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South Africa Visa Requirements for Costa Rica Citizens

Visa-free · 30 days

Costa Rica passport holders do not need a visa to visit South Africa for stays of up to 30 days.

Source: Department of Home Affairs — Countries exempt from South African visas (Visa Exemption List, issued 9 December 2025) · checked 13 Oct 2026

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What the South Africa visa rules mean for Costa Rica travellers

Costa Rica citizens can enter South Africa without a visa and stay for up to 30 days. You only need a valid Costa Rica passport at the border; immigration officers may still ask for a return or onward ticket, proof of accommodation and enough money for your stay. The 30-day limit usually counts calendar days from your arrival, so book your return flight inside that window.

Documents to prepare

Whatever your visa status, South Africa applies the same entry conditions to every traveller:

  • Passport validity: Home Affairs lists a passport or travel document valid for no less than 30 days after the expiry of the intended visit, with at least one unused page for entry and departure endorsements, among the documents required to…
  • Blank passport pages: Your passport needs at least 1 blank page.
  • Vaccinations: Yellow fever: Home Affairs lists yellow fever certificates among the requirements for entering South Africa if your journey starts in or passes through the yellow fever belt of Africa or South America.
  • Travel insurance: No official source we could read states a travel insurance requirement for South Africa.

South Africa entry rules compared

South Africa lets 93 passports in without a visa and requires an embassy visa from 105. Costa Rica citizens are treated the same way as Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados and Belize. Overall the Costa Rica passport ranks #67 in the world with 91 visa-free destinations.

More travel options

Planning a longer trip in Africa? With a Costa Rica passport you can also visit 3 countries in the region without a visa, including Botswana, Tunisia and Zambia.

In the other direction, South Africa citizens can visit Costa Rica visa-free for up to 180 days.

Flag of South AfricaEntry requirements for South Africa

Passport validity

30 days

Home Affairs lists a passport or travel document valid for no less than 30 days after the expiry of the intended visit, with at least one unused page for entry and departure endorsements, among the documents required to apply for a visa; for entering South Africa it lists a valid passport for the intended stay with at least one blank page for endorsements. The UK government says British passports must have an expiry date at least 30 days after the date you leave and at least 2 blank pages.

Department of Home Affairs — Types of Visas✓ Checked 13 Oct 2026

Arrival cards and declarations: SARS online traveller declaration

SARS says that from 1 July 2026 travellers entering or leaving South Africa must submit their traveller declaration online before they travel, unless they qualify for one of the limited paper-based exceptions. It can be done on the SARS website, the SATMS app or the SARS MobiApp; a declaration must be submitted for each person travelling, travellers with children must complete it on their behalf, and the emailed confirmation should be printed or saved for when it is requested.

South African Revenue Service — Customs Online Traveller Declaration✓ Checked 13 Oct 2026

Overstay penalties

12 months

Under the Immigration Act, a foreigner who leaves South Africa after the visa has expired is dealt with under section 30(1)(h), which covers a person who has overstayed the prescribed number of times. Under the Immigration Regulations, an overstayer may be declared undesirable for 12 months if the overstay does not exceed 30 days, for two years for a second overstay within 24 months, and for five years if the overstay exceeds 30 days. The overstay is counted from the date of expiry of the last valid visa. Anyone who enters, remains in or departs from the Republic in contravention of the Act commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine or to imprisonment of up to two years. The Act does not state the fine amount. A person declared undesirable under these sections must submit a written representation to the Department of Home Affairs.

Department of Home Affairs — Immigration Regulations, 2014 (updated 2018)✓ Checked 13 Oct 2026

Customs allowances

SARS says excess currency is any amount above R100,000, or foreign currency convertible to more than R100,000, and that travellers must obtain written permission from the South African Reserve Bank before entering or leaving South Africa with it. It says travellers may declare the currency in their possession on a voluntary basis, on the online traveller declaration or the manual form TD-01.

South African Revenue Service — Travellers (excess currency)✓ Checked 13 Oct 2026

Frequently asked questions

Do Costa Rican citizens need a visa for South Africa?

Costa Rica passport holders do not need a visa to visit South Africa for stays of up to 30 days.

How long can Costa Rica citizens stay in South Africa?

Up to 30 days without a visa. Overstaying can lead to fines, deportation and an entry ban.

How long must my passport be valid to enter South Africa?

Home Affairs lists a passport or travel document valid for no less than 30 days after the expiry of the intended visit, with at least one unused page for entry and departure endorsements, among the documents required to apply for a visa; for entering South Africa it lists a valid passport for the intended stay with at least one blank page for endorsements. The UK government says British passports must have an expiry date at least 30 days after the date you leave and at least 2 blank pages.

Data: TravelRequirements.info — Entry Requirements Dataset, AXG Sp. z o.o. (CC BY 4.0). Entry rules can change — confirm with official sources before travel.

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See also: South Africa requirements for other passports

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