Entry Rules and Visa Exemptions Amended

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At a Glance

The Immigration Directorate in Costa Rica published new entry guidelines for non-resident foreign nationals concerning entry requirements, entry visa exemptions, document translation requirements and duration of stay under entry visas for Colombian and Nicaraguan nationals. Most of these guidelines expand entry options for business visitors and tourists. Additionally, all foreign nationals must now possess a valid machine-readable passport or travel document when traveling to Costa Rica.

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The situation

The Immigration Directorate (Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería) has published new visa guidelines for non-resident foreign nationals.

A closer look

The below new rules apply to foreign nationals entering Costa Rica:

• Machine-readable passport or travel document requirement. All foreign nationals must possess a valid machine-readable passport or travel document when traveling to Costa Rica. Non-machine-readable passports or travel documents will no longer be accepted.
  • Impact. Foreign nationals from countries that do not issue machine-readable passports or travel documents must contact their immigration provider prior to making arrangements to travel to Costa Rica.
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• Expanded entry visa exemptions. A new rule allows visa nationals who are issued U.S. B-1 or B-2, C-1, C-2 or C-3 visas, in addition to the previously accepted U.S. B-1/B-2, D, C-1/D visas, to enter Costa Rica without a Costa Rican visa. Moreover, visa nationals holding Canadian multiple-entry visas (tourist, crewmember or business visas) will also continue to be exempt from obtaining a Costa Rican visa.  The visit to Costa Rica cannot exceed the remaining validity of their Canadian/U.S. visa and cannot be longer than 30 days (except for Colombian and Nicaraguan nationals – see below).
  • Impact. Qualifying foreign nationals will no longer need to obtain a consular or restricted visa, which will save time and costs associated with obtaining such a visa.
  • Background. The above new visa rules apply only to visitors entering for business or tourism since foreign nationals with Permanent Residence, Temporary Residence or special category status in Costa Rica are not required to obtain an entry visa.
     
• Legalization requirements relaxed for U.S./EU/Canadian residents. U.S., EU or Canadian legal residents must present certain documents proving their immigration status upon entry. These travelers now benefit from a new rule that allows their documents to be fully or partially in English, without a Spanish translation or apostille/legalization.
  • Impact. U.S., EU or Canadian legal residents can only enter Costa Rica without a consular visa if they hold temporary or permanent residence, a student visa or work permit from one of those countries, and their status must have a minimum remaining validity of six months from entry into Costa Rica. Previously, they had to have their documents apostilled/legalized and/or translated into Spanish.
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• Duration of stay for Colombian and Nicaraguan nationals. Colombian and Nicaraguan nationals, who were previously granted a 30-day stay with the possibility of an extension, are now granted a 90-day stay upon arrival. Immigration officials at the port of entry have ultimate discretion over the length of stay granted. 
  • Impact. Colombian and Nicaraguan nationals will no longer need to apply for tourist visa extensions, which will decrease costs and streamline their stay.

Background

• General entry requirements still apply. Visitors to Costa Rica must comply with other general requirements for entry, including that their travel document must have a minimum remaining validity of one day, three or six months, depending on nationality; an entry visa (unless an exemption applies); proof of funds of at least USD 100 per month of stay in Costa Rica; a return ticket; no bars on entry; and a Yellow Fever vaccination certificate for travelers from endemic countries.

• Machine-readable passports. Most countries around the world, including Ukraine and the United States (for entrants under the Visa Waiver Program if their passport was issued on or after October 26, 2006) require machine-readable biometric passports for entry into their countries.

Looking ahead

Employers and foreign nationals should contact their immigration professional prior to travel, especially to discuss the details of the evidence required for entry as a legal permanent resident of eligible countries, and especially because Costa Rica's treaties and reciprocal agreements with other nations may change with little to no notice.

Further changes to Costa Rican immigration policy are expected due to the change in government. Fragomen will report on relevant changes as they occur.

This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen or send an email to [email protected].