Egypt to Costa Rica visa requirements

Yes, an Egyptian ordinary passport holder needs a visa for Costa Rica. Egypt is in Costa Rica's Group 3 (restricted visa) category, so you must obtain a consular "restricted visa" approved by the Commission for Restricted Visas (Comision de Visas Restringidas) before you travel. Apply at least 90 days ahead. The only no-visa shortcut is the November 2025 substitute-visa rule: if you already hold a valid multiple-entry US or Canadian visa/residence permit, or a Schengen visa with at least 90 days validity remaining, you may enter without a Costa Rican visa for up to 30 days. Costa Rica is not a Schengen country (it is in Central America) and operates a four-group visa system. Egypt is classified in Group 3, meaning Egyptian ordinary passport holders require a consular "restricted visa" that must be approved in advance by Costa Rica's Commission for Restricted Visas through the Directorate General of Migration (DGME). This is not an eVisa, visa-on-arrival, or ETA; it is a paper consular visa applied for at a Costa Rican embassy/consulate, and approval can take a minimum of 90 days, so applicants are advised to apply at least 90 days before travel and not to buy non-refundable tickets until approved. The standard consular fee is USD 52 (non-refundable). Approved visas are typically issued for an initial stay of 30 days (extendable up to 90 days at DGME inside the country), and you have 60 days from approval to enter. As of a November 2025 directive, Group 3 and 4 nationals (including Egyptians) may bypass the Costa Rican visa entirely if they hold a valid multiple-entry US or Canadian visa or residence permit, or a Schengen visa with at least 90 days of validity remaining on the date of entry. Because Costa Rica is outside the Schengen area, the Schengen 90/180 rule and ETIAS do not apply to entering Costa Rica itself (ETIAS only affects travel to Europe). Travelers should always confirm requirements directly with the nearest Costa Rican consulate, as the consulates nearest Egypt are in Tel Aviv and Amman, and group classifications can change.