www.CostaRicaTicas.com

For the third time this year, I had a client who tried to come to Costa Rica with a passport that would expire in less than three months. Just like the other two, he was denied entry to the country and will be on the next flight back to the U.S.

Your passport must be valid for at least three months after your arrival date. If it is not, you won't be allowed to enter the country.

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The only thing that matters is happiness in all it forms...

I thought it was 6 months, but I would think the airline would tell you at the gate when you checked in that your passport was not acceptable in Costa Rica--it is your responsibility to know the rules, but I think the airline should notice this on check-in.-JMHA

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I AM a Cien boy + Propina!

The airlines won't let you board if your return date is after your Passport expires, because that's the law in Costa Rica which applies to travelers from the USA and Canada. The law (Costa Rica) actually says that a Passport must be valid for the duration of the visit. There is no 30 days, 60 days, 3 months, or 6 months, according to the actual law.

However, as the person who started this thread mentioned, anything under 3 months can cause a problem. I've entered Costa Rica on a couple of occasions with a Passport valid for less than a month, but you do have to have your stuff together. Be ready to prove when you're leaving, etc.

For most people, it's best to have a Passport that's valid for at least 6 months. That pretty much works anywhere in the world. There's no sense in playing around with this unless you really, really have to. If your Passport is within one year of expiration, it's time to start the renewal process.

He needs to notify the Costa Rican embassy in DC, particularly the consular section - http://www.costarica-embassy.org/index.php?q=node/72



That is the current information on the offical embassy website.

However, the reality is that an immigration officer can refuse entry to anyone.

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Any opinion or observation in the post above is purely presented for entertainment purposes and does not promote "sexual tourism" or "human trafficking". The laws of Costa Rica apply to all activities in Costa Rica. No warranty is expressed or implied. Void where prohibited by law. Your experience, observations or perspective may be different.

In exile in pu*sy prison

Exactly. Until you get past the Immigration nazi, the US Consulate can do nothing for you (because you are not officially IN the country). But you are absolutely right. The immigration nazi can refuse you if your passport is 3 months from exp, 6 months from exp, or just not the right shade of blue to satisfy him. He DOES however need to file paperwork on a rejection (his superior actually does the paperwork, so the nazi is somewhat held accountable, and the superior can override judgement). That's how it was explained to me.

Also! *IF*, *IF*, *IF* you are taken to the 'white room', you might (might) be able to buy your way out of the problem. I have personally never needed to bribe an immigration official, but it seems to me that they are just "more expensive cops" than the street variety. Something to think about.

[EDIT] ... I once tried to bribe a Customs official when leaving, but it didn't work (though it was not really THAT worth it to me, whereas entering the country would be worth a larger offer).

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bypassin' kinky, and usin' the whole chicken!!!

Just for reference...

On one occasion, I entered Costa Rica with a Passport valid for 27 days, due to traveling a lot and not being able to part with the Passport long enough to renew it. There were various circumstances... anyway...

The immigration officer said that the Passport had to be valid for 3 months, and I said, politely, "Your law and embassy said I was OK as long as I leave before the Passport expires." I showed my return ticket for 14 days later and she said, "No. The Passport must be valid for 3 months." I politely asked to see her supervisor.

The supervisor came over and we both explained the situation. The supervisor said, "The traveler is right. It's OK. You need to study your rules more carefully." The officer said "Sorry" and stamped me in. I said, "That's OK. You're just doing your job."

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Don't get me wrong. I still think it's a great idea not to flirt with this if you can avoid it, but if you have to, maybe a similar approach could help somebody from getting refused entry.

It sounds like sometimes you need the white room with padded walls.
Regards, 911 Driver

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The happy hour is a device either for getting rid of social obligations hurriedly en masse or for making overtures toward more serious social relationships, as in the etiquette of whoring.- Brooks Atkinson