Do France passport holders need a visa to visit CR?

No visa needed. French ordinary passport holders are in Costa Rica's Group One and may enter visa-free for tourism for up to 180 days per visit. France is classified in Group One of Costa Rica's visa policy (as an EU member state), the most favorable category. French ordinary passport holders do not need a visa for tourism or short visits and receive an entry stamp on arrival. Since a September 2023 resolution by the General Directorate of Migration (DGME), the maximum stay for Group One visitors is up to 180 days per visit, though the exact number of days granted is at the discretion of the immigration officer at the port of entry. Travelers must hold a passport valid on the date of entry (Group One requires only one day of validity, but six months is widely recommended to avoid issues), proof of onward or return travel out of Costa Rica, and evidence of sufficient funds (about US$100 per month of stay). Costa Rica is in Central America and is not part of the Schengen Area, so the Schengen 90/180 rule and the EU's ETIAS scheme do not apply to travel INTO Costa Rica. A November 2025 DGME resolution adjusted rules for certain visa-dependent nationalities (US/Canada and Schengen visa holders, Honduras reclassification) but did not change France's Group One visa-free status.