Costa Rica

Embassies and consulates in Costa Rica

embassies in San José

Costa Rica hosts 97 foreign missions from 83 countries: 38 embassies, 14 consulates, 36 honorary consulates and 9 other offices. All 38 embassies are in the capital, San José. Consulates are also found in Liberia, Quesada and Tamarindo.

Americas

Costa Rica

Capital
San José
Population
5,152,950
Currency
Costa Rican Colón (CRC)
Calling code
+506
Languages
Spanish, English
  • 97missions
  • 38embassies
  • 14consulates
  • 36honorary consulates
Visa-free: 90 destinations#63 in the world

Map

All missions in Costa Rica

Other cities in Costa Rica

Outside San José, missions are found in Liberia (1), Quesada (1), Tamarindo (1), Los Chiles (1) and Sardinal (1); most of them are consulates general, consulates and honorary consulates.

By country

  1. Spain 4
  2. Nicaragua 4
  3. Germany 3
  4. China 2
  5. France 2
  6. Italy 2
  7. Japan 2
  8. South Korea 2
Show all 83

Visa rules for Costa Rica

How the world’s passports enter Costa Rica198 in total

  • Visa-free95
  • Visa required103

Costa Rica visa guide · 8 visa types

Visa rules

Of the 198 passports in the visa data, 95 can enter visa-free and 103 need a visa from an embassy or consulate for Costa Rica.

Visa statistics

Schengen visa applications in Costa Rica

YearApplicationsVisas issuedRefusedRefusal rateMultiple-entry share
2023 31829920.7% 47.8%
2024 40938092.3% 42.1%
2025 44142010.2% 40.2%

By Schengen state, 2025

CountryApplicationsVisas issuedRefusal rate
Spain 3383210.0%
Italy 30300.0%
Germany 29253.7%
Switzerland 27270.0%
Netherlands 1414–
France 33–

Schengen consulates in Costa Rica received 441 short-stay visa applications in 2025, and issued 420 visas. 0.2% of applications were refused (worldwide: 14.6%). The refusal rate fell by 2.1 points from 2.3% in 2024. Applications rose by 8% compared with 2024 (409).

Most applications went to Spain (338), Italy (30), Germany (29) and Switzerland (27).

The numbers include every nationality applying in Costa Rica.

Source: European Commission, Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs, visa statistics for consulates 2023–2025 (© European Union, reused under CC BY 4.0). Short-stay (type C) visas. How these figures are made

US visas issued to citizens of Costa Rica

Visas issuedFY 2024FY 2025
Visitor (B)78,671100,521
Student (F, M)579525
Exchange (J)1,1421,088
Work and treaty (H, L, O, E…)1,9802,384
Transit and crew (C, D)341217
Diplomatic and official (A, G)276223
Fiancé(e) (K)15863
Other13
Total83,148105,024
B visa refusal rate (adjusted)12.7%16.1%

In fiscal year 2025 (October 2024 to September 2025) the United States issued 105,024 nonimmigrant visas to citizens of Costa Rica, the 14th highest number of the 206 nationalities listed. Visitor visas (B1/B2) made up 96%. That is 26% more than in fiscal year 2024 (83,148).

From October 2025 to February 2026, citizens of Costa Rica received 50,154, 39% more than in the same months a year earlier.

For visitor visas (B1/B2) the State Department reports an adjusted refusal rate of 16.1% for citizens of Costa Rica in fiscal year 2025 (fiscal year 2024: 12.7%).

Source: US Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs, monthly nonimmigrant visa issuances up to February 2026 and adjusted refusal rates (public domain). US fiscal years run from October to September. How these figures are made

United States visa for citizens of Costa Rica

Costa Rica’s own missions abroad

Costa Rica’s embassies abroad (60)

In the other direction, Costa Rica runs 60 missions in 43 countries. Its largest networks are in Germany (6), Australia (3), Spain (3), Nicaragua (3) and Turkey (3).

Upcoming closures

Public holidays in Costa Rica

  • Army Abolition Day

    Tuesday

  • Christmas Day

    Friday

  • New Year's Day

    Friday

  • Maundy Thursday

    Thursday

Good to know

Where the embassies are

All 38 embassies are in the capital, San José. The largest foreign networks in Costa Rica are those of Spain (4), Nicaragua (4), Germany (3), China (2) and France (2).

Travel advice for Costa Rica

Foreign ministries’ advice on travel to Costa Rica: the US State Department rates Costa Rica at Level 2, exercise increased caution (updated 1 April 2026), the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office does not advise against travel to Costa Rica (updated 19 May 2026) and the German Foreign Office has no travel warning for Costa Rica (updated 13 October 2026).

Frequently asked questions

Which country has the most consulates in Costa Rica?

Spain, with 4 missions, followed by Nicaragua (4).

Do I need a visa for Costa Rica?

Of 198 passports, 95 can enter visa-free and 103 need a visa from an embassy or consulate for Costa Rica; the visa rules page for your own passport has the answer for you.

When are embassies in Costa Rica closed?

On Costa Rica’s public holidays and on each mission’s own national day; the next public holiday is Army Abolition Day (Día de la Abolición del Ejército) on Tuesday 1 December 2026.