VISA FOR NON-RESIDENTS (TOURIST OR BUSINESS)
1. Citizens who do NOT require a visa to enter Costa Rica for tourism or business reasons:
Citizens of member countries of the European Union do not require a visa to enter Costa Rica for tourism or business purposes. Likewise, citizens from countries mentioned in the following list do not require a visa to enter Costa Rica.
When entering Costa Rica these people must present:
1. Proof of onward travel to another country or return to Germany from Costa Rica within 90 days of entry into the country. This can only be proved with:
- Flight ticket
- Bus ticket
- Boat ticket
- Flight plan in case of private flight
- Navigation plan (including port of destination) in case of a private maritime transport.
2. Proof of economic solvency (US$ 100 for each month).
3. Valid passport in good condition.
4. In some cases a yellow fever vaccination may be required, according to the information you can check here.
More information can be found on the web page of the Costa Rican Immigration and Foreign Affairs Office (Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería).
2. Citizens that REQUIRE a visa to enter Costa Rica for tourism or business reasons:
Citizens of countries that are NOT mentioned in this list must apply for a tourist visa, except in the following cases:
- If you have a visa (tourist, crew or business visa) from the United States of America or Canada, stamped in your passport and valid for at least three months.
- If you have a residence permit (residence, work permit, study permit) of at least three months in the United States of America, Canada or the countries of the European Union.
- This does not apply to citizens who have refugee status.
! Important:
The document of legal stay must have an official translation into Spanish or English (even if the document is already in several languages), the translation must be duly apostilled. Once the translation with apostille has been obtained, no further formalities must be carried out at the Costa Rican Embassy.
Citizens from countries mentioned in the following list and who do not meet the above requirements must apply for a visa.
Persons belonging to the fourth group (see list above) must meet the additional requirements listed below.
Procedure:
The interested person must send the following original documents by post to the Costa Rican Embassy in Berlin. Once the documentation has been revised, information will be provided on the type of visa needed to travel to Costa Rica.
1. Letter of request addressed to the Costa Rican Consulate containing the following information:
- Name and surname
- Date and place of birth
- Nationality
- Profession or occupation
- Address
- Passport number
- Trip purpose
- Trip duration
- The place and date of arrival and departure
- Exact address where you will be staying in Costa Rica
- Date of application and signature
2. Copy of the personal information page of the passport. It must be valid for at least 6 months.
3. Tentative itinerary or temporary reservation of your travel ticket. It is recommended not to purchase the ticket until the visa is approved.
4. Proof of economic solvency (bank statements, salary statement, etc.) for the last three months.
5. Certificate of criminal records of the last six months translated into Spanish and duly apostilled.
6. Persons with and refugee immigration status need an approval letter from their country of residence, so that they can travel to another country.
7. 1 passport size color photo.
8. ! Proof of legal status in Germany or a country of the European Union (permanent residence, student visa, work visa) The permit must be valid for the planned date of travel. Visas are only granted to people who have a regular immigration status in a country of the European Union.
. Persons that do not meet this requirement must apply for the visa in their home country.
9. The consul may request, if necessary, additional documents.
Additional requirements for people belonging to the fourth group
1. Police record of the home country or the country where he/she has lived for the last ten years, with apostille, as well as an official translation into Spanish with apostille.
2. Proof of economic solvency such as Bank statements for the last three months duly stamped and signed by the appropriate bank, letter from employer with company letterhead and stamp showing gross and net salary, years of service and position, proof of payment, certificates of movable or immovable property issued by the Public Property Registry
3. Complete certified copy of the passport, with apostille, as well as an official translation into Spanish with apostille
4. Provisional booking of the return or onward ticket
! Important: All documents issued outside Costa Rica and in a language other than Spanish must have an official translation into Spanish or English and be duly apostilled.
Deadline:
The process can take 90 days or more until the Immigration and Foreign Affairs Office (Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería) in Costa Rica makes a decision.
Cost:
You will be informed about the cost once the visa is approved.
