Costa Rica e-Visa
Everything you need for your Costa Rica e-Visa: requirements, processing times and answers to the most common questions.
Official Costa Rica government portalOverview
The Costa Rica e-Visa is the entry authorisation for nationals who must arrange a visa before they travel for tourism or a short visit. Costa Rica admits visitors for stays of up to 90 days, and a 2025 immigration resolution raised the permitted stay for many nationalities to 180 days, so most short trips fit comfortably within a single authorised period. The right route depends on your nationality: many passport holders, including those from the European Union, the United States, Canada and Australia, enter without a visa, while others must obtain one ahead of travel.
When a visa is required, your application is prepared and reviewed in your own language so it reaches the authority complete and consistent. The authorisation covers tourism and short visits only; it does not permit paid work, study toward a degree or long-term residence, which require the corresponding visa applied for at a Costa Rican consulate. Whether or not a visa is needed, every traveller still has to satisfy Costa Rica's entry conditions at the border, and an entry-readiness check helps you arrive with the right documents in hand.
You travel on the passport used for the application, and each traveller, including children, is handled as a separate case. The closing step is always one clear, all-inclusive price covering the government fee and the service fee, with the government portion itemised on your receipt.
Costa Rica e-Visa questions
Do I need a visa for Costa Rica?
It depends on your nationality. Many passport holders, including those from the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, Canada and Australia, enter without a visa for short stays, while some nationalities must obtain a visa before they travel. Our wizard checks your passport and, when a visa is required, prepares the right application for you.
What are Costa Rica's entry requirements?
Every visitor needs a passport valid for the duration of the stay, proof of onward or return travel and evidence of sufficient funds for the trip. Details of where you will stay are also commonly requested. These conditions are checked at the border whether or not a visa is needed, so we help you arrive with each item ready.
What are the passport requirements for Costa Rica?
Your passport should be valid for the whole of your intended stay, and a comfortable margin beyond your return date is strongly advised. Passports close to expiry are a frequent reason for being refused entry, so renew early if yours is within a few months of expiring. Travel on the same passport used for the application.
How long can I stay in Costa Rica?
Costa Rica admits visitors for stays of up to 90 days, and a 2025 immigration resolution raised the permitted stay for many nationalities to 180 days. Travellers who obtain a consular visa beforehand are usually admitted for an initial 30 days, extendable up to 90. The officer at the border sets the exact length stamped in your passport.
How much does the Costa Rica visa cost?
For nationalities that must obtain a visa, the consular tourist visa is issued for a single trip at a government fee of around 30 US dollars, and you pay one all-inclusive price that includes it alongside our service. The government portion is itemised on your receipt. The government fee goes to the Costa Rican authority and our fee covers preparing and reviewing your application.
How long does the Costa Rica e-Visa take?
For nationalities that need a visa before travel, the Costa Rican immigration authority typically decides within 1 to 7 business days of submission. Apply well ahead of your trip. Our Rush option reviews within 24 hours and submits with priority, and Super Rush ships same-day with status tracking.
How do I apply for the Costa Rica e-Visa?
Start by entering your nationality and trip details so we can confirm whether a visa is required. When it is, you complete a guided application in your own language, and we check it for completeness before submitting it to the authority ahead of your travel. You receive a tracking code and your confirmation by email.
What do I need to show on arrival in Costa Rica?
Immigration officers commonly ask to see a return or onward ticket, proof that you can support yourself during the stay and your accommodation details. Have these ready on your phone with a printed backup. Travel on the passport used for your application, and be prepared to describe your plans briefly to the officer at the border.
Can I extend my stay in Costa Rica?
Travellers admitted on a consular visa for an initial 30 days can apply to extend up to 90 days at the immigration office in San Jose; the extension is paid directly to the Costa Rican authority and is separate from VisitPass. Nationalities admitted visa-free for the longer 180-day period normally do not need an extension.
What happens if my visa is refused?
Most refusals come from an incomplete itinerary or weak proof of funds, which is exactly what we check before submission. If a visa is refused for reasons outside your control, our service fee is refunded; the government fee is paid to the migration authority and is non-refundable. We explain the most likely next step in your confirmation email.
Is the e-Visa valid at all entry points?
Yes. Where a visa is required, it is valid for entry at Costa Rica's international airports, including San Jose (SJO) and Liberia (LIR), and at the authorised land border crossings with Panama and Nicaragua. The same entry conditions, including onward travel and proof of funds, apply at every point of entry.
Is VisitPass an official government website?
No. VisitPass is an independent service that confirms the right route for your nationality and, when a visa is required, prepares and reviews your application before submitting it to the Costa Rican authority. We are not affiliated with the government; the government fee is paid to the authority and itemised on your receipt, separate from our service fee.
How can I avoid problems with my Costa Rica application?
The most common avoidable error is a mismatch between what you type and your passport, so check every name and number against the document itself before submitting. Make sure your passport has comfortable validity, your onward or return flight is booked, and your accommodation and funds details are consistent. We review each application for completeness and consistency before it reaches the authority, so small mistakes are caught early rather than at the border.
How much money and what tickets do I need to show for Costa Rica?
Costa Rica expects every visitor to show proof of sufficient funds for the trip and a confirmed onward or return ticket out of the country, regardless of nationality. A one-way ticket alone is a frequent reason for problems at check-in, and a credit card, recent bank statement or booking confirmation usually satisfies the funds check. Keep these on your phone with a printed backup so the border check is quick and straightforward.
Many travellers enter Costa Rica visa-free, so how does VisitPass help me?
Costa Rica uses a nationality group system, and travellers from the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, Canada and Australia are admitted for tourism without a visa, now for up to 180 days. Whether or not a visa is required, every visitor must still meet Costa Rica's entry conditions, so our entry-readiness service confirms the right route for your passport and helps you arrive with your onward ticket, funds and accommodation details fully in order.
When should I apply for the Costa Rica e-Visa?
For nationalities that need a visa before travel, submit as soon as your trip is booked rather than waiting until the last week. The Costa Rican immigration authority typically decides within 1 to 7 business days, and a request still in review cannot be sped up once departure is close, while a consular appointment may also be needed. Busy seasons can add time. Rush and Super Rush tiers exist for short-notice travel.
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Visit the full Help CenterCosta Rica help desk
Have questions about your e-Visa? Email the Costa Rica desk and we reply within 24 hours.
costarica@visitpass-online.com