No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeCosta RicaCosta Rica no longer requires coronavirus test for entry

Costa Rica no longer requires coronavirus test for entry

As of Monday, October 26, Costa Rica no longer requires that arriving tourists show proof of a negative coronavirus test.

As indicated by the Costa Rica Tourism Board: “All local and foreign passengers who enter Costa Rica by air are not required to present a RT-PCR diagnostic test with a negative result.”

The change also eliminates the 14-day quarantine requirement for Costa Rican citizens returning to the country without a negative test.

COVID requirements to enter Costa Rica

Visitors to Costa Rica must purchase travel medical insurance and complete the Health Pass epidemiological form. The insurance must be either a policy from INS or Sagicor — both Costa Rican companies — or a foreign policy that covers COVID-19 medical expenses and extended lodging.

The INS and Sagicor policies are pre-approved and guaranteed to meet Costa Rica’s requirements. Tourists opting for a foreign policy must show proof that it meets the following conditions:

  • That the policy remains effective throughout the visit to Costa Rica.
  • That it covers COVID-19 medical expenses while in Costa Rica of at least USD $50,000.
  • That it covers at least USD $2,000 for lodging expenses issued as a result of the pandemic.

Tourists do not need to quarantine upon entering Costa Rica.

Costa Rica currently welcomes tourists from more than 40 countries, including Canada, Mexico, the European Union Schengen Zone and certain U.S. states.

As of October 26, residents of the following U.S. states can visit Costa Rica:

  • Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, D.C., Arizona, Colorado, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Mexico, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Wyoming California and Ohio, Florida, Georgia, Texas.

Beginning November 1, Costa Rica will open its airports to tourists from all countries and U.S. states.

Costa Rica entry requirements for tourists (non-COVID)

In addition to fulfilling the COVID-related requirements, visitors must continue to adhere to Costa Rica’s typical entry requirements. For a U.S. or Canadian tourist, these are:

  • A current valid passport. The passport must be valid for a minimum of one day from the day you enter Costa Rica.
  • A return ticket to exit Costa Rica (either to return to your country or to go to another country).

Tourist stamps are issued for a maximum stay of 90 days.

Click here for Costa Rica visa requirements by nationality, and click here for the official COVID entry requirements for tourists.

Trending Now

Costa Rica President Narrows Legal Abortion to Life-Saving Cases

President Rodrigo Chaves has repealed Costa Rica's therapeutic abortion protocol, a move that fulfills a long-standing promise and tightens rules around the procedure. The...

Guatemalan Migrant Children Fear Deportation by Trump

At 15, I.B. fled poverty and an abusive father in Guatemala. She emigrated alone to the United States, like hundreds of children living in...

Costa Rica Reports First Yellow Fever Case in 70 Years

Health officials in Costa Rica have confirmed the country's first case of yellow fever in almost seven decades. The Ministry of Health announced the...

Costa Rica’s Guanacaste Makes Forbes’ Best Places to Visit in 2026

Forbes has spotlighted Guanacaste as one of the top six spots for travelers in 2026. The list also includes Nikko in Japan, Kona in...

Costa Rica Arrests Suspects Wanted by U.S. for Cocaine Smuggling

Authorities in Costa Rica arrested four men from the southern part of the country, all wanted by the United States for extradition on charges...

How to Grow Broccoli Successfully in Costa Rica’s Highlands

In Costa Rica's cooler highland regions, home gardeners harvest fresh broccoli that brings a distinct flavor to everyday meals. This vegetable packs vitamins A,...
spot_img
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica