NOTE: The 2012 Visa List is now available please click here to go to the new article: 2012 Visa Requirement List
The Department of Imigration has released the Visa Requirement list for the year 2011.
Costa Rica divides countries for visa purposes into 4 groups as follows:
GROUP ONE.
Those countries designated as Group One may enter Costa Rica as a Tourist without a Consular Visa and may remain in Costa Rica for up to 90 days.
Some Countries included in this Group are:
United States of America, Canada, Eurpean Union Countries, Australia, Brasil, Japan, Panama, Singapore, Uruguay
GROUP TWO:
Citizens of Group Two countries may enter Costa Rica without a Consular Visa and may remain in Costa Rica for up to 30 days.
Some Countries included in this group are: Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Venezuela
GROUP THREE:
If you are a citizen of a Group Three country you need to obtain an entry VISA from a Costa Rican Embassy or Consulate abroad before you enter Costa Rica.If granted it is for a period of 30 days.
Example: Colombia, Ecuador, India, Nicaragua, Peru, Russian Federation, Vietnam, Taiwan.
GROUP FOUR:
This is the morst restrictive category.This means that citizens of Category Four Countries must have an entry visa BEFORE they are allowed to enter Costa Rica. The visa must be reviewed by the Director of Immigration before it can be granted.If granted the visa is for a period of 30 days.
Example:Cuba, Jamaica, China, Iran, Iraq.
You can view and dowload (.pdf) the full Immigration list by clicking on the following link: Immigration Visa Country List
