ETIAS Visa Waiver for Costa Rica Citizens
Learn more about the EU and ETIAS travel authorization
Get notified when ETIAS is mandatory
Start ETIAS Application online
Receive ETIAS confirmation
Welcome to Europe
ETIAS Travel Authorization for Costa Ricans
Costa Ricans can travel to the European Union without going to an embassy or consulate to obtain a visa. The visa-waiver arrangement between the EU and Costa Rica allows citizens to enter the Schengen Area by simply showing their passports at immigration check-point.
Individuals traveling to Europe from Costa Rica can now travel to Europe without submitting a request for a visa. They are exempted from Schengen passport requirement on short-term travels.
ETIAS benefits for Costa Rican Nationals
ETIAS is designed to offer multiple benefits to Costa Rican citizens. ETIAS works similarly to the US ESTA program and screens passengers before boarding flights to Europe.
ETIAS is a mandatory precondition to entry into the EU. Border guards will check the travel documents and ETIAS together when they cross the Schengen border.
The following are the benefits of ETIAS prior verification:
• Easy border controls upon arrival
• No bureaucracy
• Travelers will save time and effort at the border
• Enhanced security in Schengen countries due to coordinated and harmonized risk assessments by third-country nationals
• Significant reduction in refusals to enter at European border crossing points
Get notified when ETIAS becomes mandatory
ETIAS required
These countries will require an ETIAS visa waiver upon their arrival on their territory.
Austria- Bélgica
- Czech Republic
- Dinamarca
- Estonia
- Finlandia
- France
- Germany
- Republica Checa
- Hungría
- Iceland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Países Bajos
- Noruega
- Polonia
- Portugal
- Eslovaquia
- Slovenia
- Suecia
- España
- Suiza
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Ireland
- Romania
- Monaco
- San Marino
- Vatican
As of late 2025, Costa Rican passport holders must apply for an ETIAS visa waiver. All Costa Rican citizens must enroll in the program, regardless of traveling for business, leisure, medical or transit purposes.
All Schengen member countries have approved the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS). This measure aims to reduce illegal immigration and increase safety in Europe for residents and visitors.
Costa Rican citizens planning to travel to Europe must apply online for an ETIAS visa waiver before departing the old continent. It takes only 10 minutes to complete a simple form.
VISA WAIVER REQUIREMENTS - COSTA RICA CITIZENS
ETIAS visa waivers for Costa Ricans have been created to make travel easier and increase international security. Costa Rican citizens must meet specific requirements to be eligible for the ETIAS visa waiver. These include:
• Costa Rican passport valid for at least three months beyond the intended stay
• An email address that can be used to receive ETIAS notifications and information regarding visa waiver applications
• An acceptable credit card or debit card that can be used to pay the issuance fees
These three simple requirements are needed for Costa Rican citizens to apply for the ETIAS visa waiver.
ETIAS for Costa Rican Citizens with Dual Nationality
Once approved, an authorized ETIAS can be electronically linked to a single passport — the same passport used for visa waiver applications. An ETIAS cannot be transferred from one passport, even if both documents are the same person.
Costa Ricans who have more than one passport must choose the one to travel to Europe. They should also use the same passport to apply for ETIAS travel authorization.
Also, if the passport used for the ETIAS application expires before the 3-year validity of the travel authorization, the citizen will need to request a visa waiver using the new passport number.
Costa Rica: Apply for ETIAS
Costa Rican citizens needing an ETIAS online visa waiver are encouraged to apply via smartphone, tablet, or personal computer. ETIAS registration is an easy online process that requires applicants to fill out basic biographic information and details about their travel plans.
Once they have completed the ETIAS requirements, travelers must complete the ETIAS visa waiver form with the following information.
• Personal data, such as date of birth, first name, family name, and place of origin
• Details about passports, such as the date and country of the issue and expiration date.
• Plan your travels, such as which Schengen country and when you plan to travel.
• Background questions like health, security, or history of deportation
• Contact information, such as an email address and mobile phone number
Costa Rican citizens who are completing the ETIAS form should take the time to review all information before finalizing their request.
This will make sure that their data is correct. Inconsistencies can delay approval of visa waivers and even lead to rejection of their applications.
Once the ETIAS visa waiver is approved for Costa Rica, applicants will receive an email notification at the provided electronic address. A Costa Rican holder of an approved ETIAS permits them to travel between any member nation for 90 days.
Traveling from Costa Rica to Europe
The first Schengen border crossing point will allow the immigration officers to scan the travel documents electronically. This will enable you to cross-check various databases and even query ETIAS for visa-exempt travelers.
The border guards may refuse entry to anyone without an approved ETIAS travel authorization.
If the traveler has already registered for an ETIAS or received an approved travel permit before departing Costa Rica, the border control process will occur. The passenger may be allowed entry to the Schengen region if they meet all entry requirements.Visitors from ETIAS-eligible countries may not enter if they don’t meet the entry requirements.ETIAS holders are allowed to enter member countries multiple times during the 3-year validity of the visa waiver.
