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FutureTico · Joined: 31 Jul 2007 Posts: 2

Hey all! I'll be arriving in Costa Rica in just under two weeks, and I wanted to make sure of something important before I get there. I've been reading that when you leave (after initial 3 mo. tourist visa expires), you have to be gone for 72 hours, and that when you come back in, you have to show proof of future departure (i.e., bus ticket back out, or what have you).

Does that also apply on the way in, the first time? Just to make sure I'm clear, I'll be coming in on a one-way plane ticket with my girlfriend. Will they allow me into the country without some sort of "ticket out," or is that only for returning the 2nd, 3rd, etc, time after a 72 hour "vacation" elsewhere?

Hope that makes sense, and hope someone out there can help. It would suck big-time to get there only to be held at customs or something like that... Sad

OleLarssen · Joined: 26 Apr 2006 Posts: 337

Nobody I know has been asked to show a return ticket. You should, technically speaking, be in possession of one, but ... it's Costa Rica, not the Third Reich.

FutureTico · Joined: 31 Jul 2007 Posts: 2

Heh, good point!

It's just that I was reading a blog the other day about someone being asked (on return from Nicaragua) to show their return ticket at the border, so he had to go to a nearby convenience store and purchase a $5.00 bus ticket from the border of somewhere in CR to somewhere nearby in Nicaragua. Obviously he never used it, though. Razz

Either way, I won't worry about it if other people don't, and thanks for the info... Cool

OleLarssen · Joined: 26 Apr 2006 Posts: 337

You sometimes get asked to show an onward ticket on the land borders, yes. I've never heard about it happening on the airport, though there are plenty of ticket providers that refuse to sell you a one-way ticket to CR.