Costa Rica Visa: Costa Rica Visa Requirements For Indians

Costa Rica, officially known as The Republic of Costa Rica, is a beautiful country in Central America. It is considered the most stable and democratic among all Central American countries.

It boasts many business and investment opportunities for foreign nationals. In addition, it boasts attractions such as beaches, volcanoes, and biodiversity for tourists. Therefore, it makes sense why you'd be interested in visiting The Republic of Costa Rica as an Indian.

Most Indian passport holders require a Visa to visit Costa Rica. In this guide we’ll discuss the Costa Rica Visa for Indians in-depth, so you can apply for your visa confidently.

Let's get to it then:

What Is A Costa Rican Visa For Indians?

Let's start by answering this crucial question about a Costa Rican Visa. A Costa Rican Visa for Indians is a travel document you need to enter and stay in Costa Rica for a specific time. It is often affixed to one of your blank passport pages after approval. You can apply for a Costa Rican Visa for Indians at the Embassy of Costa Rica in India, New Delhi. You can also apply for it at Costa Rican Immigration Office.

All About The Costa Rican Visa For Indians

Who Can Apply For The Costa Rican Visa For Indians?

Types of Costa Rica Visa For Indians I Can Apply For

What Are The Requirements To Apply For A Costa Rica Visa For Indians?

How Much Does A Costa Rica Visa For Indians Cost?

How Do I Apply For A Costa Rica Visa For Indians?

What Is The Processing Time For Costa Rica Visa For Indians?

Does Costa Rica Have A Visa On Arrival For Indians?

Who Can Apply For The Costa Rican Visa For Indians?

Indian nationals with a valid ordinary passport can apply for a Costa Rican Visa. Countries that can apply for the Costa Rican Visa are divided into two (2) groups. These are:

Costa Rica Consular Visa Group

Costa Rica Restricted Group

Indian nationals can apply for the Costa Rican Visa under the Consular Visa Group. You can apply for the Costa Rica Consular Visa at the Embassy of Costa in India, New Delhi. You can also apply for it at the Costa Rican Immigration Office. While some nationals worldwide are exempt from applying for a Costa Rican Visa, Indians from India are not exempted. Indians who are residents in the following countries or areas do not need a visa to enter Costa Rica:

United States of America (USA)

Canada

European Union (EU) countries

Therefore, you need a Visa to enter Costa Rica if you're an Indian national visiting Costa Rica.

Types of Costa Rica Visa For Indians I Can Apply For

As mentioned above, you can apply for a Costa Rican Visa as an Indian under the Costa Rica Consular Group. Under this Visa group, we'll look at two (2) specific kinds of Visas you can apply for. These kinds are based on the purpose of your visit to Costa Rica.

Costa Rica Tourist Visa For Indians

Costa Rica Business Visa For Indians

Costa Rica Tourist Visa For Indians

A Costa Rica Tourist Visa for Indians is a single-entry visa you can apply for if you are planning to visit Costa Rica for tourism, visit, or recreational purposes. This includes visiting relatives, friends, or spouses residing in Costa Rica. The tourist visa is valid for thirty (30) days

Costa Rica Business Visa For Indians

You can apply for a Costa Rica Business Visa For Indians if you want to travel to Costa Rica for business activities or business-related meetings. This single-entry visa is valid for thirty (30) days.

What Are The Requirements To Apply For A Costa Rica Visa For Indians?

Here we shall discuss the requirements for the Costa Rican Tourist & Business Visa for Indians. You must ensure that you have the required documents and meet the requirements mentioned below for your Visa application to succeed. The requirements are as follows:

A valid passport that'll remain valid for at least another 6 months after your entry to Costa Rica

Two (2) color photographs that are not more than six (6) months old clearly showing your face

Complete Costa Rica Visa application form

Covering letter explaining the purpose of your visit to Costa Rica

Return Flight Tickets (to Costa Rica & back to India)

Stamped original bank statements with the details of the issuing bank

Proof of hotel reservation (for your stay in the Republic of Costa Rica)

Police clearance issued within 6 months before you visit Costa Rica

Are There Additional Costa Rica Visa Requirements?

There are additional Costa Rica visa requirements you must also take note of. They apply based on your purpose of visit and the type of visa you are applying for. We have listed them below.

For Workers:

Leave letter from your company approving your leave

Latest payslips for the last three (3) months

For Self-Employed Workers:

Company registration documents or other acceptable proof of business existence

Latest company bank statements for the last six (6) months.

Latest company income tax returns for the last three (3) years

For Retirees:

Proof of retirement (bank statements showing retirement income, etc.

For Indian students:

Student card clearly showing the student's details and those of the institution where you're a student

For Indian Minors:

A birth certificate showing the names of both parents

Letter of consent from both parents

If the child is traveling with one parent, the letter of consent authorizing travel must be legalized by the other parent

If the child is traveling alone or without either parent, a notarized letter of consent from both parents permitting travel

Death Certificate: in case one or both parents are deceased

Identification documents for parent

For Those Visiting Friends Or Relatives:

Invitation letter: stating the relationship with the inviter and purpose of visiting the country & assuring the responsibility for housing and related expenses during the guest's stay in Costa Rica.

