The yellow fever vaccine is required if you depart from any yellow fever high-risk country. The high-risk countries are:

In South America:

Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Guyana and Venezuela

In Africa:

Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and Sudan

You do not need yellow fever vaccination if:

• You have only been in transit at airports, seaports or land boarder of high-risk countries
• You have been in one of the high-risk countries and stayed in a different country for at least six calendar days before entering Costa Rica and have not developed the disease
• Your yellow fever vaccination was deferred due to contraindications. You must show a medical opinion supported by a health institution of the country where you live
• You are under 9 months old
• You have severe allergy to eggs, immunosuppression and thymic disease shown in your medical history.
• You are over 60 years old, pregnant, lactating, or have a family history of adverse events associated with vaccination against yellow fever, hypersensitivity to gelatin and asymptomatic HIV infection with laboratory verification of the immune system function and holding a medical assessment of the pros and cons of vaccination

Qualified travelers who require a visa to travel to Costa Rica may be exempt from it based on:

• A multiple entry visa that allows them to travel freely to the United States of America, Canada or countries members of the European Union.
• A lawful permanent resident card issued by the United States of America, Canada or countries members of the European Union.

Multiple Entry Visa

If you hold a United States of America multiple entry (B1/B2, B1, B2, D, or C1/D) visa printed in the passport you are traveling with, you can enter Costa Rica without a visa.

If you hold a multiple entry work or student visa issued by a Canadian embassy or consulate,
You can enter Costa Rica without a visa.

Your multiple entry visa expiration date must occur at least 180 calendar days (6 months) after your scheduled departure from Costa Rica. Otherwise, you must file for a visa at the Consulate of Costa Rica in your country of citizenship. For example, if you arrive in Costa Rica on June 1, 2021, your multiple entry visa must not expire before December 1, 2021.

Lawful Permanent Resident Card and Student or Work Visas

If you are lawfully authorized to live permanently within the United States of America, Canada or any country member of the European Union and were granted a permanent resident card locally known as "green cards" in the U.S., "PR" cards in Canada or EU blue card in the European Union, you may travel to Costa Rica without a visa.

The expiration date of your permanent resident card must occur at least 180 calendar (six months) days after your scheduled departure from Costa Rica. Otherwise, you must file for a visa at the Consulate of Costa Rica in your country of citizenship. For example, if you arrive in Costa Rica on June 1, 2021, your permanent resident card must not expire before December 1, 2021

If you have a multiple entry student or work visa that allows you to live in the United States of America, Canada or a country member of the European Union, you can travel to Costa Rica without a visa. Examples of students visas in the U.S. are F1 and J1 and work visas are H1B, G4, L1, and EB-1.

Your multiple entry visa expiration date must occur at least 180 calendar days after your scheduled departure from Costa Rica. Otherwise, you must file for a visa at the Consulate of Costa Rica in your country of citizenship.

• A letter addressed to the Consul of Costa Rica nearest you requesting a tourist visa. Include in this letter the following personal information: Full name (as it appears on your passport), country of citizenship, passport number, home physical address, purpose of your trip, length of your trip, place and date of arrival and departure, occupation, address in Costa Rica where you intend to stay, date and place of birth, fax number or email address, the date that you wrote the letter and your signature.
• Costa Rica Visa Form
• Original passport, expiration date must be six months beyond your intended stay.
• Copies of your picture and personal info page in your passport and all used visa pages.
• One 2X2 color passport photograph
• Copy of your itinerary showing arrival and departure dates.
• Last 3 bank statements or pay stubs showing proof of sufficient funds (minimum $500.00 per month)
• Additional supporting documentation if Consul of Costa Rica deems necessary.
• Visa Issuance Fee: $32 or $52 USD depending on the type of visa required

Lawful Residency Documentation: Bring the Document that Applies to You

• Original Permanent Resident Card (Green Card)
• Non Immigration (Student or Work) Visa Stamped in your passport
• Employment Authorization Card

Note:  All lawful residency documentation must be valid at least 180 calendar years after your scheduled arrival date in Costa Rica

• Visa Processing Time: Up to a week 
• Visa and pre-approval letter Processing Time: Up to 2 months upon receipt of documentation