Going to Costa Rica for leisure or visiting family or frineds and need to know the latest Costa Rican tourist visa requirements, Costa Rican tourist visa processing time or need to make a Costa Rica visa appointment? Browse this Costa Rica visa website to learn more.
Costa Rica Visa Types
There are several types of Costa Rican visas available and the visa type for Costa Rica you need to apply depends on the purpose of your trip to Costa Rica.
Finding out what type of Costa Rica visa you need to apply for is actually a pretty easy process. You can apply for Costa Rican visa if you are traveling for one of the following purposes:
- Costa Rican Tourist Visa - Costa Rica visa is issued to foreigners that wish to visit Costa Rica, for a shorter period like 30 days within a 3-month period
- Costa Rican Visitor Visa - Make it possible for non-Costa Rican family members and friends that live outside of Costa Rica to come to Costa Rica and meet their parents, children, spouse or friends.
- Costa Rican Business Visa - To participate in business related activities including attending or conducting meetings or conferences or training, installing equipment or performing other temporary services for a client, local affiliate or branch office in Costa Rica.
- Costa Rican Transit Visa - To transit through the airport or port in Costa Rica
Other Costa Rican Visa Types
There are other types of Costa Rican visas available for non-Costa Rican citizens to apply:
- Student Visa
- Journalist Visa
- Retirement Visa
- Permantent Resident Visa
- Work Visa
- Official Visit Visa
- Cultural, Film Crew & Sports Visa
- Merchant Seaman Visa
Costa Rican Entry Visa Types
Single Entry visa for Costa Rica: A single-entry visa allows its holder to enter Costa Rica only once, within the given period of time, as mentioned in the visa sticker affixed to their passport. Once the visa holder exits the territory of Costa Rica or visa region associated with Costa Rica, he or she can no longer go back, even if they have not spend in Costa Rica the number of days as permitted by the embassy that issued them the visa.
Double Entry visa for Costa Rica: In general, a double-entry visa applies the same way as the single-entry visa explained above. The sole difference between a single-entry and a double-entry visa is that the second gives you the chance to go once more back to Costa Rica
Multiple Entry visa for Costa Rica: This type of visa allows the holder of the visa to enter Costa Rica mutiple times with visa validity period.
Steps to Applying for Costa Rican visa To apply for a Costa Rican visa follow the steps given below:
- Check if you need to apply for a Costa Rican Visa.
- Know when is the right time to apply!
- Figure out what type of Costa Rican visa you need.
- Find out where you should lodge your application.
- Fill in the right Costa Rican visa form.
- Collect the documents required for Costa Rican visa.
- Make a visa appointment.
- Attend the visa interview.
- Submit your biometrics.
- Pay the visa fee.
Please Note: Please consult Costa Rican embassy in your country as visa regulations for Costa Rica can and often change overnight. In individual cases, additional documents required for Costa Rican visa. We accept no responsibility as we have no affiliation with the embassy of Costa Rica or their visa section.
Going for a visa interview at the embassy? The visa officer at the Costa Rican consulate will look over your application and ask you questions if they wish to clarify anything. It is best to answer these questions honestly.
Typical questions asked at the Costa Rica visa interview include:
- What is your purpose of your trip to Costa Rica?
- Do you know anyone living in Costa Rica?
- What is your current occupation?
- How long have you been in your current occupation?
- If you are a student, when will the studies finsh?
- How will you suuport yourself whilst in Costa Rica?
- Have you ever travelled to other countries?
- Who will pay for your trip to Costa Rica?
- What are your plans when you return from your trip?
- What will you do if your visa application is rejected?
- What is your marital status?
- Will you be involved in business in Costa Rica?
Common reasons why your Costa Rican visa application got rejected include:
- Lack of funds – you must be able to afford your trip Costa Rica and you must provide documents to show that you can.
- Proof of accommodation not provided – you must be able to show where you will be staying in Costa Rica and you can easily do this by providing a hotel reservation in Costa Rica.
- The visa officer thinks you will not return to your home country – you must make it clear that you intend to leave Costa Rica and return to your home country before the expiry of your visa. You can do this by providing documents that show you have ties where you live, such as an employment letter or proof that you own your home etc.
- No proof of residence – you must be able to prove that you can live in the country of your residence legally, so you must provide proof of residence.