Do I need a visa or anything special to enter Costa Rica?
What US citizens need at the airport, what changes for other passports, and where to confirm the current rules before you fly.
If you are a US citizen on vacation, you do not need a visa. You do need two things at the airport: a passport that is valid for your whole stay, and proof of your flight home. Immigration can ask to see your return ticket, so keep it on your phone.
Traveling on a passport from another country, or holding a visa or residency somewhere else? Tell us when you book and we will gladly help you find the official rules for your passport, because they differ by nationality. See which visa group yours is in: Do I need a visa? Costa Rica's visa groups.
One more that catches people out: if your passport is from, or your flights come through, certain countries in South America or Africa, Costa Rica can ask for a yellow fever vaccination certificate. The vaccine has to be given at least 10 days before you arrive, so let us know early and check with your doctor.
Entry requirements are each traveler's own responsibility, and we cannot be responsible for them. Rules can change, so please confirm what you need well before you fly, on the US State Department's Costa Rica page: https://travel.state.gov/en/international-travel/travel-advisories/costa-rica.html. If you hold a passport from another country, check with your own government or the nearest Costa Rican consulate as well.