Costa Rica visa options for United States passport holders
Tourist / short stay
Visa-free · up to 180 days
Enter without a visa, usually for a set number of days.
Visa types & longer-stay routes for Costa Rica
Non-resident foreigners staying beyond 180-day tourist entry or working remotely from Costa Rica; Estancia visa for remote workers earning 3,000 USD/month (4,000 USD with dependents) from foreign sources
- Tourist
Tourist Entry
Up to 180 days per entry (extended from 90 in Sep 2023; officer discretion)
- Insurance
- RecommendedNot legally required, strongly recommended
- Good for
- Group 1 nationals (US, Canada, EU, UK, AU, NZ)
- Requirement
- Valid passport, onward ticket, proof of funds
- Digital nomad
Estancia (Digital Nomad) Visa
1 year, renewable for 1 more year if present at least 80 days
- Insurance
- Required(min 50,000 USD medical cover for entire stay)
- Good for
- Remote workers and freelancers employed by a foreign entity or clients outside Costa Rica
- Requirement
- Income 3,000 USD/month (4,000 USD with dependents), 100 USD application fee
- Residence
Pensionado (Pensioner)
2 years initial temporary residency, renewable, PR path
- Insurance
- Required(CCSS enrollment mandatory after approval)
- Good for
- Retirees with lifetime pension income
- Requirement
- At least 1,000 USD/month lifetime pension income
- Residence
Rentista
2 years initial, renewable, PR path
- Insurance
- Required(CCSS enrollment mandatory after approval)
- Good for
- Individuals with stable unearned income or savings
- Requirement
- At least 2,500 USD/month stable income for 24 months, or 60,000 USD bank deposit
- Residence
Inversionista (Investor)
2 years initial, renewable
- Insurance
- Required(CCSS enrollment mandatory after approval)
- Good for
- Foreign investors
- Requirement
- 150,000 USD investment in real estate, business or shares (100,000 USD approved forestry); discretionary review expected from July 2026
Visa rules change often and depend on your nationality. Last checked: 2026-06. Always confirm with the official immigration service or your nearest consulate before you apply.
Last verified June 2026
Visa-free isn’t insurance-free
Whatever route you take into Costa Rica, your entry stamp never includes health cover. Many longer-stay visas also require proof of insurance before they’re granted. That part is on you — and it’s what we actually do.
United States → Costa Rica: frequently asked
- Do United States passport holders need a visa to visit Costa Rica?
- Visa-free · up to 180 days. Enter without a visa, usually for a set number of days. Always confirm with the official source before booking.
- Can a United States passport holder live or work long-term in Costa Rica?
- Yes, via a long-stay visa. Costa Rica has 5 documented visa types covering work, study, residence and — where it exists — digital-nomad routes.
- Do I need travel insurance for Costa Rica?
- Entry to Costa Rica never includes health cover, so travel medical insurance is strongly recommended. Several Costa Rica visas also require proof of insurance before they're granted.
Last updated
Visa rules can change at short notice and depend on your purpose of travel, length of stay and onward tickets. Always confirm with the destination’s embassy or the IATA Travel Centre before you book. Visa-free entry never includes travel health insurance. That’s still on you.