North and Central America and Caribbean

British nationals do not require a visa to enter Costa Rica and can stay as visitors for up to three months.  Passports should have a validity of more than six months from the date of entry.  If a longer stay is required or for employment, the Costa Rican Embassy should be contacted for advice.  The immigration authorities are strict about detaining foreigners who are undocumented or tourists who have overstayed.

 

Costa Rican Immigration authorities now require all foreign nationals applying for residency to register with their respective Embassy.  See Registration section below for further details on how to register through Locate.  Printed confirmation of this registration will be accepted by the Costa Rican authorities.

Passports should have a validity of more than six months from the date of entry.  

All visitors to Costa Rica arriving from any of the following countries (Colombia, Brazil, Venezuela, Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, French Guyana, Angola, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Cameroon, Nigeria, Benin, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Gambia and Sudan) are now required to produce an International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis documenting yellow fever vaccination before entry to Costa Rica will be granted. Certificates are valid 10 days after the date of vaccination.  

Under Costa Rican law, children under the age of 18 born in Costa Rica are automatically considered to be Costa Rican citizens, even if travelling on a British passport.  Notarised written consent from both parents, or a Costa Rican passport, is required in order to leave Costa Rica.  The nearest Costa Rican Embassy or Consulate should be contacted for further information on laws regarding the international travel of Costa Rican children.