Costa Rica

India sits in the third entry group of Costa Rica’s General Visa Guidelines (AJ-484-11-2025, Gaceta Alcance 148 of 17 November 2025): consular visa required for tourism unless an exemption document applies. The border officer still decides entry and will not grant more stay than that document allows.

US or Canada — multiple-entry visa or residence valid at least 1 calendar day from the intended entry date. US C1, C2 and C3 transit visas do not qualify; US D and C1/D do.

UK nations / Iceland / Norway / Switzerland / EU — residence that allows multiple entries, or is valid at least 90 calendar days from intended entry. Refugee / asylum categories excluded.

Schengen C or D — multiple-entry only; at least 1 calendar day remaining. Stay cannot exceed that visa’s remaining validity. Visas that only start after the intended entry date are not accepted.

Exemption path at the border

• Valid Indian passport — machine-readable or biometric (ICAO); Group 3 minimum validity 180 calendar days
• Qualifying US/Canada multiple-entry visa or residence, or UK/EU/EFTA residence, or multiple-entry Schengen C/D as above
• Proof of funds: at least USD 100 per month (or fraction) of intended stay
• Return or onward ticket (or navigation plan with destination port)

Without a qualifying US/Canada/EU-UK/Schengen document, Indian ordinary-passport holders need a Costa Rican consular visa for Non-Resident Tourism. Lodge at the Costa Rican Embassy / Consulate in New Delhi (F 9/2 Vasant Vihar). The consul acts as a migration agent under the Reglamento para el Otorgamiento de Visas de Ingreso (Decreto 36626-G) and the current Directrices.

Standard Group 3 stamp is single entry. Consuls may issue two consular visas when a second entry is justified. A visa that must be referred to Migración (consultada) or a multiple visa authorised by Migración uses the higher tariffs.

Consular visa (Group 3)

• Written application to the Costa Rican consul with full name, nationality, passport number, residence, purpose, planned stay, approx. arrival/departure, profession, address in Costa Rica, date and place of birth, notification contact, date and signature
• Passport valid at least six months / 180 calendar days, plus a full copy of the passport
• Tentative return or onward ticket reservation
• Proof of means for the stay in Costa Rica
• Current criminal-record certificate — Spanish translation if not in Spanish
• Proof of payment of the consular tariff
• Consul may ask for more papers from the country of origin and may call an interview

Papers not issued in the country of filing must be apostilled or legalised as required. At entry also show ICAO passport, visa if required, USD 100/month funds, and return/onward ticket.

India is on the Directrices list of passports that need an airport transit visa to change aircraft in Costa Rica under the Non-Resident transit subcategory. Apply at an authorised Costa Rican consulate with the transit document set (passport copy, onward ticket, funds, criminal record, and destination visa if the next country requires one).

Airport transit visa

• Application to the consul with identity, passport, residence, profession, birth data, planned arrival/departure, time in the airport, airlines, final destination, stamp consulate, notification channel
• Copy of passport bio page — not less than six months’ validity unless an exception applies
• Air ticket reservation proving the final destination
• Proof of economic solvency
• Criminal-record certificate covering the last ten years (origin or residence)
• Visa for the final destination if that country requires one
• Consul may request further papers