ETIAS for Costa Ricans
Europe Travel Authorisation for Costa Rican Citizens
This website does not belong to, nor is it affiliated with, the EU. The official website of the European Union is europa.eu.
Costa Ricans can travel to the European Schengen Area without a visa. A visa-waiver agreement between the EU and Costa Rica means passport holders can visit the Schegen Area short-term visa-free.
Visa-free from travel from Costa Rica to the Schengen Area is permitted for up to 90 days for the following:
- Tourism
- Business
- Studying courses up to 90 days long
Costa Rican nationals will soon need ETIAS to travel to the Schengen Area without a visa. ETIAS will be operational from 2026 . Registering with the European Travel Information and Authorisation System will soon be mandatory for Costa Ricans and other visa-exempt travellers from outside the EU.
ETIAS REQUIRED
THE SCHENGEN AREA IS PRESENTLY COMPRISED OF 25 EUROPEAN UNION COUNTRIES:
- EU Schengen
- Non-EU Schengen States
- Non-Schengen EU States
MICRO-STATES DE FACTO PART OF SCHENGEN AREA:
- Monaco
- San Marino
- Vatican City
Costa Rican passport holders will be able to apply for ETIAS as of 2026 . Whether the trip is for tourism, business or studying courses up to 90 days long, all Costa Rican citizens will need to enrol in this programme to travel without a visa.
The European Travel Information and Authorisation System, (ETIAS) has been approved by all the Schengen member nations. This measure aims to curb illegal immigration and improve safety in Europe for both visitors and residents.
Costa Rican nationals travelling to Europe will need to apply online for an ETIAS visa waiver before departure. The process is quick, the ETIAS application takes just a few minutes to complete.
ETIAS BENEFITS FOR COSTA RICAN NATIONALS
ETIAS has several advantages for Costa Rican citizens. In a similar way to the US ESTA programme, ETIAS is designed to screen passengers who do not need a visa to travel, increasing security.
The travel authorisation will be a mandatory entry requirement and verified when the passport is scanned at an external Schengen border.
This prior verification ETIAS entails will help Costa Ricans in the following ways:
- Fast, online application
- No trips to the embassy or consulate
- Increased security in Schengen countries
- Reduction in the number of refusals of entry at European border crossings
VISA WAIVER REQUIREMENTS FOR COSTA RICAN CITIZENS
The ETIAS visa waiver for Costa Ricans will improve border management and increase international security for visitors and residents. To register with the European Travel Information and Authorisation System, citizens of Costa Rica need:
- Costa Rican passport valid for the 3 months after the intended date of departure from the Schengen Area
- Current email address to receive ETIAS status updates
- Credit or debit card to pay the ETIAS processing fee
Without these 3 items, citizens of Costa Rica will not be able to complete the ETIAS visa waiver application.
APPLYING FOR ETIAS FROM COSTA RICA
Costa Rican citizens can apply for ETIAS from their smartphone, tablet, or personal computer. The ETIAS registration process is straightforward and requires basic information about the traveller, their passport details, and travel plans.
Costa Ricans need to fill out the ETIAS application with the following information:
- Personal data such as first name, family name, date, and place of birth
- Passport details such as the date and country of issuance, expiration date and passport number
- Travel plans such as the Schengen country you intend to enter first and travel dates
- Background questions about security and any history of deportation, if applicable
- Contact information such as a mobile phone number and email address
Costa Rican citizens completing the ETIAS application should carefully revise all of the information before submitting the request. The information should match the passport exactly, any mistakes could lead to processing delays.
When the ETIAS visa waiver for Costa Rica is approved, applicants will be notified by email. With an approved ETIAS, travellers from Costa Rica can travel to and circulate between all member nations for up to 90 consecutive days.
ETIAS FOR COSTA RICAN CITIZENS WITH DUAL NATIONALITY
An authorised ETIAS will be electronically linked to the Costa Rican passport used to make the application. ETIAS may not be transferred from one passport to another, not even when both identification documents belong to the same person.
This means that Costa Rican nationals with more than one valid passport due to dual citizenship must choose a single passport to apply for the ETIAS and travel to the Schengen Area.
This also means that if the passport used to apply for the ETIAS expires before the 3-year validity period of the travel authorisation runs out, a new travel authorisation must be requested using the new passport.
TRAVELLING FROM COSTA RICA TO EUROPE WITH AN ETIAS
On arrival at the first Schengen Area border crossing point, the immigration officials will electronically read the travel document data. This will automatically cross-check different databases, including a query to ETIAS in the case of visa-exempt travellers.
If the traveller has registered for an ETIAS and received an approved travel authorisation prior to departing Costa Rica, the border control process will be conducted and the passenger may be granted entry into the Schengen area if all entry conditions are met.
Visitors from all ETIAS eligible countries who don’t meet entry conditions may be refused access as provided by the Schengen Border Code.
ETIAS holders can enter the member countries multiple times for the allotted time during the entire 3-year validity.
ETIAS for Costa Ricans - FAQ
Can Costa Ricans work in Europe with an ETIAS? Toggle faqs
ETIAS holders from Costa Rica will not be allowed to work in the Schengen Area. The visa waiver will allow visitors to enter member nations for tourism, transit, short studies, and business.
Although the ETIAS travel authorisation is suited for business trips from Costa Rica to Europe, it will not give holders permission to look for a job nor to work long-term in a member country.
Costa Rican passport holders who wish to work in Europe must apply for a work visa at the embassy or consulate of the country they wish to reside in. Attempting to work with an ETIAS will likely get holders their travel authorisation revoked and possibly also entail deportation from the Schengen Area.
Can travellers from Costa Rica study in Europe with an ETIAS? Toggle faqs
The ETIAS travel authorisation allows Costa Rican holders to visit Schengen member nations for up to 90 consecutive days. If, during their visit, they wish study, they may do so without needing a visa.
However, ETIAS does not grant holders permission to enrol in a University or school to continue their studies beyond 90 days. Costa Rican citizens who wish to further their education in Europe are advised to visit the consulate or embassy of the country they wish to study in to ask for more information regarding how to apply for a student visa.
How long can Costa Rican passport holders spend in Europe with an ETIAS? Toggle faqs
An ETIAS travel authorisation allows Costa Rican holders —as well as eligible citizens from other countries— a maximum stay of up to 90 consecutive days. This time can be spent in a single Schengen country, or in multiple nations so long as the total time spent in the territory does not exceed 90 days per 180-day period.
This means that travellers visiting the EU from Costa Rica with an ETIAS will need to exit the area as soon as their 90 days run out. Passengers will then need to spend 90 days outside the Schengen Area, after which they will, once more, be granted another 90 days they may spend in the EU.