General Visa Information:

The Immigration Department of Costa Rica must authorize your nearest Consulate of Costa Rica to issue your tourist visa. You do not need a VIA form if you are a legal permanent resident of any of the countries listed below and thus, do not need to read the rest of this document.

A Consulate of Costa Rica requests permission to issue your tourist visa by submitting, on your behalf, a Visa Issuance Authorization Form (VIAF) and a personal letter (see VIA required documents below) to the Immigration Department of Costa Rica. VIAF must be faxed by your nearest Consulate of Costa Rica only. Please do not fax your VIAF directly to the Immigration Department because your request will not be processed.

The Immigration Department meets twice a week to review VIAF submitted by Consulates of Costa Rica. Once Immigration reviews your VIAF, it will fax its decision within three weeks to the Consulate of Costa Rica that submitted your VIAF.

The Immigration Department of Costa Rica may require you to wire money to its bank account in Costa Rica at its own discretion. You will be responsible for all money transfer bank fees. The required amount of money may be equal to the market price of a one-way airline ticket from Costa Rica to your country of residence, or to an amount set at its own discretion. The money will be refunded to you upon your return to your country through your nearest Consulate of Costa Rica. It will take from two to three months to get your money back after the date that you file for your refund.

You must request a Visa Issuance Authorization (*) by bringing the Visa Issuance Authorization request documents (see below) along with the Visa Request Documents to your nearest Consulate of Costa Rica in person, or by mailing the documents - at the Consulate of Costa Rica's own discretion - via U.S. priority mail, or private courier (FEDEX, DHL, UPS, etc.) Additional requirements apply if you mail the documents.

It is recommended that you not buy your airline ticket to Costa Rica until the Immigration Department approves your VIAF.

(*) You may be eligible for a VIA waiver (see list of countries below)

VIA Waiver:

You do not need to file for a VIA petition, if you are a legal permanent resident of any of the following countries:
Andorra                   Lithuania
Argentina                 Luxembourg
Australia                  Malta
Austria                     Mexico
Barbados                 Monaco
Belgium                   Netherlands
Brazil                       New Zealand
Bulgaria                   Norway
Canada                   Panama
Chile                       Paraguay
Croatia                    Poland
Cyprus                     Portugal
Czech Republic         Puerto Rico
Denmark                 Republic of Slovakia
Estonia                    Romania
Finland                    San Marino
France                     Serbia and Montenegro
Germany                  Slovenia
Greece                     South Africa
Holland                    South Korea
Hungary                   Spain
Iceland                    Sweden
Ireland                    Switzerland
Israel                      Trinidad and Tobago
Italy                        United Kingdom
Japan                      United States of America
Latvia                      Uruguay
Liechtenstein           Vatican