Do Indonesia passport holders need a visa to visit CR?
Indonesian ordinary passport holders need a visa for Costa Rica. Indonesia is a Group 3 "restricted" nationality, so a consular visa must be approved in advance by Costa Rica's Commission for Restricted Visas before travel. There is one major shortcut: if you already hold a valid multiple-entry US, Canada, Schengen, UK, or EEA visa or residence permit (the "substitute visa"), you can enter Costa Rica without applying for a Costa Rican visa. As of 2026, Costa Rica places Indonesia in Group 3 of its visa policy — the "restricted visa" category requiring prior authorization. Several travel blogs incorrectly list Indonesia as visa-free, but the authoritative Costa Rican visa policy (Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería / Ministry of Foreign Affairs, RREE) and IATA-aligned sources confirm a consular visa is mandatory. Restricted visas are not issued on arrival; the application is reviewed by the Comisión de Visas Restringidas y Refugio, typically takes several weeks to months, and is often filed through a relative or attorney resident in Costa Rica. The practical alternative used by most Indonesian travelers is the "substitute visa" provision: holders of a valid, multiple-entry visa or residence permit from the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, the European Union/EEA, Iceland, Norway, or Switzerland may enter Costa Rica visa-free for up to the validity of that document (generally framed as up to 180 days). A November 17, 2025 rule (Alcance N° 148 a La Gaceta N° 216) tightened these substitute-visa rules: Schengen visas must now have at least 90 days of remaining validity on arrival and the Costa Rica stay cannot exceed that remaining validity, while US/Canada multiple-entry visas need only be valid on the day of arrival (US green cards/visas other than B and D must have more than six months; C1/C2/C3 do not qualify). Conservatively, an Indonesian passport holder with no qualifying third-country visa must obtain a Costa Rican restricted visa before traveling.
VISA REQUIREDTOURISMSINGLE ENTRYLast verified 2026-05-30
For guidance only — visa rules change with little notice. Always confirm directly with the destination's embassy or foreign ministry before booking non-refundable travel. Information here applies to ordinary (non-diplomatic) passports unless noted.