Traveling Information

Visa and passport requirements frequently change. We do our best to keep this information as current as possible; however, we recommend that you check with your embassy or consulate before departure.

List of Costa Rican embassies and consulates around the world: view list

To find out if you need a visa to enter Costa Rica, please check this link:
http://www.migracion.go.cr/visas/Directrices_ingreso/Directrices%20visas-Noviembre2009.pdf

General Entry Requirements:

All adults and children (from 0 - 16 years old) require the following documents to enter Costa Rica:

• A valid passport with at least one blank visa page. The expiration date of your passport must be greater than either 30 or 180 days - depending on your country of citizenship - from your date of entry to Costa Rica.
• A pre-paid airline ticket to exit Costa Rica or a pre-purchased bus ticket to another country. Proof of financial resources ($400.00 - $1,000.00 U.S. dollars in cash, traveler checks, and/or credit cards) to pay for the market value of a one-way airline ticket may also apply depending on airline requirements either to return to your home country or to go to another country.
• Minors (children under the age of 18) who do not have their own passport must have a joint passport with one of their parents, legal guardian or the adult traveling with them.

Juan Santamaría International Airport (IATA: SJO, ICAO: MROC)
The Juan Santamaría International Airport is Costa Rica’s main airport and is located in Alajuela, 18 km from San José and 14 km from the Real Intercontinental Hotel, venue of this year’s Sintercafé.

Licensed taxis are available at the airport, TAXI AEROPUERTO. Taxis will generally accept both Colones and U.S. dollars, but not other currencies.
For more information: http://www.taxiaeropuerto.com/ing_index.shtml

The major operator at the airport is TACA/LACSA, followed by Copa Airlines, Continental Airlines and American Airlines. The following airlines have scheduled direct services to and/or from Juan Santamaría International Airport (as of April 2010):

Departure Tax

Costa Rica’s departure tax is USD$26, which can be paid at the airport before departure, or you can check with us at the Sintercafé business center and avoid long lines at the airport.