Young children, especially babies, are prioritized in Costa Rica and often you will be taken to a separate line to get processed faster. If you are traveling with a baby or young kids, try to find an airport employee near the immigration line. It is always a good idea to check this number to make sure you have a visa for the correct amount of time before continuing. On top of the stamp, they will write with a pen how many days your tourist visa is valid for. Once the immigration official determines the length of your stay (based on your return flight and travel insurance coverage), they will stamp your passport with an entry stamp into the country. As a foreigner you can receive a maximum 90-day tourist visa.įor more on the required travel insurance, and to make sure you select one with the right coverage, read our post, Costa Rica’s Required Insurance: 15 FAQs. Returning Flight and Mandatory InsuranceĪfter the QR check, the immigration official will ask for your returning flight information, so be sure to have it handy.ĭuring Covid, you will need travel insurance for the entire time you are planning to be in the country. If something is not complete with your QR code, or your travel insurance needs further verification, you will be directed into a separate area to finalize the process.
A paper copy is a good backup, though, in case your phone dies or is lost. It’s easiest if you save it to your phone, as the scanner has a hard time with paper copies.
#SIMAIRPORT IMMIGRATION CODE#
The immigration official will scan your QR code to make sure you are good to go. The immigration official will need to scan it.įor more information about the health pass and insurance, read our post, Traveling to Costa Rica During Covid-19: Entry Requirements, Protocols, and What to Expect. The QR code (sort of like a barcode) is generated online after filling out the health pass and providing your insurance.
QR Codeĭuring Covid, Costa Rica is requiring visitors to fill out an online health pass 48 hours or less before their flight and to provide travel insurance that meets specific requirements. They will ask for your passport and QR code(s). Families will meet with the official together. Once you make it to the front of the line, you will see an immigration official. To prevent crowding during Covid, everyone is asked to maintain a six-foot (1.8 meter) distance from each other while in line. It really depends on how many other flights arrive at the same time as yours. Sometimes it can take an hour to get through, while at other times, it is more like 20 minutes. The line for immigration can be notoriously long. We are only covering entry into Costa Rica in this post. They will go through a different process than listed below. Note: Those arriving at SJO for a connecting flight will be directed to a separate area of the airport. Those with a fever will be removed from the line and screened further for symptoms of Covid-19.Ĭurrently, a mask is required at all times inside the airport.
On the way to immigration, you will pass a sensor that takes your temperature. Depending on your gate, you will go down a set of stairs/escalators to reach the lower part of the airport.
#SIMAIRPORT IMMIGRATION SERIES#
Signs are in both Spanish and English.įor those with mobility restrictions, SJO Airport is equipped with appropriate ramps, escalators, elevators, and handicap restrooms.Īfter landing and exiting the plane, you’ll walk through a series of hallways before getting in line for immigration. Much of the staff at SJO speak at least some English and many are fluent. While on the smaller side, SJO is modern and well equipped. Still, it only has about 20 gates, so navigating through is fairly easy. SJO Airport is Costa Rica’s busiest airport and the largest. In this post, we will cover arriving at SJO. Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) is closer to the center of the country, outside San Jose. Daniel Oduber Quiros International Airport (LIR) is located in the northwestern part of the country. Here, we will describe the arrival process, Covid protocols, amenities like duty-free shopping, SIM card options, and some other useful information to help you plan.Ĭosta Rica has two international airports. If you’re arriving at Costa Rica’s San Jose Airport (SJO) and are wondering what the experience will be like, this post is for you.
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