Costa Rica Entry Requirements: Visa, Extension, and Border Runs
Enter Costa Rica with the right documents and know your stay options. Covers visa-free entry, required documents, extension process, border run rules, and practical tips for travelers and long-term visitors.
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Entry Requirements
Check your visa-free stay allowance by nationality
Citizens of the US, UK, EU, Canada, Australia, Japan, and most Western countries enter Costa Rica visa-free for up to 90 days. Some nationalities receive 30 days. Citizens of restricted countries need a consular visa from a Costa Rican embassy. The Directorate General of Migration website lists all nationalities and their permitted stay durations.
Carry a passport valid for at least one day beyond your planned stay
Costa Rica technically only requires your passport to be valid for the duration of your stay, unlike the 6-month rule in many other countries. However, airlines may apply their own stricter policies. Having at least 3 months validity avoids any airline boarding disputes.
Show proof of a return or onward ticket
Immigration officers and airlines require proof that you will leave Costa Rica before your visa-free period expires. A flight, bus, or ferry ticket to any destination works. If you do not have a fixed departure plan, book a refundable flight or a cheap bus ticket to Panama or Nicaragua through a cross-border bus company. One-way ticket holders are regularly denied boarding.
Carry proof of sufficient funds for your stay
Costa Rica requires visitors to have at least 100 USD per month of intended stay, or the equivalent in a bank statement or credit card. Immigration rarely checks this but airlines sometimes ask at check-in. Having a credit card with visible credit or a bank app showing a sufficient balance satisfies the requirement.
Arriving in Costa Rica
Clear immigration at Juan Santamaria or Daniel Oduber airport
Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) near San Jose is the main gateway. Daniel Oduber Airport (LIR) in Liberia serves the Guanacaste beach region. Immigration lines at SJO can take 30-90 minutes during peak arrivals. Have your passport and return ticket accessible. Immigration stamps your passport with the number of days permitted.
Check your passport stamp for the correct number of days
The immigration officer stamps your passport with a specific number of days (typically 90 for most Western nationals). Check the stamp immediately. If you receive fewer days than expected, politely ask the officer about it at the counter. Once you leave the immigration area, disputing the stamp becomes difficult.
Pay the departure tax if not included in your airline ticket
Costa Rica charges a departure tax of 29 USD. Most airlines include this in the ticket price. If yours does not, pay at the airport before check-in using cash or credit card. A few land border crossings charge a separate exit fee of 8 USD. Check your airline ticket receipt to see if the tax is already included.
Extending Your Stay
Apply for a visa extension at the Directorate General of Migration
Extensions beyond the initial 90 days are processed at the migration office in San Jose (La Uruca district). The process requires your passport, completed application form, proof of funds, and proof of accommodation. Extensions cost approximately 100 USD and grant an additional 90 days. Apply at least 2 weeks before your current stay expires. Processing takes 2-10 business days.
Do a border run to Panama or Nicaragua for a fresh entry
Leaving Costa Rica and re-entering resets your visa-free period to a new 90 days. The most common border runs go to Panama (Paso Canoas or Sixaola crossings) or Nicaragua (Penas Blancas crossing). You must leave Costa Rica for at least 72 hours before re-entering for a new 90-day stay. Same-day border runs no longer reset your visa.
Avoid overstaying to prevent fines and re-entry issues
Overstaying results in a fine of approximately 100 USD per month of overstay, payable at the airport or migration office before departure. Overstayers must also wait 3 times their overstay period before re-entering Costa Rica (e.g., 1 month overstay means a 3-month wait). Extended overstays can result in deportation and a multi-year entry ban.
Land Border Crossings
Cross to Panama at Paso Canoas or Sixaola
Paso Canoas is the busiest crossing, on the Pan-American Highway in the southern Pacific region. The process takes 1-3 hours including exit stamps, walking across, and Panama entry. Sixaola on the Caribbean side is smaller and faster. Both crossings are open daily from 6 AM to 8-10 PM. Bring your passport and 8 USD for the Costa Rica exit fee.
Cross to Nicaragua at Penas Blancas
The Penas Blancas crossing in the north is the only official land crossing to Nicaragua. It operates daily from 6 AM to 8 PM. Costa Rica charges an 8 USD exit fee. Nicaragua charges a 12-13 USD entry fee. The process takes 1-3 hours. Tica Bus and TransNica operate direct buses between San Jose and Managua that handle the border crossing.
Practical Tips
Exchange money at a bank or ATM rather than the airport
As of 2026, 1 USD equals approximately 510-520 Costa Rican colones (CRC). Airport exchange rates are 5-10% worse than bank rates. ATMs at banks like BAC, BCR, and Scotiabank offer competitive rates. US dollars are widely accepted at tourist businesses, but change is given in colones. Carry colones for local buses, sodas (local restaurants), and markets.
Get a Kolbi prepaid SIM card for data
Kolbi (ICE), Movistar, and Claro sell prepaid SIM cards at airport counters and convenience stores. A SIM with 5-10 GB of data costs 5,000-10,000 CRC (10-20 USD) for 30 days. Registration requires your passport. Coverage is good in the Central Valley, beach towns, and major tourist areas. Remote areas and national parks may have limited signal.
Carry your passport or a copy at all times
Costa Rican law requires foreign visitors to carry valid identification. A color photocopy of your passport bio page and entry stamp is generally accepted by police. Leave the original in your hotel safe. Migration officers can request your original passport, so carry it when traveling between provinces.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do US citizens need a visa for Costa Rica?
US citizens do not need a visa for stays up to 90 days. Entry is visa-free with a valid passport and proof of a return or onward ticket. Your passport should be valid for at least one day beyond your planned departure. No advance application is required. The 90 days start from the date of your entry stamp.
Can I extend my Costa Rica tourist stay beyond 90 days?
You can apply for a 90-day extension at the Directorate General of Migration in San Jose for approximately 100 USD. Alternatively, leave Costa Rica for at least 72 hours and re-enter for a fresh 90-day period. Same-day border runs no longer reset your visa. Overstaying incurs fines of approximately 100 USD per month and a waiting period equal to 3 times the overstay duration before re-entry.
What is a border run in Costa Rica?
A border run is leaving Costa Rica briefly and re-entering to reset your 90-day visa-free period. The most common destinations are Panama (Paso Canoas or Sixaola crossings) or Nicaragua (Penas Blancas). You must stay outside Costa Rica for at least 72 hours. Budget 40-80 USD for transportation and border fees. Many long-term visitors use border runs to extend their stay indefinitely.
Is Costa Rica expensive?
Costa Rica is the most expensive country in Central America. Budget travelers spend 25,000-40,000 CRC (50-80 USD) per day for hostels, local restaurant meals (sodas), and public buses. Mid-range travelers spend 50,000-100,000 CRC (100-200 USD) per day. Tourist areas like Manuel Antonio and Monteverde are 20-40% more expensive than the Central Valley. Eating at sodas and using public buses significantly reduces costs.