Land borders to Costa Rica open up under the first phase of their re-opening program. However, not all nationalities will be granted entry just yet.
Four Visa Groups
Costa Rica has four distinct “Visa Groups” and as of Monday, April 5th, 2021, they will be allowing entry to those from Groups 1 and 2 (but not Groups 3 and 4 which are Consular and Restricted Visas respectively).
Officials from Costa Rica have said that groups 3 and 4 will be processed “as and when the various consulates return to normal working conditions. However, that date has yet to be established”. Check this link for your visa requirements.
Groups 1 and 2 are people from those countries that DO NOT REQUIRE A VISA. The subtle difference between groups 1 and 2 is the validity and time remaining on their passport at the time of entry.
Group 1
Those in this group (mainly citizens of the United States, Canada and the European Union countries) do not require a visa to enter and instead will be given a tourist stamp in their passport at the immigration post upon entry. They must have a valid passport at the time of entry and can remain in the country for up to a maximum of 90 days.
Group 1 Countries; Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Chile, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta United Arab Emirates, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, State of Qatar, United States of America (USA).
Group 2
The following countries may also enter without a visa and stay for up to 90 days providing their passport is valid for at least three months.
Group 1 Countries; Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Bolivia, Dominica, El Salvador, Fiji, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Fiji, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Kazakhstan, Kiribati, Kingdom of Tonga, Marshall Islands, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Micronesia (Federated States), Nauru, Palau, Northern Mariana Islands, Philippines, Russian Federation, Solomon Islands, Samoa, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and The Grenadines, Saint Lucia, São Tomé and Princípe, Seychelles, Suriname, State Of Brunei, Taiwan, Tuvalu, Turkey, Ukraine, Vanuatu, Venezuela.
Entry Requirements
All visitors from groups 1 and 2 must comply with the same Covid and immigration rules as tourists when using land borders to Costa Rica. These include the biosafety protocols for Covid-19 as well as other immigration requirements.
The obligatory Covid-19 health measures are;
Complete the online epidemiological form called the Health Pass https://salud.go.cr/
Have health insurance that provides coverage valid for the entire stay with 50,000 USD for medical expenses (including COVID-19) and 2,000 USD for lodging expenses in the event of COVID-19 quarantine.
Immigration authorities in Costa Rica can also ask for proof of financial solvency of US $ 100 for each 30 days or part of 30 days of their stay (i.e. US $300 for a typical 90 day stay, as well as evidence of a return or onward travel ticket.
As of April 5th 2021, the public health order requiring Costa Ricans and residents to undergo quarantine after arriving by land has been eliminated.
The Government of Costa Rica also stressed that phase one of the border re-opening does not authorize the passage of those from Africa, Asia, South America, the Caribbean, Central America and Europe who are trying to cross the region to get to the United States.
Click here for previous article on border re-opening.
As of this Wednesday, April 7th, the Costa Rican authorities reactivated the Consulate General in Managua and Chinandega, for applications for consular visas.
According to a press release, interested Nicaraguans should schedule their appointments at the following telephone number: 7833-5400.
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