Costa Rica•North AmericaTourist Visa (Visa-Exempt)
At a Glance
Processing Time
Varies
Application Fee
Free
Stay Duration
180 days
Renewable
Yes
Job Offer
Not Required
Dependents
Not Specified
PR Pathway
No
This visa does not offer a direct route to permanent residency.Remote Work
Not Required
Overview
Visa-free entry for citizens of 95 eligible countries allowing stay up to 180 days. Available to nationals from major countries including the United States, Canada, most European nations, Australia, and others.
Costa Rica grants visa-free entry to citizens of 95 eligible countries as of 2025. The tourist stay was extended from 90 days to 180 days, making it one of the longest visa-exempt periods for tourism in Latin America. This applies to Group 1 visa-exempt countries.
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Requirements
Personal
Passport Validity
1 day
Criminal Record Policy
case_by_case
Eligible Nationalities
This visa is available to citizens of: US, CA, GB, DE, FR, ES, IT, AU, NZ, JP, KR, BR, AR, CL, MX, EU, CH, NO, IS
Documentation
Applicant Documents
Valid passport
At least 6 months validity
Return or onward ticket
Proof of departure from Costa Rica
Proof of economic means
Minimum USD 100 per month of stay
Accommodation information
Address where you will stay
OptionalTrack your documents or upload them for AI-powered review
Advantages
- No visa application required
- Long 180-day stay allowed
- Simple entry process
- No application fees
Considerations
- Cannot work
- Cannot extend beyond 180 days without leaving
- Subject to immigration officer discretion on exact length of stay
- No pathway to residency or work authorization
Application Process
Check eligibility
Verify your nationality is on the visa-exempt list
Prepare travel documents
Valid passport (at least 6 months validity), return ticket, proof of funds
Arrive in Costa Rica
Enter at official port of entry
Immigration inspection
Present documents to immigration officer
Receive entry stamp
Immigration officer stamps passport with 180-day tourist permit
Application Forms
Immigration form
Ready to Apply?
Check your eligibility first to see how well you match this visa