Covid-19 Update. border reopening, traffic restrictions and immigration information

Covid 19 Update

As of July 24th, Costa Rica reported 540 new cases of Corona virus with a total of 13,669 confirmed cases. Currently, 3,505 people have recovered, 298 are hospitalized, 49 are in ICU, and a total of 87 deaths have been reported.

Borders Reopen August 1st

The government has announced that international air travel to Costa Rica will resume on August 1^st.  (The land borders with Panama and Nicaragua remain closed. )

Flights from the following countries and regions will be permitted to resume after that date:

• European Union
• United Kingdom
• Canada

(The United States was not included on the list and there is still no date when passenger flights will resume.)

All passengers traveling to Costa Rica will be required to:

• Present negative Covid-19 test results done within 48 hours of travel
• Purchase insurance which covers accommodations in case of quarantine or hospitalization
• Fill out digital epidemiological forms

Safe Destination Status by WTTC

The Minister of Tourism announced that Costa Rica has received the Stamp of Safe Destination to travel during COVID issued by the World Travel and Tourism Council

Tourist Visas and Immigration

Tourists who entered the country after December 17th, 2019 have been granted an extension on their visa until November 18th, 2020. This extension also allows foreigners to drive legally and use a valid foreign drivers licenses until that date.

Health and traffic restrictions

The current restrictions we have reported will be in place through July 31st, 2020. The country is still divided into orange and yellow alert regions.

• Orange Alert Regions 

Vehicles can only circulate from 5 AM to 5 PM seven days a week. These regions are currently in phase two.

• Yellow Alert Regions

Vehicles can circulate Monday through Friday from 5 AM to 10 PM and on Saturday and Sunday from 5 AM to 7 PM. These regions are currently in phase three.

Beaches in the yellow regions, will be allowed to be open from 5 AM to 230 PM after August 1st. There will also be a gradual reopening of businesses in the tourism sector after August 1st and open air tourism activities will be allowed in these areas, as long as sanitary precautions are taken.

(Information for this bulletin was referenced from La Nación, the US Embassy alerts, the Ministerio de Salud, and the Minsterio de la Presidencia.)