Travel and Visa Info for Costa Rica - B A L | Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP

At a Glance

Capital	San José
Language	Spanish
Population	5,094,000
GDP Total	$60.1 billion
GDP Per Capita	$12,026.50

Assessing Travel and Visa Obligations

When traveling to Costa Rica, your nationality and the types of activities you will conduct during your trip will determine whether you may travel lawfully as a business visitor or if work authorization will be required. Please seek advice from your immigration counsel if you are uncertain about the specific types of activities that constitute business or work.

Traveling for Business

What types of activities may I engage in as a business visitor?

As a business visitor to Costa Rica, you may engage in the activities below. While this list is not exhaustive and other activities could qualify as business, you may:

» Attend business meetings
» Visit a current project site for informational purposes
» Conduct fact-finding missions
» Attend seminars and administrative training as a participant or instructor

If I qualify as a business visitor, do I need a visa for Costa Rica?

Nationals of Canada, the United States, and many European and Latin American countries are eligible for a visa waiver and are not required to obtain a visa to enter and conduct business activities in Costa Rica. If your nationality is not eligible for a visa waiver, you must obtain a Consular or Restricted Entry Visa from a Costa Rican embassy or consulate prior to travel.

Additionally, select nationals who would otherwise be required to obtain a visa may be eligible for a visa waiver if they hold a multiple-entry visa from Canada or the United States, or hold legal residence in Canada, the European Union, or the United States. However, please check with your immigration counsel regarding specific visa waiver eligibility requirements and for the permitted period of stay on a visa waiver.

Working in Costa Rica

What types of activities require work authorization?

As a business visitor, the activities below, whether paid or unpaid, generally constitute work under Costa Rican law. This list is not exhaustive, and many other professional activities are considered work in Costa Rica, even if conducted for a short duration.

» Hands-on technical work
» Repairs and maintenance
» Negotiations
» Auditing

If I am traveling to Costa Rica for work, what type of work authorization do I need?

The requirements for work authorization depend on your qualifications, on the nature and duration of your work, and on whether your employer has an entity in Costa Rica. The most common forms of work authorization for Costa Rica are:

» Estancia Permit (short-term work authorization)
» Temporary Residence Permit (long-term work authorization)
» Digital Nomad Visa

Is it possible to be exempted from work authorization requirements?

There are no work authorization exemptions based on nationality or industry in Costa Rica.

What else should I know?

Inevitably, the legal and strategic considerations impacting visa selection, as well as visa waiver and work authorization eligibility, entail the careful consideration of many factors. We recommend that you consult with your immigration counsel before taking any course of action.

Copyright © 2022 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. Government immigration agencies often change their policies and practices without notice; please consult an immigration professional for up-to-date information. This document does not constitute legal advice or create an attorney-client relationship. BAL maintains comprehensive immigration information and processing specifics for our clients.

News and Events

7 Oct 22

Costa Rica

At a Glance

What types of activities may I engage in as a business visitor?

If I qualify as a business visitor, do I need a visa for Costa Rica?

What types of activities require work authorization?

If I am traveling to Costa Rica for work, what type of work authorization do I need?

Is it possible to be exempted from work authorization requirements?

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At a Glance

Costa Rica

At a Glance

What types of activities may I engage in as a business visitor?

If I qualify as a business visitor, do I need a visa for Costa Rica?

What types of activities require work authorization?

If I am traveling to Costa Rica for work, what type of work authorization do I need?

Is it possible to be exempted from work authorization requirements?

News and Events

At a Glance

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