Q COSTARICA — Costa Rica has updated immigration guidelines, including
a new fast-track process for accredited companies, expanded special categories for academic visitors and interns, and new general visa rules for non-residents.
Other changes involve streamlining company registration, new requirements for companies to prove social security compliance, and efforts to reduce residency application backlogs.
Key updates for 2025
- Fast-track for accredited companies: The “Ventanilla Única de Inversión” (VUI) now offers a fast-track process for short-stay visas for Category A accredited companies, aiming for a two-week processing time.
- Expanded academic categories: Higher education institutions can now seek accreditation for faster processing for foreign faculty and students. Special immigration categories have also been expanded to include interns and short-term academic or cultural visitors.
- General visa and entry rules: New general visa guidelines were issued in November 2025, which update and detail entry, stay, and overstay consequences for non-residents.
- Company registration changes: Regulations for registering companies with the immigration authorities have been updated to streamline the process and improve benefits for companies and their employees.
- Company compliance checks: Companies must now prove they are up-to-date with social security (Caja) and tax obligations for their employees, a requirement the Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería (DGME)—Costa Rica’s immigration service, will verify automatically during application processes.
- Residency backlog efforts: The DGME is working to reduce a large backlog in residency applications, though a legal challenge has impacted some parts of their strategy.
- Special family category: A special category for dependents of residents is being clarified, with specific rules for spouses, parents, and children depending on the resident’s status (permanent, temporary, or citizen).
Tourist Entry and Visa Requirements
Visitors are sorted into four groups according to their nationality, which decides whether they need a visa and how long they’re allowed to stay. The basic system hasn’t changed much, but the updates sharpen the rules for people using visas from other countries to sidestep Costa Rica’s own requirements.
Here’s a quick look at each group and the main rules they follow:
- Passport Validity: For most tourists from Group 1, including the US, Canada, and EU countries, no visa required, stay up to 180 days, passports must be valid for at least one day upon entry; From Group 2, no visa required, stay up to 30 days, extendable to 90 days, passports must be valid at least 3 months from entry; From Groups 3 and 4, passport validity is min 6 months.
Specific Nationalities:– Honduras has been reclassified from Group Three to Group Two (visa-exempt), though adults still need a non-apostilled Police Clearance Certificate upon entry.
– Venezuelans now require a travel permit issued by a Costa Rican consulate in a third country for entry.
– Nicaraguans need a passport with 90 days of validity and can apply for a 48-hour transit visa without a criminal record.
– Schengen Visa Holders: Travelers using a valid multiple-entry visa or residence permit from the US, Canada, or the Schengen Area for entry must ensure these documents are valid for at least 90 days upon arrival.
To visit Costa Rica, all foreign nationals must meet the following entry requirements:
- Valid passport or travel document. Only machine-readable passports or travel documents will be accepted, in accordance with the guidelines established by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), and with the validity period determined by the General Guidelines for Entry and Stay Visas for Non-Residents.
- Visa, when required as established by the General Guidelines for Entry and Stay Visas for Non-Residents.
- Proof of sufficient funds, with a minimum of US$100.00 (one hundred US dollars) per month or fraction thereof of authorized stay in the country.
- Return ticket to the country of origin or onward travel ticket, or a sailing plan indicating the port of destination.
- No impediment to entry into Costa Rica.
Residency and Work Visas
- Digital Nomad Visa Renewal: To renew a digital nomad visa for a second year, the holder must spend a minimum of 180 days (six months) in Costa Rica during the initial year.
- Company Compliance: Companies sponsoring immigration applications (for employees’ residence permits or work authorizations) must demonstrate full compliance with the Costa Rican Social Security Administration (CCSS) and the Ministry of Finance (Hacienda).
- Fast-Track Process for Companies: A new “Ventanilla Única de Inversión” (VUI), or One-Stop Investment Window, has been launched to streamline immigration processing for accredited companies, potentially reducing short-stay visa processing times from 15-45 days to approximately two weeks.
- Investment Thresholds: The general minimum investment for an Inversionista visa remains around US$150,000 in a business or property, or US$100,000 in a forest plantation. The Pensionado program requires a minimum US$1,000 monthly pension, and the Rentista program requires proof of at least US$2,500 per month for two years or a US$60,000 bank deposit.
Travelers are strongly advised to check the official DGME website for detailed and the most up-to-date requirements before travel to ensure all documentation is correct and avoid potential fines or entry denial.