Costa Rica
France
France visa for Costa Rican citizens
Entry requirement
Costa Rican citizens can visit France without a visa for up to 90 days.
- Maximum stay
- 90 days
- Where to apply
- Nothing to apply for in advance
Checked 7 November 2026 · Passport Index · Confirm at cr.ambafrance.org
For longer stays: study, work and residence
France: visa decisions in Costa Rica
| Year | Applications | Visas issued | Refused | Refusal rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2 | 2 | 0 | – |
| 2024 | 2 | 2 | 0 | – |
| 2025 | 3 | 3 | 0 | – |
In 2025, France’s embassy and consulates in Costa Rica (San José) received 3 applications for short-stay Schengen visas and issued 3. Applications rose by 50% compared with 2024 (2).
For comparison, all Schengen states together refused 0.2% of the applications lodged in Costa Rica that year. France’s consulates worldwide refused 14.2%. France was the 6th most applied-for Schengen state in Costa Rica.
You apply to the Schengen state that is your main destination (the longest stay or the main purpose; the state of first entry only when there is none), so a lower rate elsewhere is no reason to apply there. The figures cover applications lodged in Costa Rica, by any nationality: mostly citizens, but also residents from other countries.
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
French citizens travelling to Costa Rica
FranceCosta Rica Visa-free, 180 days Costa Rica visa for citizens of France
Travel advice for France
- US State Department Level 2: Exercise increased caution
- UK Foreign Office (FCDO) No advice against travel
- German Foreign Office No travel warning
What the US, British and German foreign ministries tell their own citizens about travelling there, in each ministry’s own terms.
For a trip from Costa Rica to France, the published travel advice reads as follows: the US State Department rates France at Level 2, exercise increased caution (updated 20 October 2026), the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office does not advise against travel to France (updated 22 October 2026) and the German Foreign Office has no travel warning for France (updated 3 November 2026). Each ministry writes for its own citizens.
Good to know
How long Costa Rican citizens can stay in France
Costa Rican citizens may stay in France for up to 90 days. Days in France count towards the Schengen limit of 90 days in any 180-day period across all member states.
France and the Schengen area
Visa-free stays of Costa Rican citizens in France count towards the Schengen limit of 90 days in any 180-day period, shared with every other member state.
France’s neighbours for Costa Rican citizens
Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, Italy, Andorra, Monaco and Spain admit Costa Rican citizens visa-free.
French citizens travelling to Costa Rica
Costa Rica admits French citizens without a visa for stays of up to 180 days. The rule is the same in both directions between Costa Rica and France.
Frequently asked questions
Do Costa Rican citizens need a visa for France?
Costa Rican citizens can visit France without a visa for up to 90 days.
How long can Costa Rican citizens stay in France?
Costa Rican citizens can stay in France for up to 90 days, within the Schengen limit of 90 days in any 180.
Do French citizens need a visa for Costa Rica?
Costa Rica admits French citizens without a visa for stays of up to 180 days.
Can Costa Rican citizens enter France visa-free?
Yes, Costa Rican citizens can enter France without a visa and stay for up to 90 days.
Visa data: Passport Index via passport-index-data, as of 7 November 2026. Rules change, sometimes overnight. Confirm with the embassy or the official government portal before you book.