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Visa requirements · updated Aug 2026

Do Costa Rica citizens need a visa for United States?

Visa required

Costa Rica citizens need a visa to enter United States. Apply in advance at an embassy or visa centre.

VISAXSAug 2026
Visa required
Costa Rica → United States
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Costa Rica vs United States: passport comparison

Costa Rica

91

visa-free countries

Global rank: #62 · mobility 147.3

United States

116

visa-free countries

Global rank: #40 · mobility 166.1
88

countries both Costa Rica and United States can enter visa-free together

Costa Rica + United States: passport compatibility

75%

of the world — where both passports have the same visa access

Where Costa Rica and United States travel together — by entry type:

88 both visa-free
22 both visa on arrival
24 both e-visa / eTA
14 both need a visa
49 access differs

Where Costa Rica and United States can travel visa-free together

Travelling as a pair with two different passports? Here is the full list of countries where BOTH of you can enter without a prior visa — plus where your access differs.

Both visa-free (88)

Sort by max stay or the destination's passport strength (tap a header), and filter by region.

Country Max stay Passport rank
Albania90 days#91 Andorra90 days#47 Argentina90 days#44 Austria90 days#13 Bahamas90 days#53 Barbados30 days#48 Belgium90 days#6 Belize30 days#99 Bosnia and Herzegovina90 days#88 Botswana90 days#119 Brazil90 days#43 Brunei14 days#52 Bulgaria90 days#35 Chile90 days#45 Colombia90 days#74 Croatia90 days#22 Cyprus90 days#36 Czech Republic90 days#25 Denmark90 days#11 Dominica180 days#70 Dominican Republic90 days#124 Ecuador90 days#104 El Salvador180 days#75 Estonia90 days#26 Finland90 days#3 France90 days#4 Georgia360 days#83 Germany90 days#7 Greece90 days#17 Grenada90 days#65 Guatemala90 days#73 Guyana90 days#106 Haiti90 days#175 Honduras90 days#78 Hong Kong30 days#46 Hungary90 days#21 Iceland90 days#38 Ireland90 days#18 Israel90 days#51 Italy90 days#8 Jamaica30 days#100 Japan90 days#24 Kiribati90 days#84 Kosovo90 days#107 Latvia90 days#34 Liechtenstein90 days#39 Lithuania90 days#37 Luxembourg90 days#9 Malaysia30 days#41 Malta90 days#29 Mexico180 days#55 Micronesia30 days#89 Moldova90 days#92 Monaco90 days#42 Montenegro90 days#76 Netherlands90 days#10 Nicaragua90 days#86 North Macedonia90 days#82 Norway90 days#15 Palestine90 days#193 Panama90 days#68 Paraguay90 days#64 Peru90 days#57 Philippines30 days#128 Poland90 days#19 Portugal90 days#14 Romania90 days#33 Saint Kitts and Nevis90 days#54 Saint Lucia42 days#69 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines90 days#56 San Marino90 days#49 Serbia90 days#72 Seychelles90 days#58 Singapore30 days#12 Slovakia90 days#23 Slovenia90 days#30 South Africa30 days#97 Spain90 days#2 Sweden90 days#5 Switzerland90 days#16 Tajikistan30 days#149 Trinidad and Tobago90 days#63 Tunisia90 days#131 Turkey30 days#94 United Arab Emirates30 days#1 Uruguay90 days#50 Uzbekistan30 days#142 Vatican90 days#60

Only Costa Rica is visa-free (3)

US visa refusals for Costa Rica citizens

The US State Department publishes the refusal rate for B visas (tourism and business) separately for each nationality. We took the two most recent fiscal years — so you see not just the level, but which way it is moving.

16.1%
of B-visa applications from Costa Rica citizens were refused in FY2025
-15.1 pp below the all-country median (31.3%) — refused less often
+3.5 pp year-over-year: FY2024 was 12.7%, now 16.1%
#142strictest of 197 countries
141of 197 countries saw refusals rise year-over-year

The “adjusted” refusal rate follows the State Department methodology used for the Visa Waiver Program: it covers B-1/B-2 visas (tourism and business) and no other categories. For countries with few applicants the percentage swings between years — an artefact of small numbers, not of policy. The median and rank are our own calculations on top of the official figures. Source: U.S. Department of State  ·  All countries →

How long the interview queue is in Costa Rica

Even when a visa is available in principle, everything comes down to the appointment. The State Department publishes the wait until the next free slot at every consulate — we broke that down by country.

10 months
until the next free B1/B2 interview slot — at the San Jose post
The all-country median is under 2 weeks.
10 months San Jose · student visas: under 2 weeks

Snapshot of State Department data taken July 2026. Waits shift weekly with consular workload — check the official figure before you apply. Mapping consular posts to countries and picking the best wait per country is our own work. Source: U.S. Department of State

How the entry rule changed: Costa Rica → United States

We keep our own archive of visa-rule snapshots and diff them against each other. Here is what changed over the observed period.

The Costa Rica → United States rule itself held steady over the observed period. The context around it did move:

0passports gained easier entry to United States
1passports saw United States tighten its rules
2rule changes for the Costa Rica passport, 1 of them easing
July 2024 — June 2026our archive observation window

Comparison is built from our own dataset snapshots; the date marks when we recorded the change, not the official decision date. See all changes →

United States: good to know

Washington, D.C.

Capital

US Dollar (USD)

Currency

Eastern Time (UTC-5)

Time zone

+1

Calling code

A, B

Power plug

120V / 60Hz

Voltage

Right-hand

Driving side

Where else Costa Rica goes visa-free

Check another route

Documents you'll usually need for United States

The usual basics for the trip. Always confirm exact requirements with the embassy or consulate.

Valid passport

Valid at least 6 more months

Return / onward ticket

Proof you will leave the country

Proof of funds

Enough money for your stay

Accommodation

Hotel booking or an invitation

Travel insurance

Recommended, sometimes required

Visa

Obtained at the embassy in advance

Frequently asked

Do Costa Rica citizens need a visa for United States?
Costa Rica citizens need a visa to enter United States. Apply in advance at an embassy or visa centre.
Which passport is stronger — Costa Rica or United States?
The United States passport is stronger: 116 visa-free countries versus 91. Global rank: Costa Rica #62, United States #40.
Where can Costa Rica and United States citizens travel together visa-free?
Both passports get visa-free access to 88 of the same countries.
What documents do I need for United States?
Usually: a valid passport (6+ months), a return ticket, proof of funds and accommodation. Plus a visa obtained from the embassy in advance. Always confirm exact requirements with the embassy.
Can visa requirements change between Costa Rica and United States?
Yes, visa rules change periodically. This data is current as of Aug 2026 — always confirm with the embassy before you travel.

Costa Rica passport ranking

Where else the Costa Rica passport can take you and how it ranks worldwide.

View the passport