COVID-19 Costa Rica 2023

We at CRIE would like to assure all our clients that we remain open for business and we are here for you. We created this resource page that we will maintain and keep updated for your benefit during this time.
If you have any questions, please contact us, and we’d be glad to help.

• What Should I Do?
• Home Delivery Services
• Mandatory Face Mask Requirement
• Borders, Tourists, and Foreign Residents
• What To Do If I Suspect I Have COVID-19?
• Where to Get Up-to-Date Information About COVID-19 in Costa Rica
• What Services Are Available from CRIE?

Please note that all information on this page is subject to change at any time. The situation changes constantly.

What Should I do?

Take Precautions

• Stay at home as much as possible if you are elderly or at higher risk due to medical conditions.
• If you go out, take precautions to keep your distance from others (at least 2 meters when possible), avoid crowds, and choose outdoor or well-ventilated spaces instead of enclosed ones when possible. Wear a mask or face covering where necessary, and be sure to wash your hands with soap and water when you return. Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer when soap and water are not available.

Stay Healthy!

Eating a good diet, doing physical activity, and looking after your mental health can make a big difference in preventing the saturation of medical facilities, whether for COVID-19 or other illnesses. Most COVID-19 hospitalizations are due to co-morbidities that you can significantly improve with a healthy lifestyle.

Help Where You Can

• NGOs (Non-Governmental Organizations) and Causes: A local Costa Rican private bank, BAC Credomatic, maintains a Yo Me Uno website with a list of local NGOs and causes. Learn more about each NGO and cause, donate, see if any operate in your local area, and get in touch to see how you can help. Examples include Lifting Hands, Fundación Lloverá Comida (Food Foundation), and Banco de Alimentos (Food Bank).
• Red Cross (Cruz Roja Costarricense): Many of the first responders of Costa Rica are part of the Red Cross. They receive minimal funding from the central government and need donations to maintain their operations. Due to the Covid-19 crisis, their resources have been stretched thin.
• Banco de Sangre (Blood Bank): Donating blood is a selfless act that can save up to 4 human lives per donation. With hospital rooms and ICU beds filled with patients, the need is greater than ever. Some of the requirements to donate – are being between the ages of 18 and 65, being a resident or citizen of CR with an up-to-date ID, and weighing at least 52 kg (114 pounds). Please call 2280-9952 ext.113 for more information and to book an appointment at the blood bank in San José or a local hospital in your area.
• Caja Solidaria (donations): Several supermarkets and stores such as AutoMercado, Mas x Menos, and Walmart offer care packages (food, supplies) with necessities given to families who need them most.

Read more about how you should protect yourself, and some other commonly asked questions at the World Health Organization’s Q&A on coronavirus (COVID-19).

Home Delivery Services

Fortunately, Costa Rica has a wide range of delivery services available, especially in the Greater Metropolitan Area of San José, such as:

• UberEats, Glovo, Rappi, Hugo (mobile delivery apps): note that these apps also include pharmacies, convenience stores, and other things besides just restaurants. Look for them on your mobile phone’s app store.
• Pricesmart delivery: available through Pricesmart.com or Rappi
• Automercado delivery
• Mas x Menos delivery
• Pharmacy delivery: Sucre En Linea, Fischel En Linea

Many local farmers’ markets, such as Feria Verde and Buena Tierra, also offer weekly delivery and pickup of fresh local produce. Be sure to contact your local store to see if they deliver.

Temporary Measures: Businesses and Activities

The Costa Rican authorities have taken steps to prevent the spread of the virus with a series of temporary measures for businesses and other activities.

Individual municipalities may limit or close any of these activities based on their criteria under the shared responsibility model.

ALL areas can be opened:

• Home delivery services, car rentals, bike rentals, gas stations, government agency offices, pay parking lots, lottery ticket vendors.
• Medical centers (clinics, pharmacies, doctor’s offices, diagnostics centers, emergency services, optical stores, natural wellness stores, mobile medical services, etc.), veterinarians, and drugstores.
• Daycare centers and centers for vulnerable persons.
• Hotels can be open at 100% capacity, with a 50% capacity limit in common areas such as restaurants, pools, and gyms.
• Workplaces not facing the public (offices, call centers, factories) can be open, but work from home is encouraged where possible.
• National parks, with entry tickets available online or at the park entrance.

ALL areas can be opened at 50% capacity:

• Farmer’s markets, bakeries, butcher shops, vegetable stands.
• Agricultural shops, aquarium shops, florists, hygiene product shops, and laundry services.
• Parts stores and repair shops for vehicles, motors, bicycles, agricultural and industrial machinery, locksmiths, glass shops, oil and lube shops, car washes, vehicle technical revision (RTV).
• Government agency service platforms, financial institutions, call centers, funeral homes.
• Beauty salons, barbershops, pet grooming.
• Animal-themed parks, botanical gardens, hot springs, marine parks (without implying access to beaches or swimming).

ALL areas can be opened seven days a week, 5 am – midnight, at 50% capacity where applicable:

• Supermarkets, mini markets, corner stores, and liquor stores.
• Restaurants, cafés, diners, food trucks, food courts, malls, shops, department stores, museums.
• Bars and hotel casinos.
• Event halls with a maximum of 500 people for company or academic events or 100 people for social events (200 if fully vaccinated group).
• Cinemas and theaters with a maximum of 500 people where spaces allow.
• Non-contact sporting facilities, art and dance academies, gyms, swim schools, shooting ranges, driving schools, livestock auctions.
• Places of worship, with a maximum of 500 people where spaces allow.
• Beaches and lakes, subject to ICT approval of municipal protocols, may only be opened from 5 am to 8 pm.
• Public parks can open at the municipality’s discretion (ORANGE ALERT areas must have a Prevention Plan in place).
• Open-air exercise and calisthenics areas (“open-air gyms”) in public parks can open in municipalities with a Prevention Plan in place.
• Amusement Parks (Parque Diversiones).
• Discotheques and nightclubs, bingo halls.

