Entry & Visa

Visa

Germans, Austrians, and Swiss do not need a visa for tourist stays up to 90 days. A stamp is placed in the passport upon entry. Required:

• Passport: Valid for at least 6 months beyond the stay. ID card is NOT sufficient.
• Return or onward flight ticket: Almost always checked! Entry may be denied without an exit ticket. Tip: A cheap bus ticket to Panama or Nicaragua suffices as proof.
• Proof of financial means: Rarely requested, but theoretically 100 USD per day of stay. Showing a credit card is usually sufficient.

Extension

An extension beyond 90 days is not easily possible. The common method: briefly exit to Panama or Nicaragua, stay there for 72 hours (mandatory!), and re-enter. This is legal and widespread — but Costa Rica has started to scrutinize repeated "visa runs."

Exit Tax

A departure tax of 29 USD is charged when leaving by plane — but it is included in the ticket price for most airlines. When leaving by land: 8 USD (cash in USD or CRC).