Who Needs to Apply for a Visa to Costa Rica?
The Costa Rica visa policy is divided into four groups:
- Visa-exempt nationals who are allowed to travel to Costa Rica with just their passport which must be valid for at least one more day from the date of entry. This category included nationals of the United States and European Union member states. They are allowed to stay in Costa Rica for a maximum of 90 days.
- Visa-exempt nationals who are allowed to travel to Costa Rica with just their passport which must be valid for at least three months from the date of arrival. They are allowed to stay in Costa Rica for a maximum of 30 days.
- Foreign nationals who need a Costa Rica Consular Visa, which must be applied for at a Costa Rica consulate in their country of residence. The Costa Rica visa allows them to stay in the country for up to 30 days.
- Foreign nationals who need a Costa Rica Restricted Visa. This type of visa has to be approved by the Commission of Restricted Visas. If approved, it allows the holder to stay in the country for up to 30 days.
A student visa is official permission by a foreign government to live and study in that country. United States citizens will receive a 90-day tourist visa at customs upon arrival in Costa Rica. During on-site orientation, the USAC staff will explain how to extend the 90-day tourist visa to an “estancia” or “permission to stay” for the full length of your program.
Check with your home country consulate, as well as the embassy of the country in which you plan to study, regarding visa requirements. Permanent Residents of the U.S. should check with U.S. Immigration as leaving the country for more than 1 year may jeopardize permanent resident status. Tax clearance and re-entry forms may also be necessary in these cases.
What are the Costa Rica Visa requirements?
The required documents you have to submit with your Costa Rica visa application are:
- An application letter, directed to the Costa Rica consulate, containing:
- The purpose of your travel
- Your personal information (name, age, date and place of birth)
- Passport number
- Nationality
- Place of residence
- Intended date of arrival and departure from Costa Rica
- Where you will stay while you are in Costa Rica
- The date
- Contact information
- Your signature
- A complete photocopy of all the pages on your passport. Your passport must be valid for an additional six months.
- Return flight ticket reservation. You are advised not to pay for your ticket until your visa application has been approved.
- Two pictures of yourself with the following specifications:
- 2 inches x 2 inches
- White background
- Neutral facial expression, staring straight ahead
- Glasses are allowed as long as they do not hide your eyes or face (no thick rims, no reflection, no tinted glass)
- Head gear is not allowed, unless it is for religious purposes. Even so, it must not obstruct the face.
- Proof of sufficient financial means, such as through bank statements from the last three months, letter from employer, of proof of property.
- Certificate of police clearance from your country.
- Proof of Yellow Fever Vaccination if you are coming from a place that’s at risk of Yellow Fever.
- If you are a visa-holder or Permanent Resident in another country: Proof of the visa/Residence Permit should be submitted.
The documents you submit must be translated into Spanish and legalized before submission.
Keep in mind that this is not a complete list of requirements, as the Costa Rica consulate will request further documentation as they see fit depending on your case.
