Pay 
Language 
Currency 
No results found
Requirements to travel to Costa Rica from Spain
We show you the requirements to travel to Costa Rica from Spain that you must meet in order to enter this country. Discover them!
Do you know if you meet all the requirements to travel to Costa Rica from Spain? Don’t worry, because at Holafly, we bring you all the necessary information to perfectly organize your trip to this country. If you’re traveling for business, study, or tourism, there are several conditions you need to know, such as passport validity, return ticket, health insurance, driving permit, etc.
Pack your your suitcase to land in Costa Rica and visit the most beautiful corners of this destination without any worries. Your journey is about to take off!
Tips before travelling to Costa Rica
We want to start with an important recommendation for travellers: While not a mandatory requirement, having a good internet connection is essential when travelling abroad. With the Holafly eSIM for Costa Rica you can personalise your card as many days as you need and with unlimited data for $7.90 per day, a good option for short trips.
On the other hand, for travellers planning to stay longer in the country for work, Holafly Connect’s new plans offer the most professional connectivity. You can stay connected in over 170 destinations, with unlimited data and simultaneous connection on multiple devices for €64.90 ($67.90) per month. You have a choice of subscriptions from 10GB, 25GB and unlimited data.
Important: If you are a frequent traveler and want to stay connected without worrying about expensive roaming or looking for a new SIM at every destination, Holafly’s subscription plans are for you. With a single eSIM, enjoy internet in more than 170 countries for a fixed price and no surprises on your bill. Travel without limits and connect easily and securely! 🚀🌍
After this brief tip, let’s continue with the essential requirements to travel to Costa Rica from Spain. Take note!
1. Airplain ticket to Costa Rica from Spain
A round-trip flight ticket is required to travel to Costa Rica from Spain, showing your intent to leave after your stay. For Spanish travellers travelling as short-stay tourists, it’s essential to present this ticket at immigration control. This assures the authorities that you don’t plan to overstay your visa.
If travelling with a student, work, or permanent residency visa, a return ticket isn’t required. We’ll explain it in more detail below.
2. Tourist, residence or work visas for Costa Rica
Why do you travel to this country? Depending on your personal situation as a tourist, retiree, worker or student, you’ll need a specific type of visa. Only Spanish tourists planning to stay in Costa Rica for less than 180 days can do so without a visa. Check with the Costa Rican consulate or embassy for the latest and detailed information based on your situation. We explain in more detail the visas that this country offers you:
- Tourism: Spanish citizens aren’t required to apply for a visa for tourism purposes. When you enter the country, you’ll be issued a tourist card that allows you to stay for up to 180 days. This card is issued automatically or is included in the airline ticket.
- Studies: If you want to study in Costa Rica you need a student visa. This allows you to stay for your studies, usually for one year, with the option to renew.
- Work: To work in this country, it’s compulsory to obtain a visa authorising this work activity. If you have a job offer in the country, you can apply for a work visa. Additionally, Costa Rica offers a one-year renewable digital nomad visa.
- Residence: To stay in the country for more than 180 days, you can apply for a temporary residence visa for work, family, or investment reasons. For retirees who receive a regular pension and want to live in Costa Rica, there’s the pensioner visa.
- Investment: Spanish citizens who want to invest in real estate or business projects can apply for the investor’s visa.
3. Spanish passport
As part of the requirements to travel to Costa Rica from Spain, you must have a valid Spanish passport with enough space for the entry stamp. Additionally, it must be in good condition and valid for the entire stay in the country. It’s recommended to have at least six months of validity. This document proves your nationality, and remember, the Spanish ID isn’t valid in Costa Rica. What can you do if your passport is about to expire? Renew it at the relevant offices in Spain before your trip by scheduling an appointment on the official website www.citapreviadnie.es.
4. Address of your accommodation in Costa Rica
Costa Rican authorities also require you to show the address of your accommodation during your stay as part of the travel requirements. This information is valid for a hotel, Airbnb, co-living, or a family home, so we recommend carrying a paper copy and having it on your phone. Having this information on hand speeds up the process at immigration control and allows authorities to confirm you have accommodation during your visit.
5. Health insurance
The final requirement to travel to Costa Rica from Spain is having health insurance if you’re a beneficiary of any of the visas mentioned earlier. Although medical insurance isn’t required for tourist stays, it’s highly recommended to get a policy covering emergencies, hospitalisation, and repatriation, as costs can be high.
