LATEST UPDATE ON THE INSURANCE REQUIREMENT FOR TOURISTS TO ENTER COSTA RICA

With the Circular AJ-1861-10-2020, Immigration Authorities stated that tourists must provide proof of insurance coverage for the entire length of stay in Costa Rica. From the length of the insurance coverage will depend the length of the tourist visa. This means that, despite the automatic extension until March 2, 2021, currently established for tourist visas, Borders Officials are now not allowed to provide a tourist visa longer than the term of the insurance coverage. Hence, if you buy an insurance for two weeks, your visa will only be valid for two weeks.

Immigration Authorities announced that the insurance policy and the corresponding tourist visas can be extended once in the country, but the process is challenging.

If possible, we recommend buying insurance coverage for the entire length of your stay in Costa Rica.

For those who are planning to file an application for residency once in Costa Rica, please remember that filing the application could take a while, and that, until your residency will be approved, you will not be able to be covered by the public health system, so you may want to be covered privately for as long as possible.

CRIBO remains at your disposal for any further information.