Do UAE passport holders need a visa to visit CR?
No visa required. United Arab Emirates ordinary passport holders are in Costa Rica's First Group of visa-exempt nationalities and can enter for tourism without a visa, receiving an entry stamp for up to 180 days at the port of entry. United Arab Emirates ordinary passport holders do not need a visa to visit Costa Rica for tourism. The UAE is classified in Costa Rica's First Group of visa-exempt countries (alongside the EU, UK, USA, Canada, Japan, Australia and others), which permits a visa-free tourist stay of up to 180 calendar days, non-extendable. The exact number of days granted is decided by the immigration officer at the point of entry and is stamped directly into the passport; in practice stamps are frequently issued for less than the full 180 days, so travelers should keep proof of onward travel within their intended window. Costa Rica is a Central American country and is NOT part of the Schengen area, so the Schengen 90/180 rule and ETIAS do not apply to this route. Entry conditions include a machine-readable passport, proof of onward or return travel out of Costa Rica, and proof of sufficient funds (a minimum of US$100 per month of intended stay). There is no tourist visa fee for visa-exempt nationals. There is no eVisa, ETA or visa-on-arrival process to complete in advance for tourism. This verdict was verified against the Costa Rican immigration framework via Wikipedia's visa-policy summary, the Visit Costa Rica official tourism board entry-requirements page, and the Embassy of Costa Rica's published guidance for UAE nationals (current as of 2026-05-31).
VISA-FREETOURISMSINGLE 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.
UAE (Golden Visa)Living in UAE as a permanent resident? See PR-specific guidance→