Costa Rica's Airport: Scanning Passports For Entry?

When arriving in Costa Rica, you will need to go through immigration and customs. The process is the same at both of Costa Rica's international airports: San Jose International Airport in Alajuela (near San Jose) and Guanacaste Airport (formerly named Liberia International Airport) in Liberia, Guanacaste.

Once you get off the plane, follow the signs to immigration, which you will go through first (foreign passports). Families go through immigration together. Spouses go together and if you’re travelling with friends, normally the officers will ask each adult to go separately.

When your turn is called, go up to the desk to go through immigration. First, hand your passport to the immigration officer. They will scan it and look at your picture. They will then ask you for the following:

- Your passport. Must be valid, original and not expiring during your time in Costa Rica.

- Your lodging information. Usually, they want to know your first destination and the first hotel you’re staying at. If you’re staying at an Airbnb, tell them the location of it.

- Your return itinerary out of Costa Rica. You must present proof of exit within 180 days if you are in Group 1 (and if you want a 180-day tourist visa). Immigration is getting more strict so have this ready to show. This is your plane ticket out of Costa Rica. You can print it out or show it to them on your phone. If you do not show a plane ticket out of Costa Rica in 180 days, the officer may give you 90 days or even less, depending on when your flight is. Even though the tourist visa for Group 1 countries is valid for up to 180 days, it is at the discretion of the officer how many days they want to give you.

After they’ve asked you all the questions, the officer will stamp your passport. In the stamp, they will write how many days your tourist visa is valid for. This is equal to how many days you can legally stay in Costa Rica. They’ll hand your passport back to you and you’re clear to go and pick up your luggage.

What to expect when going through customs and immigration at Costa Rica's airports

When going through customs and immigration at Costa Rica's airports, there are a few things to keep in mind. Here's what you can expect:

San Jose International Airport and Guanacaste Airport

Costa Rica has two international airports: San Jose International Airport in Alajuela, near the capital city, and Guanacaste Airport (formerly Liberia International Airport) in Liberia, Guanacaste. The procedures for immigration and customs are the same at both airports.

Immigration and Customs Forms

Costa Rica's immigration and customs procedures have been streamlined, and customs forms are no longer routinely distributed. However, your airline may still provide one, which is straightforward to fill out. The form will ask for your family name, given name, mother's maiden name (optional), country of residence, travel document details, and destination address in Costa Rica.

Immigration Process

After disembarking, follow the signs to the immigration area, where foreign passport holders will be processed first. The immigration area typically has air conditioning and bathrooms, making it more comfortable than the baggage claim area. Families proceed through immigration together, while spouses and friends usually go separately, with each adult being called individually to the desk for processing.

When it's your turn, present your passport for scanning and verification. The immigration officer will ask for the following:

• A valid, original passport that does not expire during your stay in Costa Rica.
• Lodging details, including your first destination and hotel or Airbnb location.
• Proof of onward travel out of Costa Rica within 180 days for Group 1 countries. This can be a return airline ticket, bus ticket, or proof of passage on a cruise ship.

Visa Requirements

As of September 2023, Costa Rica has extended the tourist visa duration for Group 1 countries (USA, Canada, Germany, UK, Australia, and Chile) from 90 to 180 days. The immigration officer will stamp your passport with the maximum allowance, but the actual duration granted may vary at their discretion.

Once the questioning is complete, the immigration officer will endorse your passport with a stamp indicating the validity period of your tourist visa. If you plan to rent a car, make sure to get a stamp, as it serves as proof of entry and determines how long you are permitted to drive in the country.

Baggage Claim and Customs

After immigration, proceed to the baggage claim area. Collect all your luggage and direct it to the customs scanners, where you'll need to place all your belongings, including backpacks, bags, purses, and carry-ons, for screening. Duty-free purchases made after immigration are exempt from scanning.

If your luggage is selected for inspection by a customs officer, simply retrieve it and bring it to the designated area. Common items that may be confiscated include large amounts of food, electronics, and prohibited items such as drugs or weapons.

Time Required for Customs and Immigration

The time required for customs and immigration varies depending on your arrival time and travel dates. San Jose International Airport tends to have longer wait times, especially during peak season (December to April, July, and early August). Guanacaste Airport typically processes passengers faster due to fewer flights. However, during high tourism months, expect wait times of 30 minutes to an hour.

Airport Amenities

Both San Jose and Guanacaste Airports offer various services after immigration, including money exchange, duty-free shopping, car rentals, and more. It is recommended to avoid exchanging money at the airport due to unfavorable rates. Instead, use your credit card or USD until you can visit a bank for a better exchange rate.

What documents are required to enter Costa Rica

To enter Costa Rica, you need to provide the following documents:

• A valid passport or travel document. This must be valid for the duration of your stay and may need to be valid for a minimum of one day from the day you enter Costa Rica. It will be scanned by an immigration officer.
• A visa, if required.
• Proof of economic means, with a minimum of $100 USD per month or partial month of legal stay in the country.
• A return ticket to your country of origin or a plan of onward travel that includes the next destination.
• Proof of vaccination against yellow fever, if arriving from certain countries in South America or Africa.

