Last updated:11/30/2022

The CDC’s Order requiring proof of vaccination for non-U.S. citizen nonimmigrants to travel to the United States is still in effect. For more information see Requirement for Proof of COVID-19 Vaccination for Air Passengers.

Check the CDC website for additional information and Frequently Asked Questions.

Entry and Exit Requirements

- - The Costa Rica Tourism Board (ICT) has an English-language website detailing entry requirements: https://www.visitcostarica.com/en/costa-rica/planning-your-trip/entry-requirements.

Is a negative COVID-19 test (PCR and/or serology) required for entry? No
Are health screening procedures in place at airports and other ports of entry? No

Quarantine Information 

 Are U.S. citizens required to quarantine if receiving a positive COVID-19 test? Yes

- - Please note the Ministry of Health will issue a sanitary quarantine order to any person receiving a positive COVID-19 test. The Ministry of Health has stated this order cannot be appealed, even if subsequent test results taken during the mandatory quarantine are negative for COVID-19.
  - The length of sanitary quarantine orders will depend on the severity of the infection. They are typically issued for 7 – 14 days. Tourists who are issued a sanitary order must secure lodging at their own expense for the duration of the quarantine.
  - Tourists complying with a valid sanitary order will not be penalized for overstaying their visa.

COVID-19 Testing

Are PCR tests available for U.S. citizens in Costa Rica? Yes
If so, are test results reliably available within 24 hours? Yes
- Results for COVID-19 tests conducted in San Jose and the Greater Metropolitan Area are generally available within 24 hours. Tests conducted outside of the San Jose greater metropolitan area, including in remote and costal locations, may take longer to process. It is important to ask the testing facility for the expected date of results when scheduling an appointment.

Testing is available at medical facilities across Costa Rica. Follow this link for a complete list of properly licensed testing locations.
- Hospital Metropolitano, Clinica Biblica, Laboratorio Echandi, and a number of private laboratories on the list of government approved labs offer COVID-19 antigen tests for travelers. Proof of international travel is required. The results of these tests are available within a few hours. Customers must check with individual labs for testing availability, pricing, and length of time for a result.
- Costa Rica’s Ministry of Health does not currently accept the results of at-home self-administered or proctor-administered COVID-19 tests.

Testing is paid for by the individual, and test results are generally delivered via email.

COVID-19 Vaccine Information:

Are vaccines available in Costa Rica for U.S. citizens to receive? Yes
COVID-19 vaccines are available for permanent and temporary residents who are in status. U.S. citizen tourists are not currently eligible to receive a vaccine.
Which vaccines are available in Costa Rica? Pfizer, Astra Zeneca, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are authorized although availability and choice are not guaranteed.
The link for the Ministry of Health’s webpage is: https://www.ministeriodesalud.go.cr/
Visit the FDA’s website to learn more about FDA-approved vaccines in the United States.

Local Resources:

Costa Rican sources for useful COVID-19 related information:
- - The Costa Rica Tourism Board (ICT) has an English-language website detailing entry requirements: https://www.visitcostarica.com/en/costa-rica/planning-your-trip/entry-requirements.
  - The link for the Ministry of Health’s Spanish social media website is: https://www.facebook.com/msaludcr/
  - The link for the Ministry of Health’s webpage is: https://www.ministeriodesalud.go.cr/
  - The link for the Directorate General of Immigration and Nationality is: migracion.go.cr

- - CDC page on COVID-19
  - Travel.state.gov Country Information and Travel Advisory page

Movement Restrictions

Fines for Non-Compliance 

Any individuals who violate a mandated sanitary order or restriction will be subject to a fine between 450,200 to 2,300,000 colones depending on the violation.