Updated October 27, 2021
The New Policy Begins in 2022
As of January 8, 2022, the following list of establishments may admit only verifiably fully-vaccinated people. This must be verified through a QR code or the printed vaccination certificate and applies to all patrons 12 years of age and older.
Proof of vaccination will be required to enter:
- hotels
- restaurants
- bars
- casinos
- shops
- museums
- gymnasiums
- resorts
- adventure tourism
A reminder that the accepted vaccinations are Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech, AstraZeneca, and J&J vaccines.
Note that essential services, including supermarkets and pharmacies, will not require this proof of vaccination in order to enter.
There are some exceptions to this vaccine requirement:
- Children under 12 years of age do not need to demonstrate proof of vaccination.
- Tourists who have a documented medical condition where they cannot apply the vaccine. Medical conditions that count for this exemption are those approved by the Ministry of Health of Costa Rica.
You can find all the details here.
Previously Established Entry Requirements Remain the Same
In addition to this new immigration policy, tourists will still need to abide by the other COVID-19 entry requirements.
Regarding Testing
A negative COVID-19 test continues to not be a requirement of entry into Costa Rica, as of the date of this publication. This means people can enter the country without needing to do the test first.
However, it is good to note that most travelers leaving Costa Rica on their way to the United States, Canada, or Europe, to name a few, must take the test before returning to their country. There remains a large variety of options for those looking to take COVID-19 tests in Costa Rica.
Regarding Vaccinations in Order to Enter Costa Rica
Vaccination against COVID-19 is still not required of travelers entering Costa Rica. However, travelers over the age of 18 who are not vaccinated are still required to buy travel insurance in order to enter the country. This travel insurance must cover COVID-19 related medical expenses and lodging in case of quarantine.
Regarding the Health Pass
All travelers, whether tourist, resident, or citizen must still fill out the health pass before entering Costa Rica. You can find this health pass here.
For more information on what travelers can expect to do or not do in Costa Rica during the pandemic, visit this article on 2020 restrictions.