It is also recommended that you make a photocopy of your passport with the entry stamp and carry this with you at all times during your stay.

How long does it take to get through customs and immigration at Costa Rica's airports?

The time it takes to get through customs and immigration at Costa Rica's airports depends on several factors, including your arrival time, travel dates, and the airport you're flying into. Here's a breakdown of what to expect:

San Jose International Airport:

San Jose International Airport is the larger of Costa Rica's two international airports and tends to have longer wait times, especially during peak season, which runs from December to April, July, and early August. If you're arriving during this period, particularly on Fridays through Mondays, be prepared for potential delays. It's not uncommon for travellers to spend at least an hour, and sometimes up to three hours, clearing immigration and customs during busy periods like February and March. These months see multiple flights arriving simultaneously, resulting in longer lines.

Guanacaste Airport (Liberia International Airport):

Guanacaste Airport, located in Liberia, typically processes passengers more quickly due to a lower volume of flights. However, during the high tourism months, particularly from 11 AM to 2 PM, you can still expect wait times of around 30 minutes to an hour.

Factors to Consider:

Regardless of which airport you fly into, there are a few key factors to keep in mind:

• Arrival Time: The time of your arrival can significantly impact the duration of the process. Noon to mid-afternoon is generally the busiest time at both airports, as multiple flights tend to land simultaneously.
• Peak Travel Seasons: Plan for longer wait times during Christmas, New Year's, Spring Break, Holy Week, and North American summer vacations.
• Documentation: Have all your documents ready, including your passport, lodging information, and proof of onward travel. This will help streamline the immigration process.
• Luggage: After clearing immigration, you'll proceed to baggage claim and customs. Place all your luggage, including carry-ons and personal items, through the scanners. Duty-free purchases made after immigration are usually exempt from scanning.
• Services: Both airports offer money exchange and duty-free shopping after immigration. However, it is generally not recommended to exchange money at the airport due to unfavourable rates. Use your credit card or USD until you can visit a bank for a better exchange rate.

What is the process for renting a car at Costa Rica's airports?

Renting a Car at Costa Rica's Airports

Picking the Right Rental Car (and Rental Company)

Before renting a car in Costa Rica, read and compare reviews for car rental companies. While the standard big companies are available, there are also local options. Once you've narrowed down your list, ask for quotes for the type of vehicle and travel dates that you require. The quote should include mandatory third-party insurance, taxes, and any other surcharges, like airport tax. Most sites include all this info when getting a quote online.

Whether you are reserving online or directly with an agent, double-check the details of your reservation. Crossing time zones may mean that your rental pickup time or date is different in Costa Rica than your country of departure. You will need to confirm the time, date, and location of your vehicle’s pickup and drop-off, the vehicle category, transmission, and coverage required.

• A manual transmission may be cheaper than automatic and more common in Costa Rica but should only be selected if you can drive a stick shift.
• Returning your car at a different location from where you picked it up will probably incur an additional charge.
• Most rental companies will not guarantee a specific make and model within the rental category.
• Expect to rent for 24-hour periods. Time your pickup and drop-off accordingly.
• Provide your flight number before you arrive, so the company can track your flight.
• If you have an early flight, consider dropping off the vehicle the night before and using a hotel shuttle to the airport.
• Online travel agencies (OTAs) often fail to include all charges, so if you book through one, be sure to check the final price with the car rental company.
• Most companies now offer an online check-in process to upload documents such as passports and driver’s licenses to cut time at the counter and get on the road faster.

Arriving at the Airport

Both international airports in Costa Rica have car rental company desks within the building; however, the offices (where you’ll get your car) are off-site. They generally have a shuttle service to take clients to their offices, most of which are located within a 10-minute drive of the airport.

Local hustlers might tell you that your company has gone out of business to convince you to go with a different company that will pay them a commission. Look for a sign with your company’s logo and ignore the hustlers.

If your flight is delayed or you miss your connection, contact the company with your new estimated arrival time to avoid having the reservation canceled as a no-show.

When you arrive at the rental office, the agent will fill in any outstanding paperwork that has not been done online and conduct a vehicle inspection with you. Although the agent will note existing damage, you should take photos or video of the car for backup purposes.

Your vehicle may not have a full fuel tank when you pick it up, but the fuel gauge level should be logged on the inspection form. You will need to return the car with the same fuel level. Although you will not be reimbursed for a level higher than the one registered, you will be charged if it is below the starting level.

Documents Needed for Renting a Car in Costa Rica

Here’s everything you need to rent a car in Costa Rica:

• Driver’s license – You can use your local driver’s license during the rental period as long as it is printed in the Latin alphabet. If your license is in a language that does not use the Latin alphabet (e.g. Mandarin, Arabic), an international driving license is required. Your driver’s license must be valid for the entirety of your stay.
• It is important to note that although most tourists will be given a 180-day visa when they enter the country, their driver’s licenses are only valid for 90 days, and they will be required to leave Costa Rica and return to legally drive again.
• Credit card – You need a valid credit card in your name to pay the car rental and to place the deposit.
• Passport – Your passport should be valid for the duration of your stay. Legally, tourists must carry it with them at all times. The transit police will want to see it and your entry visa if you are pulled over.

