Costa Rica: Updated Yellow Fever Vaccination Requirements for Certain Costa Rican Citizens and Residents Forthcoming

Update March 2, 2026: The Costa Rican Ministry of Health has announced revised enforcement dates for the yellow fever vaccination requirement applicable to Costa Rican citizens and residents traveling to high-risk destinations. Effective March 16, 2026, proof of vaccination will be required for individuals departing Costa Rica for Brazil, Peru, and designated high-risk countries in Africa. The Ministry will announce in due course the implementation date for any additional countries classified as high risk. 

The vaccination requirement for travelers departing for Colombia, in effect since May 2025, remains unchanged. As a reminder, the yellow fever vaccine must be administered at least 10 days prior to travel. 

Update September 1, 2025: Due to high demand and limited supply of the yellow fever vaccine, the Costa Rican Ministry of Health has extended the start date of the mandatory vaccination requirement for travelers to at-risk countries until February 28, 2026. However, this extension does not apply to travel to Colombia, where the requirement has been in effect since May 2025 and remains mandatory.

Update May 12, 2025: The Costa Rican Ministry of Health has announced updated enforcement dates for the yellow fever vaccination requirement for Costa Rican citizens and residents traveling to high-risk countries. Effective May 21, 2025, proof of vaccination will be required for travelers departing Costa Rica to Colombia. Starting August 31, 2025, the requirement will be extended to travelers heading to all other high-risk destinations. As a reminder, the yellow fever vaccine must be administered at least 10 days prior to travel.

Update March 18, 2025: The government has again postponed the implementation date of the yellow fever vaccination requirement to May 11, 2025. 

Update February 11, 2025: The government has again postponed the implementation date of the yellow fever vaccination requirement to March 11, 2025.

Update December 30, 2024: The government announced February 11, 2025 as the implementation date for the yellow fever vaccination certificate requirement.

October 15, 2024: The Costa Rican Ministry of Health has published a resolution that, once effective, will update the list of countries designated as high risk for yellow fever, and will require Costa Rican citizens and residents departing Costa Rica to one of these countries to present a yellow fever vaccination certificate before departure. Those who have not received a vaccination or obtained the certificate may not be allowed to board their flight. Exceptions will apply for individuals under nine months or above the age of 60, transit purposes, or if the government determines there are not enough vaccines available in Costa Rica, among others. Foreign nationals (as opposed to Costa Rican citizens or residents) arriving from high-risk countries continue to be subject to the yellow fever vaccination certificate requirements upon arrival, per the updated high-risk country list. Obtaining a yellow fever certificate requires a vaccination at least 10 days prior to travel, so Costa Rican citizens and residents will need to plan in advance of their departure to complete the vaccination requirement. Information on obtaining a vaccination certification and requesting the international yellow fever vaccination certificate from the Ministry of Health in Costa Rica is available on the Ministry of Health’s website.