Costa Rica · How long you can stay
How long can a US citizen stay in Costa Rica?
Short answer
No visa needed: the border officer sets your stay, up to 180 days. Stays of 90 days or more can't be extended, so ask for the dates you need.
The rules for a US passport
| Visa needed? | No, a valid US passport is enough for a visit |
|---|---|
| Days allowed | Up to 180 days; the border officer sets your exact stay, so bring proof of your dates |
| Can you extend? | Only if you were given under 90 days: once, up to 90 in total, for $100 |
| What you can't do | Any work, including remote work: that needs the separate remote-worker status |
| Overstay penalty | $100 for each month over, or a ban on returning for three times as long Not yet verified |
| Passport validity | Valid on arrival; your stay can't run past its expiry date. Airline rules may differ |
Checked against the law Visa-free entry, the 180-day limit, extensions and the no-work rule, in the immigration law and 2025 guidelines.
Not yet verified Whether overstay fines are being collected now.
Still being checked Exit tax, rules for minors and health rules, against the US government's Costa Rica page.
Good to know
- At the border: have a return or onward ticket and proof of at least $100 for each month of your stay.
- Want to stay longer? You can apply for residency from inside Costa Rica; changing category costs $200.
- Remote work: the remote-worker status can be requested after you arrive as a tourist.
Sources (7)
Legal basis and exact figures
- Still being checked: US State Department and US Embassy San José pages (blocked to automated reading); the exit-tax amount; minors' exit rules; yellow-fever rules for travellers from risk countries; how ticket and means are checked in practice.
- Law: DGME visa guidelines Resolución AJ-484-11-2025 (Gaceta 216, Alcance 148, 17 Nov 2025): US in the first entry group, passport valid 'hasta un día', proof of means $100 a month or part-month, onward ticket (Primero 4). Decreto 36626 art 7(1) as amended by Decreto 44187 (2023): stay set by the officer, 180 days at most. Reglamento de Extranjería art 156 (2023): one extension only when fewer than 90 days were granted, to a 90-day total.
- Work and status change: non-residents may not work (Ley 8764 art 92). Change of category inside Costa Rica $200 (art 89); Ley 10008 status can be requested after entering as a tourist (Reg 43619 art 5(c)). Extension fee $100 (arts 90, 256).
- Overstay: $100 per month of irregular stay, or an entry ban of three times the irregular period (Ley 8764 art 33(3)). SCIJ notes record postponed collection (Decretos 41033, 42319); current practice not verified. After an overstay, pay the fine and finish a residency filing within 90 days (art 91).
Links
- DGME Resolución AJ-484-11-2025, Directrices Generales de Visas de Ingreso y Permanencia pa
- Decreto 36626-G, Reglamento para el Otorgamiento de Visas de Ingreso (SCIJ)
- Ley 8764, Ley General de Migración y Extranjería (SCIJ)
- Ley 10008, Ley para atraer trabajadores y prestadores remotos de servicios de carácter int
- Decreto 44187, reforma Reglamento de Visas y Reglamento de Extranjería (SCIJ)
- Decreto 37112-G, Reglamento de Extranjería (SCIJ)
- Decreto 43619-H-MGP-TUR, Reglamento a la Ley 10008 (SCIJ)
Count your days in Costa Rica → Entry and visas in full → The full Costa Rica guide →
Questions people ask
Do US citizens need a visa for Costa Rica?
No, a valid US passport is enough for a visit
How many days can a US citizen stay in Costa Rica?
Up to 180 days; the border officer sets your exact stay, so bring proof of your dates
Can a US citizen extend a stay in Costa Rica?
Only if you were given under 90 days: once, up to 90 in total, for $100
Can I work in Costa Rica as a tourist?
Any work, including remote work: that needs the separate remote-worker status
What happens if you overstay in Costa Rica?
$100 for each month over, or a ban on returning for three times as long (Not yet verified)
How long must my passport be valid for Costa Rica?
Valid on arrival; your stay can't run past its expiry date. Airline rules may differ