Visitors Guide to Costa Rica

Residency, Visas and Passports

Costa Rica offers very few restrictions for visas when visiting the country on holiday, yet the authorities are very strict on people who over stay visas. Passports are required by all visitors entering the country and need to be valid for a minimum of 30 days.

Visitors to Costa Rica who plan to stay for a short trip of less than 30 days will not need to arrange a visa if they have a disembarkation card. For visits longer than 30 days, an exit visa will be required. This visa will need to be obtained a minimum of 3 weeks before departing the country. Most EU nationalities, along with UK, US and Australian visitors to Costa Rica will require a visa if planning to visit the country for a minimum of 90 days.

Costa Rica offers several different options for foreigners wishing to obtain residency. The most common types include retired resident applications, business and investor residents. Proof of income will need to be shown, with non-retired applicants needing to show a guaranteed income for a minimum of 5 years to cover the cost of living for each adult and child.

The process for obtaining residency will need to be arranged from outside the country, yet the necessary finger printing will need to be done from within Costa Rica. Many visitors arranging residency hire a solicitor even though it is not a legal requirement. The solicitor can act as an official representative for their client, as a representative is a requirement of the residency process when dealing with the Costa Rican migration departments.>

Getting There

The growing tourism and interest in Costa Rica has enabled frequent and convenient flight options from surrounding countries, the US and Europe. Central American air passes can also be arranged for tourists planning to visit near-by countries during their travels.

The national airline is Grupo Taca and is a part of the consortium of 5 Central American airlines. Flight time to Costa Rica from Europe is approximately 11.5 hours, while flight time from Miami is less than 3 hours.

While flying is the most popular method of entry to Costa Rica, the country also has two main sea ports, located on the Caribbean coast and the Pacific coast.

The Inter-American highway crosses through Costa Rica, between Nicaragua and Panama. The highway connects many of the country’s towns with San Jose, the capital city in the centre of the country.

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Local Transport

Costa Rica features a great variety of transport options and a good road network throughout the country. There are also several airline companies offering scheduled and charter flights with small aircraft travelling between towns and the capital city of San Jose.

Rail transport is not the most popular form of travelling around the country, yet lines are available connecting San Jose with the outer suburbs. A scenic train offers a connection from the capital to the Pacific coast, ideal for tourists.

Travelling between major towns is most commonly transited by coach, offering extensive routes and inexpensive prices. Bus and coach services are regular, with several companies offering different routes. As coach travel is very popular, it is advisable to book tickets in advance to ensure a seat.

The road networks in Costa Rica are very good between the main cities and touristic areas, although deterioration can be found in the rural areas. The Inter-American highway extends through Costa Rica, running through the capital city and linking several other main towns.

If planning to hire a car in Costa Rica, drivers will require either a national or international license. Many international car hire companies are present in the country with offices at the airport and city centre, along with several local hire car companies.

Taxi services offer a convenient and inexpensive transport potion in the towns and cities. Often the taxis are metered, so passengers should ensure that it is switched on, or a price has been agreed prior to departing.

Health and Safety

Costa Rica is considered to be a very safe place to visit, with tourism levels growing year on year, increasing numbers of visitors are discovering the fascinating attractions the country has to offer.

Health facilities in Costa Rica have excellent standards, offering some of the best in Latin America. Many of the doctors are trained in US medical schools, with growing numbers of medical tourism visitors arriving to Costa Rica for cosmetic treatments every year.

The country has a year round climate, with a rainy season from May to November, yet conveniently located away from the Caribbean hurricane belt.

Costa Rica has no major diseases that require vaccinations prior to travelling and the food is safe to eat without special preparations. Visitors generally prefer to drink the bottled water, as although it is safe in the city areas, it can be heavily chlorinated. Outside the city visitors are advised to sterilise tap water as it can be contaminated, or avoid it by drinking only bottled water.

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