VISAS & PASSPORTS

VISAS & PASSPORTS: Passport Required? Visa Required? Return Ticket Required? Full British Yes  3  Yes  Australian Yes  5  Yes  Canadian 1  2  Yes  USA 1  2  Yes  Other EU Yes  4  Yes  Japanese Yes  No  Yes  Note: Gypsies and persons of ‘unkempt’ appearance will be deported.

PASSPORTS: Valid passport required by all, with a minimum validity of six months at the date of entrance, except 1. Canadian and US citizens with proof of identity, eg a Certified Birth Certificate and official ID containing a photograph when a Tourist Card will be issued to them either at a Costa Rican Consulate or at any airline office at the airports of: Amsterdam, Aruba, Barranquilla, Caracas, Curaçao, Panama and Port of Spain for a small fee of approximately US$2.

VISAS: REQUIRED BY ALL EXCEPT:  (a) nationals of Costa Rica;  (b) 2. nationals of US and Canada holding Tourist Cards for a maximum stay of 90 days (see 1. above);  (c) 3. holders of British passports with ‘United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northen Ireland’, ‘Jersey’, ‘Guernsey and its Dependencies’ or ‘Isle of Man’ on the cover or with endorsement ‘British Citizen’ for a period of up to 90 days. However, holders of passports issued in Bermuda or Cayman Islands can stay for up to 30 days only;  (d) 4. nationals of Argentina, Aruba, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Falkland Islands, Finland, Germany, Gibraltar, *Hong Kong, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Montserrat, Netherlands, Netherland Antilles, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Poland, Puerto Rico, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turks & Caicos Islands, UK Virgin Islands and Uruguay  for a stay of up to 90 days;  (e) nationals of Albania, Antigua & Barbuda; (f) 5. Australia, Bahamas, Bahrain, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Bulgaria, Chile, Colombia, Czech Republic, Dominica, El Salvador, France, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Iceland, Jamaica, Kenya, Kuwait, Mexico, Monaco, New Zealand, Oman, Philippines, Qatar, St Kitts & Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent & The Grenadines, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovak Republic, † South Africa, Suriname, Taiwan (China), Trinidad & Tobago, UAE, Vatican City and Venezuela for a period  of 30 days.  These nationals must obtain an exit visa from the Immigration Department in San José at least 3 days before leaving Costa Rica. Those who stay for less than 30 days are exempt if in possesion of a disembarkation card;  (g) those continuing their journey to a third country by the same flight or within 48 hours provided they hold confirmed onward tickets and do not leave the airport. However, nationals of People’s Republic of China do need a transit visa authorized by the Immigration Department in  San José.  All other nationals require a visa. In some cases an authorisation from the Immigration Department in San José is also necessary. Temporary visitors must hold return or onward tickets, except those holding a visa showing they are exempt from exit ticket.  Note: *Only applicable if holding a UK passport.  †Persons holding passports issued by the former homelands of Transkei and Venda do need a visa authorised by the Immigration Department in  San José.  Types of visa: Tourist; cost – £15. All passengers requiring a visa must hold all documents required for the next destination.  Validity: Visas are valid for 1 month or 90 days (nationals of the US and Canada). Contact the Immigration Department in Costa Rica for renewal or extension procedure.  Application to: Consulate (or Consular section of Embassy). For addresses, see top of entry.  Application requirements: (a) Completed application form. (b) 2 passport-size photos. (c) Passport. (d) Proof of sufficient funds to cover duration of stay. (e) Return or onward ticket.  Working days required: 1 day to 2 weeks, depending on nationality of applicant. (Some visas need the authorisation of the Immigration Department in Costa Rica).  Temporary residence: A signed contract with the prospective employer is needed. For residence as a senior citizen, only those with a minimum monthly income of US$600 will be considered.

MONEY

MONEY: Currency: Costa Rican Colón (c) = 100 céntimos. Notes are in denominations of c5000, 1000, 500, 100 and 50. Coins are in denominations of c20, 10, and 5, and 50, 25, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 céntimos.  Currency exchange: Visitors should consult their banks for the current rate of exchange (there is no direct local quotation for sterling; the cross rate with the US$ is used). Casas de Cambio give better rates of exchange than banks.  Credit cards: Mastercard, American Express, Visa and Diners Club are accepted, but check with your credit card company for details of merchant acceptability and other services which may be available.  Travellers cheques: Should always be in US Dollars.  Exchange rate indicators: The following figures are included as a guide to the movements of the Costa Rican Colón against Sterling and the US Dollar:      Date: Jan ’95 Jan’96 Sep ’96 Sep ’99 £1.00= 256.86 297.73 330.02 - $1.00= 164.18 191.76 212.00 292.07 Currency restrictions: There are no restrictions on the import and export of either local or foreign currency.  Banking hours: 0900-1500 Monday to Friday.

DUTY FREE

DUTY FREE: The following goods may be imported into Costa Rica without incurring customs duty:  500g of tobacco produce; 3 litres of alcoholic beverage; a reasonable quantity of perfume for personal use.

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS: Jan 1 New Year’s Day.  Mar 19 Feast of San José (St Joseph).  Mar 27 Maundy Thursday. Mar 28 Good Friday.  Apr 11 Anniversary of the Battle of Rivas.  May 1 Labour Day.  May 29 Corpus Christi.  Jun 29 St Peter and St Paul’s Day.  Jul 25 Guanacaste Annexation.  Aug 2 Our Lady of Los Angeles. Aug 15 Mother’s Day.  Sep 15 Independence Day. Oct 12 Columbus Day.  Dec 1 Abolition of the Armed Forces Day.  Dec 8 Immaculate Conception.  Dec 25 Christmas Day.  Note: Most businesses close for the whole of Holy Week and between Christmas and New Year.

HEALTH

HEALTH: Special Precautions Certificate Required Yellow Fever No No Cholera No No Tyfoid & Polio 1 - Malaria 2 - Food & Drink 3 - 1: Vaccination is recommended for both polio and typhoid.  2: Malaria risk exists throughout the year, mostly in the benign vivax form, in the rural areas below 700m, especially in the cantons of Matina and Central de Limón, but also in San Carlos, Los Chiles and Sarapiqué cantons.  3: Mains water is normally heavily chlorinated, and whilst relatively safe may cause mild abdominal upsets. Drinking water outside main cities and towns may be contaminated and sterilisation is advisable. Bottled water is available and is advised for the first few weeks of the stay. Milk is pasteurised and dairy products are safe for consumption. Local meat, poultry, seafood, fruit and vegetables are generally considered safe to eat.  Health insurance is recommended. Reliable medical services are available in Costa Rica. Standards of health and hygiene are among the best in Latin America.

CLIMATE

CLIMATE: In the Central Valley, where the main centres of population are located, the average temperature is 22°C (72°F). In the coastal areas the temperature is much hotter. The rainy season starts in May and finishes in November. The ‘warm’ dry season is December to May, though temperature differences between summer and winter are slight.  Required clothing: Lightweight cottons and linens most of the year, warmer clothes for cooler evenings. Waterproofing is necessary during the rainy season.