CLOSED in ALL areas until further notice:

• Concerts, public events, fairs, bullfighting, “topes,” community celebrations.
• Mass entertainment activities in malls and other commercial centers, conventions, commercial expositions.
• Art and cinema festivals, namely: Festival Internacional de Cine, Festival Nacional de las Artes.
• Religious events and processions.

Please see the complete list here (in Spanish).

Temporary Measures: Vehicle Restrictions

The Costa Rican authorities have taken steps to prevent the spread of the virus with a temporary plate number-based restriction on the circulation of motor vehicles.

Vehicle Restriction, until March 7:

• Vehicles can be on the road from 5 am to midnight.
• Vehicles with plate numbers ending in the following numbers will not be allowed in the downtown San José area (marked by the Ruta 39 – “Circunvalación” ring road):
  • Mondays: plate numbers ending in 1 and 2
  • Tuesdays: plate numbers ending in 3 and 4
  • Wednesdays: plate numbers ending in 5 and 6
  • Thursdays: plate numbers ending in 7 and 8
  • Fridays: plate numbers ending in 9 and 0

• A certain number of exceptions are in place for essential purposes such as commuting (with a specifically formatted letter of exception), official use, delivery services, emergencies, and more.

Mandatory Face Mask Requirement

The Costa Rican authorities have taken steps to prevent the spread of the virus with a temporary face mask ordinance. Face masks are required at all locations with a health permit.

Persons required to wear a face mask:

• Anyone serving the public.
• Passengers and drivers in any public transport such as bus, train or taxi, bus or train stations, and waiting at bus stops and taxi stands.
• All persons at places of worship, churchgoers, and officiators alike.
• Cinemas and theaters, except when eating or drinking.
• Visitors to health centers, jails, prisons, substance abuse centers, and centers that work with high-risk populations.
• Anyone taking care of the elderly and those with disabilities, especially at shelters, care homes, and other such centers.
• Customers at banks and financial institutions, public and private.
• Customers at supermarkets and shops.
• Anyone in an enclosed space, except when eating or drinking. It does not include private homes or places where only one person is unaccompanied.
• TV hosts can remove their face masks at least 3 meters away from any production equipment or other persons on set.
• In the case of gyms or other similar establishments, face masks must be worn by trainers and staff. Customers do not need to wear a mask, but a special mask meant for physical activity is recommended.
• Persons who work at call centers share cubicles or open workspaces.

Borders, Tourists, And Foreign Residents

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Tourists

Foreign tourists are allowed to enter Costa Rica under these conditions:

• Unvaccinated tourists must purchase insurance that covers COVID-19 hospitalization and accommodation, either through an authorized Costa Rican insurance provider or an international policy; and
• All tourists must complete an epidemiological form online.

Tourists who are under 18, as well as fully vaccinated tourists (Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech, AstraZeneca, or Johnson & Johnson) who received their last dose at least 14 days before arrival, no longer need to purchase travel insurance to enter Costa Rica. Proof of vaccination record is required.

Unvaccinated adult US residents can click here to purchase qualifying travel insurance.

Unvaccinated adult tourists from other countries can click here to purchase qualifying travel insurance.

Foreign Residents

Foreign residents returning to Costa Rica must meet the following conditions:

• They have a valid DIMEX card;
• They show proof that their CCSS status is up to date if unvaccinated**; and
• They complete an epidemiological form online.

**If unvaccinated residents cannot get their CCSS status up to date before arrival, they can instead purchase insurance that covers COVID-19 hospitalization and accommodation through an authorized Costa Rican insurance provider, valid for at least 22 days. During these 22 days, they must get their CCSS status up to date. Upon arrival, they will receive an administrative warning from immigration police on their record to reinforce this requirement.

Costa Rican Citizens

Costa Rican citizens cannot be denied entry but must complete an epidemiological form online.

What To Do If I Suspect To Have COVID-19?

If you have been in close contact with someone who was confirmed to have COVID-19, or you are experiencing symptoms consistent with COVID-19 infection, stay home and call your health provider for information and instructions.

If it’s an emergency (for example, if you’re having trouble breathing), call 9-1-1.

Where To Get Up-to-Date Information About COVID-19 In Costa Rica

Here are the most authoritative and up-to-date sources of information for the COVID-19 outbreak in Costa Rica:

– Ministerio de Salud (Health Ministry). We suggest following their Facebook page for updates.
– Casa Presidencial (Presidential House). We recommend following their Facebook page for updates.
– Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social (CCSS) (Social Security and Health Care Program). We offer to follow their Facebook page for updates.

Beware of Misinformation! Many of us are passing around misinformation on social media and text messages. It may be well-intentioned, but beware any information without references is suspect and may hurt you and others!

What Services Are Available From CRIE?

Immigration offices in Costa Rica have reopened in a limited capacity, by appointment only. CRIE can assist you in preparing new residency applications. Additionally, there are some services that we can provide at CRIE as of this writing, including:

• Citizenships / Naturalizations
• CCSS registration
• Bank account opening
• Fingerprint appointments
• Criminal record checks from the USA and Canada
• Renewals of most residencies
• Legal services through our network of independent attorneys and public notaries

Please contact us for assistance or more information.