Warning Regarding the Insurance and Permitted Stay
Back in September of 2020 Immigration issued Resolution N° DJUR-0132-09-2020-JM which stated that tourists (non-Residents, meaning anyone who does not hold a DIMEX card in their hands) who enter the country between December 18th, 2019 and until November 30th, 2020 will be allowed to legally remain in Costa Rica until March 2nd, 2021. Per this Resolution, this is an automatic extension.
This Resolution also makes it clear that tourists who enter Costa Rica starting December 1st, 2020 will not be covered by the automatic extension and these visitors will need to depart the country depending on the tourist days granted at the port of entry.
Per Circular AJ-1861-10-2020-ABM, the permitted stay, meaning the tourist days to be granted, will depend on the insurance. Hence, if you purchase insurance for 2 days, your permitted stay in the country will be for 2 days only. This rule is applying from December 1st, 2020 onwards so please plan ahead.
Requesting an extension of a tourist entry stamp (which can never exceed 90 days) entails scheduling an appointment at the Immigration Department and filing a number of documents as you can review here.
Therefore, if you intend on entering the country after December 2020 to stay for 90 days, make sure you purchase insurance that covers you for these 90 days to avoid additional in-country steps.
Remember that overstaying an entry visa is a violation of local Immigration Law. Whilst fines and penalties for overstaying are currently suspended, if caught by Immigration during the days you overstay, you could be faced with deportation proceedings. You can read about the fines, which will be retroactive once reinstated, here.
Do Costarican/American people (with dual citizenship) need insurance when entering Costa Rica?
Hi, thanks for all your information. I have a few questions regarding insurance for tourists. If a person enters in January or February 2021, can they purchase their insurance in the States? Providing it covers them and for how much? I understand for duration of their stay but please specify if possible.
I have gotten mixed reviews on this from people saying it has to be from the insurance companies in Costa Rica. Please advise I sell property and have clients wanting to come next year and they would like to purchase their tickets soon.
Thanks in advance,
Leslie Anderson
Hi there. I entered Costa Rica on November 9, 2020 and originally planned to stay until January 30, 2021. I purchased insurance for that full period. I would now like to stay until February 28, 2021. So is my visa automatically extended as long as I purchase additional insurance for the additional 30 days? Thank you!
Did you get an answer to this question Margo? As I’m in almost exact same situation, I entered Nov 2nd, flight home Jan 23rd has been cancelled so want to stay till end of February but not sure how it all works.
Hi Margo! Thanks for reaching us. If you entered the country before November 30, you can stay until March 2 without buying insurance.
Hi there. I entered Costa Rica on January 29, 2021 and originally planned to stay until February 12, 2021. I purchased insurance for that full period. I would now like to stay until February 28, 2021. So is my visa automatically extended as long as I purchase additional insurance for the additional 30 days? Thank you!
Leave reply
Hi Isis! Thanks for reaching us. You can find the steps to be followed here https://news.outlierlegal.com/2021/01/21/update-on-the-extension-of-entry-stamps/
We are arriving on march 8 and leaving CR on April 28. IVisa tells we can’t stay that long. They say the 30-day health pass is,only good for 30 days. I think it means use within 30 days and only one entry. Getting near time to get our health pass. Do we need to shorten our trip. We already have our insurance.
Thanks,
Jo Weber
Hello Jo
You can purchase insurance for up to 90 days for your trip. That website is incorrect. You can find the real link here https://salud.go.cr/