Austria to Costa Rica visa requirements

Austrian (ordinary) passport holders do NOT need a visa for tourism in Costa Rica. Austria is a Group 1 country, so travelers are admitted visa-free and may stay up to 180 days per visit (granted at the immigration officer's discretion). Costa Rica is not in the Schengen area, so no ETIAS or Schengen 90/180 rules apply to entering it; rather, Costa Rica itself classifies foreign nationals into entry groups. Austria, as an EU member, falls under Costa Rica's most-favored "Group 1," which is visa-exempt for tourism and business. Under a government resolution that took effect in 2023 and was reaffirmed in the November 2025 update, Group 1 visitors may be admitted for up to 180 days per visit, an increase from the former 90-day cap. No advance visa, eVisa, ETA, or visa-on-arrival is needed: an Austrian arrives, presents a valid passport, and receives an entry stamp. The actual number of days stamped is at the discretion of the immigration officer, who may grant fewer than 180 days. Travelers must be prepared to show proof of onward/return travel and evidence of sufficient funds (roughly USD 100 per month of intended stay). Costa Rica abolished its mandatory exit/departure tax collection at the border for most travelers, though an airport departure fee is typically bundled into airline tickets. No COVID-19 entry requirements remain as of 2026. Passport validity should comfortably cover the trip (six months is the safe, widely recommended standard, although the published rule requires validity for only the day of arrival). Overstaying or "perpetual tourism" by repeated back-to-back entries can draw scrutiny and reduced stamp durations.