Inviter's Identification Proof

Proof Of Address Of The Inviter

For Sponsored Trips:

Sponsorship Letter: providing information about the sponsor

Proof Of The Inviter's Identification

Inviter's Proof Of Address

Inviter's Proof Of Income (recent bank statements or payslips)

For A Business Visa:

Recommendation letter from any of the Chamber of Commerce and Industries structure or the Indian government

Company's registration documents

Income tax return documents from the last three(3) years

How Much Does A Costa Rica Visa For Indians Cost?

The cost of your Costa Rican Visa For Indians will depend on where you applied for it. If you apply for your Visa at Costa Rican Consulate in India, the cost will be USD 32 (2556.4 INR). If you apply for the Costa Rica Visa at Costa Rica’s Immigration Office, the cost is USD 52(4154.56 INR). Note that the cost of applying for a tourist visa is the same as the one for a business visa. Finally, the cost given in Indian Rupees might be slightly different from the cost you see at the time of application. That will be because of exchange rate fluctuation between the US Dollar and the Indian Rupee.

How Do I Apply For A Costa Rica Visa As An Indian?

You can apply for the Costa Rica Visa at the Embassy of Costa Rica in India, New Delhi. You must follow these steps to apply for the Costa Ricca at the Costa Rican Embassy.

Step 1: Make The Costa Rica Visa Appointment

Step 2: Fill In The Costa Rica Visa Application Form

Step 3: Gather Required Supporting Documents

Step 4: Pay The Visa Application Fee

Step 5: Submit The Visa Application

Step 1: Make The Costa Rica Visa Appointment

Once you have decided on the type of visa you want to apply for, this is the first step toward a successful Visa application process. Next, you must contact the Costa Rican Embassy in New Delhi to make an appointment to visit them. Remember that the Visa processing officers must register your biometric information(fingerprints & face) in their system to process your Costa Rica Visa application. Without the appointment, the Embassy officials cannot assist you with your Visa application

Step 2: Fill In The Costa Rica Visa Application Form

After making the Visa Application appointment with the Costa Rican Embassy in New Delhi, it's time to fill in your application form. You can find the application form on the website of the Costa Rican Embassy in India. Unfortunately, the website of the Costa Rican Embassy is currently inaccessible due to technical issues. However, let's continue looking at the application process to help you understand what you can expect there.

Step 3: Gather Required Supporting Documents

Make sure you have all the required supporting documents before visiting the Costa Rican Embassy in New Delhi for your Visa appointment. We have listed these documents above, which are typical for both Visa types discussed in this guide. Let us quickly go through them again for emphasis:

A Valid Indian passport that'll remain valid for at least another 6 months after your entry to Costa Rica

Two (2) color photographs that are not more than six (6) months old clearly showing your face

Complete Costa Rica Visa application form

Covering letter explaining the purpose of your visit to Costa Rica

Return Flight Tickets (to Costa Rica & back to India)

Stamped original bank statements with the details of the issuing bank

Proof of hotel reservation (for your stay in the Republic of Costa Rica)

Police clearance issued within 6 months before you visit Costa Rica

In addition to the supporting documents and material, you will have to supply specific financial documents relevant to the type of Costa Rican Visa you are applying for. These were listed and explained under the requirements section above.

Step 4: Pay The Visa Application Fee

After gathering your documents and completing the application form, the next step is paying your Costa Rica Visa Application Fee. Your application fee will be based on where you applied for the visa. For example, if you apply at the Costa Rica Consulate For India, the fee will be USD 32 (2556.4 INR). However, if you applied for your Costa Rica Visa at the Immigration Offices, the cost is USD 52 (4154.56 INR). You can pay the Visa application fee using cash or a card at the Consulate or the Immigration Offices.

Step 5: Submit The Visa Application

After paying your Costa Rica Visa Application fee, what's left is for you to submit your Visa application to the Costa Rican Embassy or Consulate where you made your Visa appointment. The Embassy Visa staff will evaluate and process your application per applicable Visa policy. It will notify you of the status of your application when it has completed the evaluation and processing processes.

What Is The Processing Time For Costa Rica Visa For Indians?

The Costa Rican Consulate usually takes about 30 days to process your Costa Rica Visa application. Your Visa Application can take longer due to unforeseen circumstances. These may include:

Changes in Costa Rica Visa Policy

Incomplete Application/Application Form

A Global Pandemic

A Seasonal Rise In Costa Rican Visa Applications For Indians

The Consulate will notify you of such if it happens and advise you of new dates and times.

Does Costa Rica Have A Visa On Arrival For Indians?

Unfortunately, Costa Rica does not have a Visa on arrival for Indians. Therefore, the Consulate or the Immigration Office requires you to apply for your Visa well before arrival. You can apply for your Costa Rica Visa for Indians through the Consulate or the Immigration Office, as we have explained above.

Prepare To Travel To Costa Rica!

Now that you have learned all you need to know about applying for a Costa Rican Visa for Indians, the next step is to get your Visa and visit Costa Rica. From having the correct supporting documents to applying for your Visa and paying the Visa application fee, you have all the knowledge you need at your disposal to apply for your Visa easily. Then, whether traveling on business or for tourism purposes, prepare to immerse yourself in the beauty and wonder that Costa Rica is known for.