U.S. citizens who want to travel to Costa Rica will be happy to know that they do not need a Costa Rica visa if they stay 90 days or less. Costa Rica, officially known as Republic of Costa Rica, is a country where English is widely spoken. Costa Rica is bordered by two oceans: the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea. It covers an area equivalent to the combined size of Vermont and New Hampshire. The U.S. and Costa Rica have friendly relations and welcome American visitors.
For visitors who are staying within the 90-day window, you must have a valid passport that will not expire less than 30 days from your arrival into Costa Rica. You must also show a pre-paid airline ticket that shows your departure date from Costa Rica back to your home country or another destination.
You may fall in love with Costa Rica during your 90-day visit and wish to come back repeatedly. In that case, a multiple-entry visa is perfect for you. A multiple-entry Costa Rican visa is designed for frequent travels into the country and is commonly issued to crewmembers of travel companies or business visitors.
To apply for a multiple-entry visa, download and complete the Multiple-Entry visa application form, found on the web site of the Embassy of Costa Rica located in Washington DC. You will need to provide your birth certificate, certified copies of all the pages of your passport and a U.S. criminal background check.
To show your financial stability, you'll need to show copies of bank statements or property deeds. Business travelers will need to prove their working relationship with the company sponsoring their visit. Those visiting family members must submit documentation that supports this relationship, such as a marriage certificate.
All documents issued outside of Costa Rica require authentication by the Consulate of Costa Rica located in the United States. Authentication is a means of verifying signatures and identities against the documents. It costs between $40.00 and $80.00 to authenticate your documents, depending on the type.
Get a visa for Costa Rica the quick and easy way.
You'll need to submit your visa application and documentation to one of the Consulate of Costa Rica offices in the U.S. The consulates are located in Atlanta GA, Houston TX, Los Angeles CA, Miami and Tampa FL, New York NY and Washington DC. You also have the option to submit your application by mail to a consulate office. Be sure to include a self-addressed prepaid envelope, and to use a traceable courier service such as FedEx, Express Mail or UPS.
Costa Rica charges a departure tax of $26.00, so have extra cash with you when you're ready to leave. Credit cards are accepted but you may be required to pay additional fees required by your bank.
Costa Rica has a tropical charm that attracts visitors from all over the world. Once you've had a chance to travel to Costa Rica, you're sure to want to return and stay as long as you can.
Visit often to learn more information from our updated Travel to Costa Rica.
