Check your Passport
Heading to Costa Rica? Or anywhere else abroad? When was the last time you checked your passport?
If you’re planning a trip to Costa Rica, take a look at your passport’s expiry date, even if it doesn’t expire during your travels, you might not be allowed into the country. Or any other country for that matter.
Costa Rica, like many other countries have three month or a six month minimum expiration for your passport, meaning that you have to have at least the minimum three or six months on that passport before being allowed in.
Remember it can take up to six weeks to renew a passport although you can get it expedited in as little as two weeks. But why take the chance? The Passport Office recommends renewing at least nine months in advance of your trip.
Passport information – US Department of State
Another requirement, overlooked by travel agents and airlines, is you need a ticket back out of the country. Costa Rica, like many other destinations, has a rule requiring a temporary visitor to have a way back out of the country – by land, sea or air.
According to Costa Rican immigration, a visitor arriving must have their return ticket. Although some airlines are not strict about this rule, the visitor could be denied entry. In such case, the airline will be responsible for flying the person home or their point of embarkation.
Some airlines may sell you a one way ticket to Costa Rica, but you could be refused entry if you don’t have a ticket back out of Costa Rica.
So, if traveling abroad remember one to have at least three to six months validity on your passport and have a way out of the country.
