www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Hi all,

Is it possible to go to Costa Rica without planning your departure from the country? I read that when you enter the country you must have plans to leave within 90 days.

I am moving to Costa Rica and I don't plan on violating the 90-day rule, but I don't know exactly when I'll be coming back. Is there a way to purchase a one-way to San Jose without an exact return planned?

Thanks for the help!

Depends on the carrier. Some like American enforce the rule and others could care less or aren't aware. I always carry an "onward" ticket - even if its just a bus ticket to Managua.
LVSteve
PS: Most times, the round trip tick with an open return is cheaper than a one way. Check it out.

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Just an old horney, fat gambler.

Steve,
Are you sure about that? It seems to me that, even if you found an airline that would sell you a ticket like that, it really isn't up to them whether to allow you past immigration. It is up to the government official and they're coming down increasingly hard on so-called "perpetual tourists". Personally, I wouldn't want to risk winding up like Tom Hanks in "The Terminal". Another possibility is to purchase a refundable ticket or at least one that can be reticketed to another date and time for a reasonable fee.

Pro;
This is a area where I have a ton of experience. Because American Airlines ALWAYS wants to see an "onward" ticket exiting Costa Rica within the 90 day span, I always travel with same when using American.
I have found that the others (America West, Continential & USAir) don't ask. Personally, I think American does it so they can have you in a position where you are forced to buy a ticket.
LVSteve

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Just an old horney, fat gambler.

ionesco,you are a tourist visiting costa rica and if they don't let you into the country..the airline will not fly you back for free..so book your return 90 day's from your arrival, all bases covered for immigration.......

Of that I have no doubt and defer to your much greater experience in this area, however I think you missed my question. If you usually fly with American who requires such a return ticket, even if you know others don't require it, how do you know for a fact what would happen if you went with another carrier and didn't have a return ticket? Or have you actually been in that particular situation? If so how often? Even if you managed to get through CR immigration once or twice without having to show them a return ticket, are you sure you would always or even usually be able to slip in that way w/o any problems? I'm not sure I'd want to take that chance unless I knew for sure. This is not an airline issue. It is an immigration issue.

Pro;
American - 5 for 5
Others - 25 or 30 for 0
American always said that they would be fined if I didn't have an onward ticket. They go on to say that I would be a burden to the Costa Rican Government. Its thier policy - evidently, the other carriers are not as worried about the Costa Rican govt.
LVSteve
PS: Keep in mind that whenever I purchace an airline ticket, its always from San Jose to the states and back.

_________________
Just an old horney, fat gambler.

Prolijo wrote:



That is partially correct. The law requiring a tourist to have a ticket (air, bus, etc.) showing departure from Costa Rica within 90 days of arrival is an Immigration requirement.

The airline verifying this is at the discretion of the airline. The reason the airlines might check is that should they transport you to CR and you do not posses the onward ticket they can be forced to return you to your originating point. Some airlines routinely check that you have proof some do not.

I have been asked by American to show proof (I just show my residency documentation which makes me exempt from the rule) but have never been asked by TACA.

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Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

Steve,
I don't want to beat a dead horse and maybe I'm just dense and having trouble understanding you. Your latest post still doesn't seem to clearly answer my question.

Are you just saying 5 times out of 5 AA has insisted on a round trip ticket but that the other AIRLINES never required it BUT you had one anyway? After all you did say "whenever I purchase an airline ticket, its always from San Jose to the states and BACK." OR, are you saying you've ACTUALLY traveled with other carriers 25-30 times WITHOUT a scheduled return ticket AND that YOU'VE never had any problems going through IMMIGRATION when you've been missing such a ticket?

Also you keep going back to talking about the AIRLINES, when the question is really more about GOVERNMENT policy. "Evidently, the other carriers are not as worried about the Costa Rican govt," maybe thats because THEY'RE not the ones that should be worried. I don't really care whether AA gets fined or not any more than they probably care if I do, but I do care if I get fined or held up. AA may act more responsibly than the other airlines but it is not really their job to enforce CR immigration policies. My uncertainty is not with the policies of the AIRLINES, but those of the GOVERNMENT. I'm not asking what the airlines do or say. I'm asking what CR IMMIGRATION has to say on this subject.

How strictly this is enforced is the open question but the official CR policy on this is pretty clear. The following was taken from the http://www.costarica-embassy.org website:Has ANYONE here (who aren't official CR residents) ever ACTUALLY regularly gone through CR IMMIGRATION WITHOUT a return ticket without getting stopped or hassled? A simple "yes or no" question. I can't make the question any clearer than that.

Pro;
To answer your question: The airlines enforce the immigration rule and you are asked (by American ONLY) if you have an onward ticket when you check in at any Stateside airport enroute to Costa Rica.
Yes I am saying that no one but American enforces this - all the other carriers either ignor it or don't know about it.
I pray that this answers your question.
LVSteve

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Just an old horney, fat gambler.

Thanks for the responses guys.

It's not as if I don't plan on respecting the rules of the Costa Rican government, and I do plan on returning to the states every 90 days. It's that effectively I plan on living in Costa Rica, and I'd rather purchase a one-way ticket now.

Is it possible to get a bus ticket to Managua online? I seriously doubt it...

Sorry to disappoint you, Steve, but that wasn't my question. I never even asked about "all the other carriers". You've already stated their practices SEVERAL times.

WHAT I'VE BEEN ASKING ABOUT WAS THE CR IMMIGRATION GUYS, WHICH ALL VISITORS MUST GET PAST REGARDLESS OF WHICH CARRIER THEY CAME IN ON BEFORE THEY ARE ALLOWED INTO CR.

When you say that "no one but American enforces this", does that include CR IMMIGRATION? Have you ever gotten by CR IMMIGRATION without a return ticket? I already understand that some carriers don't require you to purchase a return ticket, but have you ever booked that way and tested how it would fly with CR IMMIGRATION? And even if you succeeded at getting through that way once are you certain that you can always get away with it? I don't know what is so hard to understand about my question. CR IMMIGRATION, CR IMMIGRATION, CR IMMIGRATION not "all the other carriers".

The point of my question is that if immigration won't let you through without a return ticket it doesn't really matter what the air carriers do or don't do.

Every time I have arrived at CR immigration I have NEVER been asked to show a return ticket. I am not a resident of CR and only visit as a tourist.
I dont know if there is a difference between Canadian and US passports in this regard but I would be surprised if there was.

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Y.N.W.A.

THANK YOU, koppite, for your direct answer to my question. I seem to recall having them ask to see my ticket, but I may be mistaken, what with all the other times at security checkpoints and such where they do look at your ticket. Also, usually when I'm arriving my focus is on getting through immigration and customs as quickly as possible and be on my way to what I've really come down there for, so I just present whatever I have and let them sort throught it, passport, visa app, customs form, what have you without really paying too much attention to the actual process.

LV, sorry to give you such a hard time but that was all I was looking for.

Yo Prolijo y LVS,

In all my 20+ trips to CR, both AA and COPA, have never had to present my RT ticket at CR Migra.

I believe that the computer based Goverment international travel web sites are all linked anyway.

When your passport is presented at the airline check-in, it reflects your return travel status at the destination . i.e. CR Immigration terminals.

Big Brother is Watching ALL your moves

Cygnus