A Note on the Minimum and Maximum Driving Age:

Each car rental company has policies regarding the age of the drivers it insures. Many do not have a maximum age, but some set a limit of 70-75 years old. The legal age to drive in Costa Rica is 18; however, most companies require that drivers be at least 23. Younger drivers may be able to rent a car for an additional surcharge and insurance costs.

Costa Rica has mandatory third-party insurance for car rentals. It is

What are the recommended modes of transportation to and from Costa Rica's airports?

There are two international airports in Costa Rica: San Jose (Juan Santamaria International Airport – SJO) and Liberia (Daniel Oduber International Airport – LIR).

When you arrive at either airport, you will see many drivers waiting for guests, whether a hotel shuttle, a shuttle to a car rental, or a transportation shuttle service.

Taking a shuttle from the airport can be less stressful but may also limit you. Most shuttles will take you to and from the airport to your hotel. Depending on where you stay, you may or may not need additional transportation. Many visitors will walk from hotels to their town, but not all towns have good roads or sidewalks.

If you opt for a shuttle service, you may be staying in a specific town for a while vs. exploring Costa Rica, and this is what we want you to do. We have more options. Keep reading!

Private Transportation

This is one of our top recommendations. You should spend a bit extra (it isn’t much more) and use private tourism transportation services; either you hire them for your trip or use shared transportation services between destinations. You will not only be more secure, but you will also have the advantage of having a bilingual driver that can make your trip more enjoyable and educational.

Public Transportation

When we talk about public transportation in Costa Rica, we refer to buses, taxis, and a couple of train lines.

Most Costa Ricans rely on buses. You can be confident that a bus will take you there no matter how far you need to get to Costa Rica. The problem is regularity and time. Not all destinations in Costa Rica have a bus coming in and out at all times or even every day of the week. Because many of those rides need to serve passengers through the entire route, they take a very long time to reach the final destination.

But if you have time, you can Google the timetable for almost any bus route in Costa Rica and carefully organize your trip.

We know that a local bus ride can be a fun and exciting experience, but we believe there are more comfortable, secure, and time-effective ways of getting to see Costa Rica. Do you want to take a bus on your family trip to Costa Rica? On your honeymoon? Likely not.

Now, taxis are a different story. The one problem taxi drivers have in Costa Rica is their tendency to make the route longer than necessary to charge you more than needed. Taxi drivers use a “María” device that measures distance and time during the trip to determine the final price. To avoid this problem, take a cab from your hotel, and ask reception how much the ride should cost, and you can say it upfront to your driver.

Or if you are in a rural area of Costa Rica, you most likely will be exempt from this issue since you can negotiate (upfront) the cost of the ride.

There are only a few train lines in Costa Rica, and the ones that function daily connect the principal cities of the Central Valley with the capital and have been created to help people get to their jobs with less traffic.

APPs like Uber

Let’s start by talking about Uber. This popular app began operations in Costa Rica in 2015 and has rapidly become the preferred private transportation by Costa Ricans. But there are several problems with using Uber in Costa Rica when you are not from here.

The first and most crucial problem is that this operation is illegal but is being used by all. The only reason it keeps operating is a gap in the Costa Rican legislation regulating activities “on the web” or through applications.

Now, how does this affect you? Well, suppose you are stopped by a traffic policeman while using the services of an Uber driver, and you cannot trick the officer into believing your driver is not an Uber driver. In that case, they will stop your driver and leave you stranded in the middle of wherever you are. If you are a Tico, that is okay because you can find your way again, but if you are foreign to the country, this could be a significant setback in your experience.

Another good reason to rule Uber out of your transportation options is that it’s only available in the Central Valley. For example, in Costa Rica, there are over 22,000 Uber drivers, the primary income source for nearly 50% of them. Still, they are mainly in the Central Valley (meaning the main cities of San José, Heredia, Alajuela, and Cartago provinces). So unless you plan on staying in the Central Valley for your entire trip, relying on this type of transportation is not a good idea.

In late 2018, a study by a research institute at the Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica showed that 9 out of 10 Costa Ricans want this kind of service to be legalized and appropriately taxed so they can thrive. Still, the Costa Rican government has clarified that this is not a priority. Therefore, Uber and other Costa Rican on-demand private transportation apps like Nova, Easy Taxi, and Rides 506 will have to wait to be capable of giving an appropriate and secure service to everybody, Ticos and visitors alike.

Domestic Flights

It is undoubtedly the most efficient way to move around Costa Rica and to get to see the most out of it, not only because you can hop from one corner of the country to the other but also because you can see it from the air!

For example, flying from Nosara to San Jose is breathtaking! The views from the small airplanes are stunning, but getting to the airports can be tricky since many of the domestic flights airports are incredibly tiny.

Frequently asked questions