Costa Rica reopening for tourists from EU, UK and Canada

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osta Rica opened its borders on August 1 to foreign tourists from the European Union, the United Kingdom, and Canada, Tourism Minister Gustavo Segura announced in July.

Visitors arriving from the Schengen Area, which comprises some countries, not in the EU, are also welcome, the Costa Rica Tourism Board (ICT) clarified.

The country expects to receive fewer than five commercial flights per week at the outset, Segura said, representing less than 1% of Costa Rica’s pre-coronavirus flight volume.

“These are drops of hope for more than 600,000 people who directly or indirectly depend on the tourism dynamic,” he said.

Costa Rica also announced measures to which tourists must adhere if they visit the country.

1. Tourists must complete and present an epidemiological survey.
2. Tourists must present proof of a negative PCR coronavirus test. The result must have been received within 48 hours before their travel to Costa Rica.
3. Tourists must acquire travel insurance that covers medical care or an unexpected extended hotel stay.
4. Tourists must follow all airport and local health protocols. This includes wearing a mask or face shield in nearly all indoor circumstances.

Costa Rica is also easing measures in Yellow Alert cantons. In those areas, beaches will remain open until 2:30 p.m. daily, and all open-air tourism activities (e.g. canopy tours, fishing, surfing lessons),  are permitted.

“These are steps that balance with the protection of Costa Ricans — their health and their lives,” Segura said.

The first flights arrived from Frankfurt, Germany, and Madrid, Spain, with offerings from the UK and Canada “in the coming months,” according to Casa Presidencial.

President Carlos Alvarado said Costa Rica is establishing its tourism protocols “with care, with precaution, but also with the commitment to give support to the sector.”

Costa Rica’s borders have been restricted since mid-March due to the coronavirus pandemic. During that time, Costa Rica has allowed only citizens and residents (with some exceptions) to enter the country.

Tourism comprises an estimated 8.2% of Costa Rica’s GDP.

In 2019, Costa Rica welcomed 3.1 million foreign visitors, 4.1% more than in 2018. Those tourists remained in the country for an average of 12.6 days and spent an average of $1,400, according to the ICT.

Last year, nearly 235,000 people visited Costa Rica from Canada, while more than 500,000 people arrived from Europe.

In 2019, more than 1.3 million tourists came to Costa Rica from the United States, more than any other single country by far. However, due to the North American nation’s surging case total, Costa Rica has not yet authorized commercial flights from the United States.

Q&A: Costa Rican Consulate answers questions about airport reopening

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he Costa Rican Consulate in Miami published answers to a series of frequently asked questions about the country’s reopening.

Below are the most pertinent questions and answers regarding Costa Rica’s new border policies, translated from this document shared by the Consulate.

From what countries is Costa Rica accepting commercial flights?

Starting August 1, commercial flights can arrive from the following countries:

Germany, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Lithuania, Liechtenstein, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, United Kingdom, Czech Republic, Sweden, Switzerland.

This list of authorized countries will be reevaluated every two weeks.

Will repatriation flights continue in August?

Yes, repatriation flights can continue to any country not on the above list. The most common repatriation flights have been to/from the United States and other Central American countries.

Can a passenger travel, for example, from the U.S. to Canada to then fly to Costa Rica?

A passenger can do this, as long as they remain in the authorized country (in this example, Canada) for at least 14 days without developing symptoms before flying to Costa Rica.

That is to say, a traveler can’t just have a layover in an authorized country.

Are there changes for citizens or residents?

The reopening also applies to residents in the authorized countries. That is to say, Costa Rica will allow entry to residents who live or are residing in those authorized countries.

Costa Rica will also allow entry to people of other nationalities who have remained in an authorized country for 14 days without presenting symptoms.

Can a Canadian, for example, fly to Costa Rica with a layover in the U.S.?

No, because flights from the U.S. are currently only operated as repatriation flights. It is not possible at the moment for a Canadian (or other nationality) to enter as a tourist via a repatriation flight.

Can a U.S. citizen fly to Canada and then enter Costa Rica?

A passenger can do this, as long as they remain in the authorized country (in this example, Canada) for at least 14 days without developing symptoms before flying to Costa Rica.

