Six new US states, for a total of twelve, are added to the list of territories whose residents will be able to enter Costa Rica by air.
As of September 1st, 2020 in addition to residents of New York, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine and Connecticut (announced a week ago), those who live in Maryland, Virginia, District of Columbia will be able to enter. Two weeks later, on September 15th, residents of Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and Colorado will also be allowed to enter.
Furthermore, it was announced that not only the driver’s license but also the state identification, used by those who do not drive, will be admitted as proof of residence in those states. This requirement excludes minors traveling with their family.
The tourists from authorized states may arrive in the country, even if they stop at an unauthorized destination, as long as they do not leave the airport. For example, a tourist who takes a flight from the Newark airport in New Jersey and makes a stopover in Panama will be able to enter the country.
Another measure announced this Thursday is that from now on, the deadline for taking the PCR sample (COVID19 test)- whose result must be negative – goes from 48 to 72 hours. This applies to all countries authorized to enter Costa Rica. For people residing in the aforementioned states of the United States, four requirements apply to enter Costa Rica:
- Complete the epidemiological digital form called HEALTH PASS.
- Perform the PCR test and obtain a negative result; The test must be taken a maximum of 72 hours before the flight to Costa Rica.
- Mandatory travel insurance that covers accommodation in case of quarantine and medical expenses due to COVID illness. Said insurance can be international or purchased from Costa Rican insurers.
- Prove through their driver’s license or State ID that they live in one of the states that are being authorized.
Private flights for citizens originating from unauthorized places
As of September 1st, private flights from the United States will also be allowed to enter the country, given that due to their size and nature they have a much lower epidemiological risk. For those who come aboard private flights, the same requirements already described will apply. Additionally, if they come from a place of origin that is not authorized, they must receive prior approval from the Ministry of Health and the General Directorate of Migration and Immigration. Interested parties must send an application document containing the following elements:
- Full names of passengers.
- Nationalities and ages.
- Legible copy of the biographical sheet of the passport of each of the passengers.
- Arrival date, arrival airport and origin of the flight.
- Strategic reason for its admissibility (investment analysis; property in Costa Rica; humanitarian reasons; etc).
Maritime opening
Fulfilling the same entry requirements that the country demands from the previous August 1st, private yachts will also be able to enter the country from the next September 1st,2020.
If the passengers do not bring the negative PCR test with them, or if they set sail from a city or country that has not been authorized until now, they will receive a quarantine health order from which the days they have been at sea will be deducted from the last sailing recorded in the yacht’s log.
