How Nigerians Can Get a Visa to Costa Rica

About Costa Rica

Costa Rica is a rugged, rainforested Central American country with coastlines on the Caribbean and Pacific. Its capital is San Jose, and is home to cultural institutions like the Pre-Columbian Gold Museum. The currency in use is the Costa Rican colon, and Spanish is the official language.

Costa Rica is known for its beaches, volcanoes, and biodiversity. Costa Rica is a major destination for nature travel, and this is due to its well-established system of national parks and protected areas.

Costa Rica has been estimated to contain about 5% of the world's biodiversity, and is ranked third in the world and first among the Americas in terms of the 2010 Environmental Performance Index. And the New Economics Foundation (NEF) ranked Costa Rica as the happiest nation in the world, both in 2009 and in 2012. This same organization (NEF) ranked Costa Rica as the "greenest" country in the world.

Types of Costa Rican Visa

There are a couple of visa types available to people who which to visit Costa Rica, and they depend on the purpose for which the visit is intended.

1. Tourist visa
2. Business visa
3. Study visa
4. Work visa

Where to Go

There seem to be no Costa Rican embassy in Nigeria, so if you plan on making a trip to Costa Rica you may need to first acquire a visa to such countries whose visas are valid in Costa Rica. If you hold a valid US, Canada, Japan, South Korea or Schengen visas you would not be needing a prior visa. The only conditions being that the visa must be valid for 3 months and should be stamped in your passport.

So you could obtain a visa to any of the above named countries from their respective embassies or consulates here in Nigeria, and with your passport bearing the country’s visa stamp access into the Costa Rican borders would be granted.

See other posts for addresses of embassies and consulates whose visas are accepted by the Costa Rican authorities.

Requirements

Below is a list of required documents that should accompany an application for a business visa to any country whose visa is valid in Costa Rica.

1. Visa application form (for the appropriate embassy) completely filled (in block letters) and signed.

2. Recent passport sized photographs which captures the full face with a light background is required.

3. National passport with validity exceeding the expected return date, with at least two blank pages.

4. Copy of the passports data sheet (page on which the photo is located).

5. Copies of your previous visas (if any).

6. A cover letter stating the purpose of visit and itinerary.

7. Flight Itinerary with dates and flight numbers specifying entry and exit.

8. Health Insurance. Proof of health insurance covering international travel.

9. Foreign Exchange or Credit Card copy. Applicant must provide Foreign Exchange or Credit Card copy.

10. Hotel reservation for the duration of the intended stay.

11. A proof of your civil status (marriage certificate, birth certificate of children, death certificate of spouse if applicable).

12. Proof of legal stay (if the application is not presented in the country of origin).

13. Proof of sufficient financial means for the period of stay.

14. Original Business letter, signed by the inviting company on the company letter paper, providing information about the travel purpose, specifying the type and desired validity of the visa. An ORIGINAL business invitation letter from the sponsoring company. Proof of previous trade relations between the two companies, if any exists.

15. Certificate of employment (if employed).

16. If you are retired please submit proof of your retirement fund.

17. A certificate from your employer stating/allowing your business travel (if employed).

18. Trade register excerpt or the like (for self-employed).

19. Bank statement for the last 3 months.

20. Proof of group travel (if the travel is going to done in a group).

21. Trade License (first issued and present renewal).

22. Visa fees for the appropriate country’s visa.

Costa Rica usually requires a valid Yellow fever certificate for arrivals from most neighboring countries. Entry/ boarding a flight may not be granted if the certificate is not presented (if you have the certificate you can have it emailed to the airline and then proceed to the local vaccination authority for duplicate certificate to be issued free of charge).

According to each individual case the competent embassy may request for additional documentation.

For further information, and all types of visas, please call or visit the appropriate embassy in Nigeria.