Costa Rica
Warnings and insurance
Theinsurance Foreign,and Commonwealthabout &new Developmentrules Officefor (FCDO)use provides advice about risks of travelforeign todriving helplicences British(‘Safety nationalsand makesecurity’ informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice.
Before you travel
No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guide and see see support for British nationals abroad for for information about specific travel topics.
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Travel insurance
If you choose to travel, research your destinations and get get appropriate travel insurance. Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency.
About FCDO travel advice
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides advice about risks of travel to help British nationals make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice.
Follow and contact FCDO travel on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. You can also sign up to get email notifications when this advice is updated.
Update history
2024-05-24 16:54
Information about quad-biking and insurance and about new rules for use of foreign driving licences (‘Safety and security’ page).
2023-11-03 09:17
Removal of information about Tropical Storm Pilar.
2023-10-31 20:50
Latest update: Information about tropical storm conditions, possible from Tuesday 31 October along the Pacific coast as a result of Tropical Storm Pilar (see ‘Warnings and insurance’ page).
2023-10-18 10:52
Information that you may not use your UK driving licence for longer than three months after you enter Costa Rica (‘Safety and security’ page).
2023-10-12 10:32
This travel advice has been rewritten to make it easier to read and understand.
2023-09-08 11:31
Removal of COVID-19 restrictions (‘Summary’, ‘Coronavirus’ and ‘Entry requirements’ pages).
2023-06-22 10:46
Information about the global terrorism risks to British nationals abroad on all FCDO travel advice pages.
2023-05-24 15:44
Removal of information about travel disruption on 21 April, updated information about eruption at Volcan Rincon de la Vieja, and reported cases of Malaria (‘Summary’, ‘Health’ and ‘Natural disasters’ pages).
2023-04-21 14:53
Addition of information that on Friday 21 April 2023, a strike and protests by police forces is likely to cause significant disruption to road travel and may cause airport closures (‘Summary’ page).
2023-01-06 21:14
Updated information on new Covid entry regulations for travellers from China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan (‘Summary’ and ‘Coronavirus’ page).
2022-11-01 10:12
Removal of information on the mandated use of masks in schools and public transportation between the 17 and 31 October 2022 (‘Summary’ and ‘Coronavirus’ pages).
2022-10-18 09:13
Updated information on use of facemasks in schools and public transport (‘Summary’ and ‘Coronavirus’ pages).
2022-07-12 14:49
Removal of information on Tropical Cyclone #2 (Bonnie)
2022-06-30 19:52
Updated information on potential hazardous weather conditions (‘Summary’ and ‘Natural disasters’ pages)
2022-06-29 12:32
Updated information on potential hazardous weather conditions (‘Summary’ and ‘Hurricanes’ pages)
2022-05-24 19:26
Removal of advisory on fuel price protests that were planned for Monday 23 May.
2022-05-23 02:37
Addition of information on possible fuel price increase protests on Monday 23 May (‘Summary’ and ‘Safety & Security’ pages).
2022-04-05 11:17
Update to information on entry rules following changes on 1 April (‘Entry requirements’ page)