Trip checklist: Costa Rica

For South African passport holders. Last checked 5 October 2026.

Print this checklist

Visa requirement

South Africans don't need a visa for Costa Rica.

Permitted stay

You can stay up to 180 days per visit.

Before you go

• Purpose of visit

  Tourism. Work is not allowed.

• Passport validity

  Valid for at least 1 day on arrival (Group 1 rule). Airlines may want more; carry a passport valid for your whole stay.

• How to apply

  No application needed. Show passport, onward ticket and proof of funds at the border.

• Where South Africans apply

  Not needed for tourism. For other visas: Honorary Consulate of Costa Rica in Johannesburg (47 Corlett Drive, Illovo, Sandton; conhcr-sa@rree.go.cr; by appointment). Visas processed there take at least 60 days. The covering embassy is in Mexico City.

• Return or onward ticket

  Required: a confirmed onward or return ticket leaving within the permitted stay (180 days).

• Proof of funds

  Required: at least US$100 per month of intended stay.

• Vaccinations, including yellow fever on return to South Africa

  Destination rule: a yellow fever certificate is needed only if you arrive from a country with yellow fever transmission risk; South Africa is not a risk country. Return to South Africa: this country is not a yellow fever risk country, so no certificate is needed on return, unless you transited through a risk country (for example via Panama or South America) on the way.

• Arrival forms

  Departure tax of US$29 when leaving by air, usually included in the ticket.

• Extending your stay and overstaying

  The 180-day stay is not extendable. Overstay fine reported as US$100 per month, and future entry may be refused.

• Transit

  No transit visa needed for South Africans as visa-exempt nationals. If you route through the United States you need a US visa (South Africans are not eligible for ESTA).

• Confirm with the embassy

  Rules change. Check the official source before you book.

Where to apply

• Honorary Consulate of Costa Rica in Johannesburg (conhcr-sa@rree.go.cr) https://www.costarica-consulate.africa/consular-services/

Research sources

1. 1. Honorary Consulate of Costa Rica in Johannesburg (conhcr-sa@rree.go.cr) (Official, costarica-consulate.africa) https://www.costarica-consulate.africa/consular-services/
2. 2. Honorary Consulate of Costa Rica in Johannesburg (Official, costarica-consulate.africa) https://www.costarica-consulate.africa/
3. 3. Costa Rica Tourism Board (ICT) (Official, visitcostarica.com) https://www.visitcostarica.com/en/costa-rica/planning-your-trip/entry-requirements
4. 4. UK FCDO travel advice (Other government, gov.uk) https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/costa-rica/entry-requirements
5. 5. US Department of State (Other government, travel.state.gov) https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/CostaRica.html
6. 6. The GSA, Costa Rica country guide (updated 23 Oct 2025) (Commercial, thegsa.co.za) https://www.thegsa.co.za/visa-and-country-info/2656-costa-rica-country-guide

From doineedavisa.co.za/costa-rica. Always confirm with the embassy before you travel.