Basic Travel Requirements for Ghanaians visiting
Costa Rica
Travelers are required to fulfill the following requirements in order to
apply for a Costa Rican Visa.
- A Ghanaian passport, valid for at least six months beyond the expected date of entry into Costa Rica.
- Duly completed and signed application form.
- If the applicant is a minor, the parents/legal guardians have to sign the form.
- A passport photograph taken in white background. Three (3) identical photographs must be submitted. They should be 3 x 3 cm in width and height.
- Travel document.
- Proof of financial standing (recent bank statements).
- Documentation showing applicants ties to home country, e.g. verification from applicant’s employer.
- Medical Insurance.
- Documentation confirming the purpose of travel.
- Some embassies/consulates may also request a criminal record certificate and medical report.
Costa Rica Visa for Ghanaians
Facts about Costa Rica
Tourists won’t believe the popular phrase “pura vida” (pure life) until they visit the country. It is a term you will hear everywhere and you will think it is a marketing term till you believe in and start saying it yourself. The pure life Costa Rican bug is sure to bite tourists with the flurry of amazing things to be done in the country. The country offers a plethora of outdoor activities in its various shapes and sizes. On the various beaches and rivers in Costa Rica, tourists can enjoy rafting, fishing, scuba diving, and surfing. The Central American nation is well-known for having an incredibly high level of biodiversity throughout its tropical forests which houses tropical mammals such as monkeys, sloths, tapirs, and wildcats. Tourists can visit one of the national parks and game reserves to enjoy amazing sites. Another spectacular activity that tourists in the country like to engage in is bird watching. Bird watching can be done in a variety of places in the country as there are over 800 species of birds for your pleasure.
Costa Rica is the most visited country in Central America. The country was visited by 2.9 million foreigners in 2016 which was up 10% from the previous year. The tourism industry was responsible for 5.8% of the country’s GDP, or $3.4 billion.
Foreigners in the country are expected to declare the sum of $10,000 on entry and exit from the country. If this sum is not declared, you will not be allowed entry into the country. The minimum sentence for drug possession and trafficking is 8 years imprisonment. Tourists should stay away from any drug-related crime.
Types of Costa Rica Visa
| Types of Visa | Processing Time | Duration of Stay |
|---|---|---|
| Tourist visa | 3 – 5 working days | 90 days |
| Business visa | 3 – 5 working days | 90 days |
General Requirements for Costa Rica Visa
- A Ghanaian passport, valid for at least six months beyond the expected date of entry into Costa Rica.
- Duly completed and signed application form.
- If the applicant is a minor, the parents/legal guardians have to sign the form.
- A passport photograph taken in white background. Three (3) identical photographs must be submitted. They should be 3 x 3 cm in width and height.
- Travel document.
- Proof of financial standing (recent bank statements).
- Documentation showing applicants ties to home country, e.g. verification from applicant’s employer.
- Medical Insurance.
- Documentation confirming the purpose of travel.
- Some embassies/consulates may also request a criminal record certificate and medical report.
Costa Rica Tourist Visa Eligibility &
Requirements
- Though some nationals may not, but Ghanaians need a visa to travel to Costa Rica.
- All visitors to Costa Rica must carry a valid passport which must be valid for at least six months beyond the expected date of entry into Costa Rica.
- Visa requirements are based on international agreements or treaties. However, the visa does not guarantee entry to Costa Rica. Whether or not you will be allowed to enter Costa Rica depends on the immigration officer upon arrival.
- Anybody travelling to Costa Rica from sub-Saharan Africa will need to present proof of yellow fever vaccination. Ghana is one of the countries considered at risk.
- Immigration officials may deny you entry if your passport is damaged so always take note of this.
- Be sure to leave Costa Rica at your expected date of departure. Immigration authorities may impose a fine on foreigners who overstay their visas. Even a short overstay may result in significant delays, deportation, and/or denial of entry to Costa Rica in the future.
- All children born in Costa Rica acquire Costa Rican citizenship at birth. They must have an exit permit issued by immigration authorities in order to depart the country. Non-Costa Rican minors who are ordinarily resident in Costa Rica may also be subject to this requirement and this is strictly enforced.
- It is not yet known if there are any HIV/AIDS entry restrictions for visitors coming to Costa Rica.
- Intending visitors to Costa Rica need to be reminded that the country is in an active earthquake and volcanic zone. Following significant earthquakes, tsunamis may also occur.
- Tourist visas are usually not extended except under special circumstances, and extension requests are evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
Costa Rica Business Visa Eligibility &
Requirements
- Business travelers to Costa Rica must be in possession of a passport valid for 6 months beyond their expected stay and a round-trip or onward ticket.
- The Costa Rica visa application form can be issued by the Costa Rica Consulate or downloaded online from their website at .
- Business travelers will enjoy the advanced telecommunications system, modern infrastructure and excellent array of hotels and restaurants while traveling in Costa Rica.
- If your visa is denied, you will have to wait a minimum of six months to apply again.
- There is a departure tax for short-term visitors, which is typically included in the cost of a traveler’s airfare.
- Tourists who stay beyond the designated exit date may experience a delay at the airport when departing and will have to pay a fine. Individuals with prior overstays may further be denied entry to Costa Rica.
- You may be asked details of the Costa Rican company you will be visiting and your relationship with them. You should also present documents that show they are expecting you.
- Evidence of a valid yellow fever vaccination is a MUST!
- For a stay of more than 90 days a residence permit must be established.
- This can be applied for and obtained at the General Directorate of Immigration and Immigration in Costa Rica.
Costa Rica Visa Fees
Tourist visa
20.00 (USD)
Business visa
20.00 (USD)
Costa Rica Visa Application Centres & Embassies in
Ghana
Accra
Costa Rica currently does not maintain an embassy in Ghana. Visa applicants are advised to make use of consulates in neighboring countries for their applications.
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