U.S. citizens visit Costa Rica without a visa, with permission granted on arrival. Consular visa work therefore covers third-country nationals resident here and people moving for work, study, retirement or investment, which Costa Rica has attracted in large numbers.
Quick facts
The requirement people actually trip over is the onward or return ticket. Airlines check it at check-in and refuse boarding without it, regardless of what you intend to do once you arrive.
Fees breakdown
| Item | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tourist entry for U.S. citizens | No visa required | Permission granted on arrival |
| Consular visa | Consular tariff | By nationality and category |
| Residence categories | Charged in Costa Rica | Pensioner, rentier, investor |
| Apostille of supporting documents | $3–$25 per document | Secretary of State |
| Official translation | Per page | Usually by a translator in Costa Rica |
Residence applications are filed with the immigration authority in Costa Rica, not at a consulate, and they turn on documents prepared here: birth and marriage certificates, police certificates and proof of income, each apostilled and translated.
How to apply
- Check whether your nationality needs a consular visa at all.
- For residence, identify the category and its income or investment thresholds.
- Order the supporting documents and have them apostilled.
- Arrange official translations, normally by a translator in Costa Rica.
- File the residence application with the immigration authority there.
- Carry an onward ticket whenever you travel.
Required documents
- Passport valid beyond the intended stay.
- Onward or return ticket.
- Proof of funds and accommodation.
- Police certificate, apostilled, for residence categories.
- Birth and marriage certificates, apostilled, where family ties matter.
- Proof of income for pensioner or rentier categories.
Where to apply
At the consulate covering your state for consular visas; with the immigration authority in Costa Rica for residence.
No offices currently listed.
Additional notes
Documents have a shelf life
Police certificates and civil documents are accepted only within a limited period, and the apostille does not extend it. Order them close to filing.
Costa Ricans need nothing
A Costa Rican citizen enters on a Costa Rican passport. Anyone with a claim through a parent should read the citizenship page.
Parents of a Costa Rican child
Having a child who is a Costa Rican citizen opens a specific residence route. It is worth asking about if that applies to you.
Translations in Costa Rica
Official translations are generally expected from a translator registered there. Ask before commissioning one here.