That is to say, a traveler can’t just have a layover in an authorized country.

Can private flights from an authorized country enter Costa Rica?

Yes, private flights can come from authorized countries with residents of that country. Similarly, private flights from authorized countries can bring residents of other countries, so long as those people were in the authorized country for 14 days before their flight to Costa Rica.

What about private flights from non-authorized countries?

The only flights that can enter from non-authorized countries are repatriation flights. For the moment, private/charter flights from the U.S. are not permitted unless they are transporting Costa Rican citizens or residents.

What are the requirements for entry to Costa Rica?

For tourists, there are three requirements:

1. Travel insurance that covers medical expenses of, at minimum, $50,000 and housing costs of at least $2,000. This insurance must cover medical expenses associated with COVID-19 and must be purchased prior to travel.
2. A negative coronavirus test. The sample for the test must be taken 48 hours (maximum) before the passenger departs for Costa Rica.
3. Complete the digital epidemiological form called “Pase de Salud.” (salud.go.cr)

Note that tourists must submit their insurance policy number and upload the result of their negative coronavirus test (as a PDF or JPG) as part of the epidemiological form.

Costa Ricans and residents only need to complete the “Pase de Salud” online form. They do not need to purchase insurance or show proof of a negative coronavirus test; however, a 14-day home isolation order will be enforced. They will also undergo a medical check at the airport.

What about travel insurance from a different country?

International trip insurance is now allowed, as long as it covers

medical expenses of, at minimum, $50,000 and housing costs of at least $2,000. This insurance must cover medical expenses associated with COVID-19 and must be purchased prior to travel.

Additionally, the insurance company needs to provide a signed statement/declaration (Declaracion Jurada) by the travel insurer, in PDF format, indicating that the travel insurance policy meets the requirements indicated above and that this policy covers this tourist or their family /group.

Once the validity of the insurance has been verified by the ICT (Costa Rican Tourism Institute), the ICT will generate a QR Code that must be sent to the passenger, which must be shown to the Immigration authorities upon entering the country.

Alternatively to a foreign/ international travel insurance, the national insurer INS (Costa Rican insurer) offers a travel insurance option as well, which costs around $US 131 for a 2-week stay for a 45-year old traveler.

Details on the travel insurance and how to purchase it please check here.

What about Costa Ricans and their spouses?

If the couple returns on a repatriation flight, the same requirement applies to both: They don’t have to purchase insurance or show a negative test result, but they will have to complete a 14-day home isolation.

If the couple is visiting the country, but do not live in Costa Rica (for instance, an Italian spouse of a Costa Rican who live in Italy), they must fulfill the requirements as if they were entering as tourists.

How long is the coronavirus test valid for entry?

The sample for the test must be taken a maximum of 48 hours before the flight to Costa Rica. That is, if the flight is August 5 at 2 p.m., the passenger must have the sample taken after August 3 at 2 p.m.

The test must be a PCR-RT test. The result must be in English or Spanish. A negative test is required for anyone ages 12 and older.

Who needs to self-isolate for 14 days?

Tourists will not be required to self-isolate (quarantine). Costa Ricans and residents, no matter where they come from, do not need to show a negative PCR-RT test nor travel insurance, but they will receive a 14-day home isolation order.

If a tourist is diagnosed with COVID-19 during their trip to Costa Rica, they will receive an isolation order at that point.

What if a trip if for less than 14 days?

For tourists, as there is no isolation order, the length of the trip is irrelevant.

However, if a tourist tests positive for the coronavirus, they will be issued a 14-day isolation order and cannot leave the country until it is complete. (The extended stay would be covered by their insurance plan.)

Costa Ricans and residents cannot leave the country until they complete the 14-day isolation mandated upon their arrival.

Violating a home-isolation order is punished by a fine of three or five base salaries. A base salary is currently valued at about $800.

Will the reentry rule for residents still be enforced?

All permanent or temporary residents who present their DIMEX will be allowed to enter Costa Rica, so long as they’re coming via a flight from an authorized country in which they’ve remained for 14 days.

Articles derived from the Tico Times, by Alejandro Zúñiga