A post aimed at answering some of the common questions that come up on social media by those wanting to make make Costa Rica and Nicaragua Border Crossings.
ENTERING COSTA RICA
NO Covid Testing to Enter Costa Rica – As of Monday, April 5th, 2021, Costa Rica has allowed land border entry WITHOUT the requirement of a Corona virus detection test, or sanitary confinement orders (quarantine).
Mandatory Health Insurance
At least 72 hours before your proposed entry to Cost Rica, complete the online epidemiological form called the Health Pass.
Acquire health insurance that provides the following coverages:
Valid for your entire stay
50,000 USD for medical expenses, including COVID-19
2,000 USD for lodging expenses in the event of COVID-19 quarantine
Tourists “In Transit”
Tourists who are in transit through the country must purchase insurance with a minimum coverage of five days.
Those flying in and heading to the border with Nicaragua will either have a PCR test result on them or will need to get one before they cross into Nicaragua.
Costa Rica Immigration will likely give them a 5 day stamp to match the period of insurance coverage but it could be less if you are going directly to the border.
EXEMPTIONS to the Costa Rica Covid Health Insurance
The recent (August 1st 2021) addition of two (2) exemptions to the purchase of Covid-19 Health Insurance only applies to:
a) Tourists under 18 years of age,
b) Tourists who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and inoculated with either of these four vaccines; Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech, AstraZeneca or Johnson & Johnson
COSTA RICA New Insurance Exemptions for Entry – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)
Must have had last dose at least 14 days before arrival in Costa Rica.
Must attach the vaccination certificate to the Health Pass and the minimum information required is; https://salud.go.cr/
- Name of the person who received the vaccine,
- Date of each dose
- Pharmaceutical house
In the case of U.S. travelers, the “COVID-19 vaccination record card” will be accepted.
NOTE – Digital Certificate: Given that the proof of vaccination (certificate) must be attached to the epidemiological digital form called Health Pass, a digital version of your vaccination certificate is acceptable proof if you are asked to show it.
Tourists not vaccinated, or with an incomplete vaccination, or with a vaccination other than those permitted by the Costa Rican authorities must purchase mandatory travel insurance that covers lodging in case of quarantine and medical expenses due to COVID-19 disease.
Other General Requirements
To check the visa requirements for your nationality/passport for a Costa Rica Border Entry you will be using at this Immigration Visa link.
Other than a valid passport, visitors to Costa Rica must be able to prove their intent to exit the country before their visa or entry stamp expires. For instance, Costa Rica immigration will ask for a return flight ticket (or onward travel/outbound exit) ticket when entering Costa Rica.
They may also ask you to prove financial solvency (enough money) for your stay.
The immigration official has the power to determine the duration of your stay depending on what is permitted by your passport and their own “on the spot assessment”.
Essential Costa Rica Entry Requirements
The best website link to use for all of the small print details for entry to Costa Rica (CR) is the one that takes you to the institutional site “Essential Costa Rica” operated by the Costa Rica Tourism Board (Instituto Costarricense de Turismo).
Under the headline; “Planning Your Trip” you will find a sub-heading Entry Requirements
ENTERING NICARAGUA
There have been no real changes since April 2021 when the Costa Rica side opened up their border.
Visitors must present a valid passport and a Covid-19 test result from a test taken no more than 72 hours from entry to Nicaragua.
More information can be found here in a previous detailed Nica-Biz post entitled; Immigration Rules for Entering Nicaragua
