Allen W. Says:
I’m planning a scouting trip to Costa Rica to check out some of the places you recommend there. What do I need to think about in terms of visas?
IL Latin America Correspondent Jason Holland Says:
Hi Allen,
When visiting Costa Rica for a scouting trip, there’s no need to make prior arrangements for a visa. You’ll receive a tourist visa stamped in your passport that’s good for up to 90 days in the country when you get off the plane and go through immigration.
If three months aren’t enough, simply go home and come back later or travel (fly, drive, or take the bus) to another country in the region. Either way, once you leave and re-enter Costa Rica, you get another 90-day tourist visa.
It’s a good short-term solution, although if you plan to live in Costa Rica, it’s best to explore your options for residence which would allow you to stay in the country permanently. (You can find that information in our Escape to Costa Rica guidebook on the IL Bookstore here.)
There are a few things to keep in mind with your tourist visa. You cannot travel into Costa Rica with a one-way ticket. You must show proof of travel outside of the country within 90 days of your arrival—a plane ticket works best.
If you plan to stick around and do a “border run” to neighboring Nicaragua or Panama, you must also show proof of this onward travel. A refundable airline ticket is handy for this as you can change the date as needed.
If you plan to rent a car and drive in Costa Rica, you should always have your home country driver’s license, a copy of your passport information page, and the visa page. Foreign drivers’ licenses are acceptable so long as your tourist visa is valid. There’s no need to purchase an International Driver’s License.
Best of luck with your scouting trip!
If you haven’t already, I’d suggest checking out our Fast Track Costa Rica Conference taking place in June. It could be a great event to combine with your trip. Get all the details in your IL magazine right here.
Got a Question?
Send your thoughts to mailbag@internationalliving.com. We’ll post and respond to as many of your emails as we can right here in the e-letter.