- Tourist stays: It’s not mandatory, but travel insurance with medical coverage will protect you from health issues and save you significant costs in the country.
- Work, study or residence visas: For these travellers, it is mandatory to purchase health insurance that meets the requirements set by immigration authorities, ensuring comprehensive protection during their stay in the country.
6. Exit rate from Costa Rica
Make sure that your return ticket to Spain includes the departure tax required by the authorities, as this is one of the requirements for travelling to Costa Rica from Spain and being able to return. This tax is approximately $29 and, if it isn’t included in your ticket, you can pay it at the airport before your return flight. The government’s goal with this revenue is to fund tourism services and border management.
6. To pass immigration control in Costa Rica
Once you’ve gathered all the required documents to travel to Costa Rica from Spain, the most important step is to pass immigration control. Don’t worry, as it’s a simple procedure if you comply with everything we have mentioned in the previous sections.
Authorities will ask for your passport, return ticket to your home country, visa (if required), and your accommodation address. For this reason, keep everything organized and easily accessible in a bag or folder, make photocopies of all documents, and remain respectful towards immigration officers.
More tips to travel to Costa Rica
So far, we’ve covered all the requirements for travelling to Costa Rica from Spain. Now, we’ll share useful tips for exploring the country, enjoying activities, and tasting its cuisine with peace of mind. Don’t hesitate to be proactive and complete all these steps to ensure your trip is completely safe.
Travel insurance for Costa Rica
If you want to protect yourself against any unforeseen events during your stay in Costa Rica, it’s a good idea to purchase travel insurance that covers medical assistance, emergencies, and includes repatriation. In addition, many insurances offer coverage for flight cancellations, lost luggage and other incidents that may occur along the way.
Driving licence in Costa Rica
did you know you can drive in Costa Rica with your Spanish licence? According to Costa Rican traffic law, a foreign driver’s licence can be used for tourist or transit drivers. This permit can be used for the duration of your stay, i.e. up to 180 days in the case of Spanish nationals.
Financial solvency
It’s not part of the requirements to travel to Costa Rica from Spain, but if you can prove, through bank statements or credit card extracts, that you have enough money for your entire stay, it’s a point in your favour. With this documentation provided to the agents at immigration control, it’ll be much simpler and quicker. In this way, they’ll see your willingness to bring a benefit to the country as a tourist and not an expense. The recommended amount is approximately $ 100-150 per day per person.
Vaccinations to travel to Costa Rica
Vaccinations in Costa Rica are only mandatory for certain countries where there’s an endemic disease, such as yellow fever. For Spanish travelers, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Spain recommends the following vaccines as a preventive measure. It’s best to visit an international vaccination clinic well in advance, 4-6 weeks before your trip, to make sure you’re fully protected.
- Hepatitis A: It’s advisable to be vaccinated against hepatitis A because of the possibility of exposure to contaminated food or water. In the case of water, it’s preferable to drink bottled water.
- Typhoid fever: Food served at unhygienic street stalls can lead to typhoid fever.
Frequently Asked Questions about requirements to travel to Costa Rica from Spain
The mandatory documents required at Costa Rica’s immigration control are: A passport with at least six months validity and in good condition, a return flight ticket to Spain, a visa if you’re entering as a student, worker, or for long-term residence, and a medical insurance if required by the type of visa.
If you’re travelling as a tourist, Spanish citizens are allowed to enter the country without a visa for a maximum period of 180 days. If, on the other hand, you want to travel to this country to study, work or reside permanently, you do need to apply for a visa.
Passing immigration control is achieved by presenting all required documents (passport, return ticket, visa or tourist card, and accommodation proof) in an organised and efficient manner. Also, respond politely to all questions from agents so they can verify the purpose of your trip.
It’s not a mandatory requirement to travel to Costa Rica from Spain, but it adds extra security for the immigration department. This way, you can prove, through bank statements, that you have the financial means to stay in the country. We recommend it to be around $100 per day per person.
It’s highly recommended but not required if you’re travelling as a tourist. Medical costs in Costa Rica can be high without a policy that covers hospitalisations or emergencies. For visa beneficiaries, a medical insurance is required.
