish. Submitting documentation in a different language will prevent it from being reviewed.

2. The Ministry of Health and the Costa Rican Tourism Institute are exempt from any responsibility in the event that a traveler submits information in a language other than English or Spanish.

Unvaccinated individuals aged 18 and older or with unauthorized vaccines must purchase a travel policy that is valid for at least 5 days and covers accommodation and medical expenses in the event of COVID-19 infection.

 

International Policies

Tourists can select any international insurance company that meets the following requirements:

1. Valid during the entire stay in Costa Rica (coverage dates)

2. $50,000 for medical expenses, including COVID-19 infection

3. $2,000 for lodging expenses in the event of COVID-19 quarantine

Travelers must ask their insurance company for a certificate/letter in English or Spanish stating the following information:

1. Name of the individual traveling

2. Validity of the effective policy during the Costa Rica visit (travel dates)

3. Guaranteed coverage for medical expenses in the event of COVID-19 in Costa Rica, valued at least $50,000

4. Minimum coverage of $2,000 for lodging expenses for quarantine or trip interruption for this same amount

 

This certificate must specify that the policy covers COVID-19 and must be uploaded to the HEALTH PASS to be reviewed and approved by Costa Rican authorities. 

IMPORTANT: Insurance cards are not accepted. The document must include the verification of the coverage mentioned.

Costa Rican Policies

Tourists can also select any of the following Costa Rican insurance companies, which sell products registered and authorized by the General Superintendency of Insurance of Costa Rica.

INS: https://www.grupoins.com/seguros-para-viajero/seguro-viajero-ingreso-costa-rica/

Sagicor: https://tiendasagicor.com/en/

BlueCross BlueShield: https://www.bluecrossblueshieldcr.com/rod   

IMPORTANT: The minimum coverage is set at $50,000 for international policies, while the minimum coverage for policies sold by Costa Rican insurers is set at $20,000.

Foreigners with temporary or permanent residence (or a temporary category who return to Costa Rica) and who are not up-to-date with the corresponding payments with the Costa Rican Social Security Fund, must acquire a temporary local insurance for 22 days or an international insurance that complies with the same requirements that are applied to a foreign tourist.

Foreigners in the immigration category with a permanent or temporary residence, or a special category in the latter case (with the exception of the Student Subcategory), must demonstrate the assurance by the Costa Rican Social Security Fund, which is in force and can be verified at the following link: https://sfa.ccss.sa.cr/servMedicos/validarDerechos.do

Tourists who are in transit through the country must purchase insurance with a minimum coverage of five days.

 

Costa Rican citizens do not require health insurance.

 

 

 

Tourists are requested and warned not to attach unsolicited personal documents, such as copies of credit cards, keys or private passwords or other information in the Health Pass: https://salud.go.cr nor in emails to seguros@ict.go.cr. Only a copy of the insurance policy should be attached.

Questions

Entry by air or land - By land, the country admits tourists from groups one and two included in the general guidelines for entry and stay visas for non-residents who do not require a visa. Tourists can email seguros@ict.go.cr if they have any questions or concerns about medical insurance requirements.

Entry by sea - On Sept. 1, Costa Rica reactivated cruise tourism for the 2021-2022 season. As a requirement, vessels must guarantee complete vaccination schedules against the COVID-19 virus in all crew members and 95% of passengers who are of age to be vaccinated.

Yacht and sailboat passengers and crew members can email seguros.marinas@ict.go.cr if they have any questions or concerns about medical insurance requirements.

Those who fail to comply with these requirements will not be permitted to enter the country.

Welcome to Costa Rica! To visit our country there are some requirements which must be met.

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Remember that:

A return flight ticket is needed when entering Costa Rica. The immigration officer will ask for it upon your arrival. It is advisable to make a photocopy or take a picture of your passport with the entry stamp to carry at all times during your stay.

• Your country of origin determines the amount of days available to stay in Costa Rica as a tourist.

• In some cases, the Immigration official may request you show economic solvency for your stay in the country.

• Even with a 90-day tourist visa, the immigration official determines the duration of your stay as allowed by your passport.

Visitors to Costa Rica must have a valid passport as well as proof of their intent to exit the country before their visa or entry stamp expires, usually within 90 days.

All non-resident travelers must possess a return ticket or a ticket as proof of when they intend to exit the country, commonly referred to as an outbound exit or onward ticket. An onward ticket is required of non-residents who are:

• Traveling on a one-way ticket

• Entering the country with a return ticket dated more than 90 days after arrival

• Flying into Costa Rica and flying out of another country

By law, an onward ticket includes any of the following on approved, commercial transport:

• A pre-purchased bus ticket out of the country

• A pre-purchased flight out of the country

• Proof of passage on a cruise ship

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Obligation to Declare when entering or leaving Costa Rica:

When entering or leaving a port in Costa Rica, if you carry an amount equal to or greater than the US $ 10,000 or its equivalent in other currencies, cash or securities, you must request and complete the form provided for this purpose at the migration post and present it to the Customs Authority for verification; The declaration must be made before finalizing the corresponding immigration procedures. The omission of what is established by Costa Rican law (No. 8204, article 35) will result in the immediate loss of money.

What inoculations do I need before entering Costa Rica?

Starting on July 30, 2007, all travelers coming from the following countries must possess a yellow fever vaccination certificate before entry into Costa Rica will be allowed: Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Gambia, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Bolivia, Venezuela, Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador and the Republic of Guyana.