August 27, 2020 – The listed of authorized regions and countries is being revised periodically.
This is the list currently in effect:
- THE EUROPEAN UNION, SCHENGEN ZONE, AND THE UNITED KINGDOM: for flights from the European Union, the Schengen Zone, and the United Kingdom; for citizens and residents of the European Union, the Schengen Zone, and the United Kingdom.
- CANADA: for flights from Canada; for citizens and residents of Canada and for citizens and residents of the European Union, the Schengen Zone, and the United Kingdom in transit.
- SOUTH AMERICA: for flights from Uruguay; for citizens and residents of Uruguay.
- ASIA: for flights from Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Singapore, and the People’s Republic of China; for citizens and residents of Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Singapore, and the People’s Republic of China.
- OCEANIA: for flights from Australia and New Zealand; for citizens and residents of Australia and New Zealand.
- As of Sept. 1, 2020: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (Residents of nine states): Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.
- As of Sept. 15, 2020: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (Residents of three states): Colorado, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania.
Requirements to enter Costa Rica:
- Fill out the electronic epidemiological HEALTH PASS form, available at https://salud.go.cr.
- RT-PCR diagnostic test with a negative result; the sample must have been taken within 72 hours of travel to Costa Rica.
- Passengers coming from the U.S.A. must show through their driver’s license or state identification (State ID) that they live in one of the 12 authorized states. This requirement excludes children travelling with their family.
- Traveler’s Medical Insurance – international or purchased in Costa Rica through the National Insurance Institute (INS – Instituto Nacional de Seguros) www.grupoins.com/seguroparaviajeros, or Sagicor www.sagicor.cr/seguro_para_turistas/.
For international insurance policies, tourists must request a certification from their insurance company, issued in English or Spanish, verifying at least the following three conditions:
- Effectiveness of the policy during the visit to Costa Rica.
- Guaranteed coverage of medical expenses in the event of becoming ill with the pandemic COVID-19 virus while in Costa Rica, for at least USD $50,000 (fifty thousand United States Dollars).
- Includes minimum coverage of USD $2,000 for lodging expenses issued as a result of the pandemic.
Passengers who fail to comply with these requirements may not enter the country.
Upon landing in Costa Rican territory, travelers must wear face protection and comply with the strict protocols of the air terminal with regard to physical distancing, disinfection of carpets, and taking temperature readings, and must follow any other sanitary instructions.
Tourists from authorized states may enter the country even if their route includes a stop at a destination that is not authorized, as long as they do not leave the transit airport.
Opening to Private Flights
As of Sept. 1, private flights from the United States will also be allowed to enter Costa Rica, given that their size and nature means they present a much lower epidemiological risk.
The same requirements as set forth above shall be applicable to persons on private flights. In the event that they come from a state or country that is not authorized, they must receive the approval of the Ministry of Health and the General Directorate of Migration and Foreigners (Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería). Interested parties should submit a request with the following items:
- Full names of the passengers.
- Nationalities and ages.
- Legible copy of the biographical page of the passport of each one of the passengers.
- Date of arrival, arrival airport, and flight origin.
- Strategic reason for admission (investment review, property in Costa Rica, humanitarian reasons, etc.).
Gradual Maritime Opening
In compliance with Costa Rica’s entry requirements from Aug. 1, private yachts are allowed to enter the country beginning Sept. 1. If passengers do not have a negative PCR test, or if they sailed from a city or port that has not been authorized to date, they will receive a health quarantine order which will deduct the number of days on the high seas, counting from the last port departure date recorded in the yacht’s log.
Where can I find updated official information on the situation of COVID-19 in Costa Rica?
You can stay informed at the following links:
Ministry of Health:
Costa Rica Tourism Board (ICT):
https://www.ict.go.cr/en/institutional-services/coronavirus-support-material-tourism-sector.html
Presidency of the Republic:
https://www.presidencia.go.cr/noticias/
Migration Office:
Juan Santamaría International Airport:
Daniel Oduber International Airport (Liberia International Airport):