Costa Rica travel guide

Overview

Travel tip

Be prepared with local currency and stay aware of your surroundings.

Before you go

Costa Rica allows many tourists to enter visa-free for a relatively short stay, but the exact length and whether you need a visa depend on your nationality. Before departure, check your passport validity, onward or return ticket, and any visa or carrier documents required for your nationality. Costa Rica generally does not use a separate pre-travel authorization like the U.S. ESTA or Canada eTA, and it also does not normally require a pre-arrival registration system like Japan’s Visit Japan Web or Singapore’s SG Arrival Card. Paper arrival cards are usually not required, and cash-declaration thresholds can vary, so it is safest to check the latest customs rules before you travel.

Entry procedure

1. Check passport and stay conditions

   At immigration, your passport validity and purpose of stay will be checked. Tourists may enter visa-free or may need a visa depending on nationality, so keep your ticket and itinerary ready.

2. Pass immigration control

   You may be asked brief questions about your travel purpose, accommodation, and return plans. A separate electronic travel authorization or pre-arrival registration is generally not part of Costa Rica’s entry process.

3. Baggage and customs inspection

   Items such as fruit, meat, and plant products may be subject to quarantine controls and may be restricted or require declaration. Cash and goods may also be subject to declaration rules, so ask customs first if you are unsure.

Exit procedure

1. Check tax refund eligibility

   VAT refunds on goods purchased in Costa Rica are not widely offered as a standard instant tourist refund system, so check eligibility in advance. Even when refunds are possible, the procedure can vary by store and payment method.

2. Organize your luggage before departure

   Pack carefully so that items sensitive to export or import, such as fruit, meat, seeds, and plant products, are not mixed in. Checking the rules of your airline and destination country can also help prevent problems on arrival.

3. Complete exit control and follow airport rules

   When leaving, you will generally pass through exit control with your passport and boarding pass checked. Security screening can be strict depending on the airport, so organize liquids and restricted items in advance.

Cities in Costa Rica