HOW TO MOVE TO COSTA RICA? VISAS, VISA-FREE ACCESS, AND WHAT TO WATCH OUT FOR

Looking for a safe haven, a calmer place to live, or considering creating your personal Plan B in Costa Rica?

Lately, I have been receiving a growing number of questions about Costa Rica. While the internet offers plenty of answers, most of them are outdated, misleading, or simply incorrect. I have therefore decided to address the questions I receive step by step, sharing verified information with everyone considering a holiday, an extended stay, or even moving permanently to my beloved home country.

More and more people around the world are seeking a peaceful and stable retreat, and Costa Rica represents just such a safe haven. Whether the reason is the war in Ukraine, growing uncertainty in Europe, Donald Trump's return to the political stage, or US tariffs, an increasing number of people are looking for a welcoming country where they can put down roots. Costa Rica offers not only breathtaking nature, friendly people, and a deep respect for the environment, but also legal pathways to long-term residency and solid opportunities to invest in foreign real estate.

WHO THIS ARTICLE IS FOR

This guide is intended primarily for those who:

• are looking for a safe country to live in, a solid base for their family, or a stable Plan B outside Europe
• are planning an extended stay in Costa Rica as digital nomads, expats, or entrepreneurs
• want to combine living in the tropics with purchasing real estate or putting available capital to work
• need accurate and up-to-date information on visas, visa-free travel, and real-world immigration checkpoint procedures.

In this article, you will find all the key essentials you need to know about entering the country, visa-free entry rules, permitted length of stay, the practice of border runs, and current conditions under Costa Rica's General Immigration Act.

1. BASIC ENTRY REQUIREMENTS FOR COSTA RICA

As a tourist, you must meet the immigration conditions set out by Costa Rica's General Immigration Act (Ley General de Migración y Extranjería). Citizens of the Czech Republic are classified in Group 1, which guarantees very favourable conditions for visa-free entry.

When entering the country, you must have the following ready:

• Valid passport: For Czech citizens, the passport must remain valid for at least six months beyond the planned date of departure from Costa Rica.
• Visa-free travel: Czech citizens do not require a visa for tourist stays of up to 90 days. This visa-free stay cannot be extended directly from within the country. To re-enter, you must leave the country for at least 72 hours before returning, which allows you to obtain a new 90-day period. However, the total duration of visa-free stays must not exceed 180 days within a single calendar year.
• Proof of financial funds: An immigration officer has the right to request proof of sufficient financial funds for the duration of your stay.
• Return ticket or onward travel itinerary: You must hold a pre-purchased flight ticket or other confirmed means of transport to leave Costa Rican territory.
• Clean immigration record: You must not have an active entry ban in Costa Rica.
• Entry stamp: Always check carefully that the immigration officer has stamped your passport upon both entry and departure. The absence of a stamp leads to serious legal complications.

The exact number of days you are legally allowed to stay in Costa Rica is determined by the immigration officer directly at the border crossing. Czech citizens in Group 1 are eligible for a maximum of 180 calendar days of stay, with no possibility of extending a tourist visa from within the country.

2. THE PRACTICE OF BORDER RUNS AND ITS RULES

If you plan to stay in Costa Rica for more than 90 days and have not yet arranged long-term residency status, there is an unofficial yet commonly used procedure known as a border run.

In practice, this entails:

• leaving Costa Rican territory for at least 72 hours, most commonly by land to Panama or Nicaragua, and subsequently returning, which resets your tourist entry permit
• a solution particularly suited to digital nomads or expats spending their initial months in the country while preparing their long-term visa applications.

Keep in mind, however, that the cumulative time spent this way cannot exceed the limit of 180 days within a single calendar year.

3. STRICT CHECKS AND WHY MISTAKES DO NOT PAY

Recently, Costa Rican authorities have significantly tightened oversight of foreign nationals staying in the country. Violating immigration regulations can result in police detention, forced deportation, and substantial fines.

An essential requirement is having valid entry and exit stamps in your passport, even in situations where an officer neglects to stamp it. While Costa Rica is a very warm and welcoming country, it enforces immigration laws strictly, often far more uncompromisingly than what people are accustomed to in the Czech Republic.

Random police checks take place regularly across the country. A patrol may stop you during a routine drive, while travelling on a public bus, or during weekends on beaches, in nightclubs, or at public events with large crowds. If you cannot demonstrate valid legal status during such a check, detention and deportation proceedings follow immediately. This is routine administrative practice, not an isolated exception.

"Costa Rica welcomes you with open arms and offers you a safe home as well as renewed vitality. However, it demands full respect for its laws. Your peace of mind here depends entirely on taking care of immigration formalities."

Maria Kopřivová

A personal story from my circle illustrates this perfectly. A close friend, a respected Czech doctor, was travelling with her husband to Panama. On their return to Costa Rica through the Sixaola border crossing, they received their Panamanian exit stamp, but chaos reigned on the Costa Rican side. The duty immigration officer was watching a local football derby and waved the entire group of travellers through with a casual flick of his hand, without checking documents or issuing entry stamps. A few dozen kilometres down the road, their vehicle was stopped by a police patrol. Because the travellers lacked Costa Rican entry stamps in their passports, the police detained them on the spot, escorted them to an immigration detention facility in San José, and deported them from the country after several days.

If you are planning an extended stay or repeated visits, pay meticulous attention to official procedures every single time you cross the border. Any oversight can lead to immediate and very unpleasant consequences.

4. ACCEPTABLE FORMS OF ONWARD TRAVEL WHEN TRAVELLING ON A ONE-WAY TICKET

If you are arriving in Costa Rica with only a one-way ticket, the immigration officer will require proof of your planned departure from the country. The following options are accepted:

• a pre-purchased ticket for an international bus service heading out of Costa Rica, for instance to Panama
• a valid flight ticket departing Costa Rica for any onward destination, whether the United States, Europe, or South America
• an official booking confirmation for a cruise ship departing Costa Rican territorial waters.

If you are heading to Costa Rica on holiday, I wish you endless inspiration, deep relaxation, and unforgettable experiences. May you enjoy your time in my home country, and Pura Vida, as we say back home.

ARE YOU CONSIDERING A SECOND HOME OR REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT IN COSTA RICA?

If Costa Rica has enchanted you to the point that you are considering your own base, a family home by the ocean, or an income-generating apartment, I will be delighted to help you select a vetted property and safely guide you through the entire purchase process.

As a private property specialist for both Prague and Costa Rican real estate with past experience at the Embassy of the Republic of Costa Rica in Prague, I will ensure that your investment is legally sound, secure, and meets your expectations for a new personal base. Your personal data remains completely safe in accordance with the principles for personal data processing.

Get in touch using the form below this article. We can discuss your plans and arrange a no-obligation personal consultation.