U.S. citizens may enter Costa Rica without a tourist visa and can stay up to 90 days.

U.S. citizens - regardless of their age (*) - need the following documents to enter Costa Rica:

• a passport valid for at least ninety (90) days (**)

And

• a pre-paid airline ticket to exit Costa Rica or proof of financial resources ($400.00US - $1,000.00US in cash, traveler checks, and/or ticket (either to return to your home country or to go to another country)

(*) If a U.S. minor (U.S. Citizen under the age of 18) does not have his/her own passport, he or she must have a joint passport with one of his/her parents, legal guardian or the person traveling with him/her.

(**) Your passport can not expire no earlier than ninety days from the date that you arrive in Costa Rica. For example, if you are going to fly to Costa Rica on January 1st, your passport can not expire before April 1st of the same year.

Note: The government of Costa Rica decreed that after November 17, 2003 the practice of accepting U.S. driver licenses/IDs and U.S. birth/naturalization certificates as entry documents is discontinued on a permanent basis.

If you are considering staying for more than 90 (ninety days), a valid passport will be required and you must file for a stay extension at the Immigration Department of Costa Rica. Or, you may exit Costa Rica and re-enter. Most tourists visit Nicaragua or Panama - Costa Rica's neighbor countries - for a day and come back into Costa Rica.

A $20.00 U.S. dollar fine will be charged upon departure from Costa Rica if you overstayed your permitted length in the country.

Canadian citizens may enter Costa Rica without a tourist visa and can stay up to 90 days.

Canadian citizens - regardless of their age (*) - need the following documents to enter Costa Rica:

• a passport valid for at least ninety (90) days (**)

And

• a pre-paid airline ticket to exit Costa Rica or proof of financial resources ($400.00US - $1,000.00US in cash, traveler checks, and/or ticket (either to return to your home country or to go to another country)

(*) If a Canadian minor (Canadian Citizen under the age of 18) does not have his/her own passport, he or she must have a joint passport with one of his/her parents, legal guardian or the person traveling with him/her.

(**) Your passport can not expire no earlier than ninety days from the date that you arrive in Costa Rica. For example, if you are going to fly to Costa Rica on January 1st, your passport can not expire before April 1st of the same year.

Note: The government of Costa Rica decreed that after November 17, 2003 the practice of accepting Canadian driver licenses/IDs and Canadian birth/naturalization certificates as entry documents is discontinued on a permanent basis.

If you are considering staying for more than 90 (ninety days), a valid passport will be required and you must file for a stay extension at the Immigration Department of Costa Rica. Or, you may exit Costa Rica and re-enter. Most tourists visit Nicaragua or Panama - Costa Rica's neighbor countries - for a day and come back into Costa Rica.

A $20.00 Canadian dollar fine will be charged upon departure from Costa Rica if you overstayed your permitted length in the country.