Costa Rica is one of the countries for which no separate visa is required. This will change with the introduction of ETIAS. However, the effort is minimal and can be done by people who are not so digitally savvy.
Key facts about Costa Rica at a glance
The name comes from the Spanish and means 'rich coast'. The country is located in Central America, bordering Nicaragua to the north and Panama to the south. It borders the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. A total of 5.2 million people live in an area of 51,100 square kilometres. The country is one of the most developed in Latin America. The capital is San José.
A brief history of Costa Rica
The following brief history focuses on the period after Christopher Columbus discovered Costa Rica, although Costa Rica has a long and well-researched history before that.
Christopher Columbus discovered Costa Rica in 1502 on his fourth voyage. Columbus had already reported rich gold deposits, so many explorers and adventurers soon came to the country. After colonisation by the Spanish, Costa Rica became part of the Viceroyalty of New Granada. Overall, Costa Rica remained untouched by Spanish rule. This was particularly beneficial to the indigenous population, who were able to retain much of their language and culture. Independence from Spain gave Costa Rica an early stability that it has maintained to this day.
In the 19th century, Costa Rica was part of the Central American Confederation, but this did not last long. In 1848, Costa Rica gained its independence and became a liberal democracy. In the years and decades that followed, there were several presidents, but the country remained stable.
In 1948, then President José Figueres Ferrer led the democratic revolution. He gave Costa Rica a new constitution and abolished the military. The new constitution strengthened individual rights and freedoms. The reforms were instrumental in stabilising the country.
Costa Rica's positive development continued into the 21st century. Costa Rica remains one of the most stable countries in Central and South America.
Political System in Costa Rica
The government consists of the President, Vice President and Ministers. The President is directly elected by the people for a four-year term and cannot be directly re-elected twice. He is both Head of State and Head of Government. If the President is unable to perform his duties, the Vice-President takes over. Otherwise, he assists the President in his duties.
The President appoints the ministers, the number of which is not fixed. There are usually 22.
The unicameral parliament in Costa Rica is called the Asamblea Legislativa and consists of 57 members. Like the president, they are elected for four years.
The judiciary in Costa Rica is independent. The highest court is the Supreme Court (Tribunal Supremo), which consists of 22 judges. They are elected by Parliament for a term of eight years. There are also a number of specialised courts, such as the Labour Court, the Administrative Court and the Constitutional Court.
Entering the Schengen Area from Costa Rica with ETIAS
Those wishing to travel to the Schengen area from Costa Rica currently only need a passport. Entry is possible without any problems. However, this is not without its dangers, as not everyone wants to travel to the Schengen area just to do business or go on holiday. Time and again, people with criminal intentions enter the country. To prevent this, the authorities are introducing ETIAS. Every traveller has to register before crossing the border. Anyone who has travelled to the United States knows the procedure, as the ESTA, which works in a similar way, has been in place there for several years.
ETIAS can only be completed online. If you don't have a computer and a terminal at home, you can have friends, relatives or an agency fill out the form for you. It is not yet clear whether it will be possible to upload your passport, as is the case with ESTA. Even if it is, the traveller cannot be sure that all the information will be transmitted correctly. In particular, the name and passport number must match, otherwise the ETIAS will be invalid and the officer will refuse entry. It is possible to submit a new application at the border, but it is doubtful that this will arrive in time for the call from Costa Rica.
Once the application has been sent, it usually takes one to two hours for the ETIAS to be approved. Only in a few justified cases is the application rejected. The traveller can usually appeal. However, as this can take some time, it is advisable to submit the ETIAS application well in advance of entry. If the application is rejected, there is still time to apply for a Schengen visa at the consulate.
ETIAS makes Schengen travel safer
Travelling is never completely safe. Even those who travel to countries as safe as the Schengen area cannot be completely sure that they will not be involved in a crime or become a victim of an attack. ETIAS makes travel to the Schengen area safer overall by preventing the entry of people with a history of criminal and/or terrorist activity. Filling in the form may be inconvenient for the individual, but it only takes a few minutes. In return, the tourist receives an enormous gain in security.
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Costa Rica is one of the countries for which no separate visa is required. This will change with the introduction of ETIAS. However, the effort is minimal and can be done by people who are not so digitally savvy.
Key facts about Costa Rica at a glance
The name comes from the Spanish and means 'rich coast'. The country is located in Central America, bordering Nicaragua to the north and Panama to the south. It borders the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. A total of 5.2 million people live in an area of 51,100 square kilometres. The country is one of the most developed in Latin America. The capital is San José.
A brief history of Costa Rica
The following brief history focuses on the period after Christopher Columbus discovered Costa Rica, although Costa Rica has a long and well-researched history before that.
Christopher Columbus discovered Costa Rica in 1502 on his fourth voyage. Columbus had already reported rich gold deposits, so many explorers and adventurers soon came to the country. After colonisation by the Spanish, Costa Rica became part of the Viceroyalty of New Granada. Overall, Costa Rica remained untouched by Spanish rule. This was particularly beneficial to the indigenous population, who were able to retain much of their language and culture. Independence from Spain gave Costa Rica an early stability that it has maintained to this day.
In the 19th century, Costa Rica was part of the Central American Confederation, but this did not last long. In 1848, Costa Rica gained its independence and became a liberal democracy. In the years and decades that followed, there were several presidents, but the country remained stable.
In 1948, then President José Figueres Ferrer led the democratic revolution. He gave Costa Rica a new constitution and abolished the military. The new constitution strengthened individual rights and freedoms. The reforms were instrumental in stabilising the country.
Costa Rica's positive development continued into the 21st century. Costa Rica remains one of the most stable countries in Central and South America.
Political System in Costa Rica
The government consists of the President, Vice President and Ministers. The President is directly elected by the people for a four-year term and cannot be directly re-elected twice. He is both Head of State and Head of Government. If the President is unable to perform his duties, the Vice-President takes over. Otherwise, he assists the President in his duties.
The President appoints the ministers, the number of which is not fixed. There are usually 22.
The unicameral parliament in Costa Rica is called the Asamblea Legislativa and consists of 57 members. Like the president, they are elected for four years.
The judiciary in Costa Rica is independent. The highest court is the Supreme Court (Tribunal Supremo), which consists of 22 judges. They are elected by Parliament for a term of eight years. There are also a number of specialised courts, such as the Labour Court, the Administrative Court and the Constitutional Court.
Entering the Schengen Area from Costa Rica with ETIAS
Those wishing to travel to the Schengen area from Costa Rica currently only need a passport. Entry is possible without any problems. However, this is not without its dangers, as not everyone wants to travel to the Schengen area just to do business or go on holiday. Time and again, people with criminal intentions enter the country. To prevent this, the authorities are introducing ETIAS. Every traveller has to register before crossing the border. Anyone who has travelled to the United States knows the procedure, as the ESTA, which works in a similar way, has been in place there for several years.
ETIAS can only be completed online. If you don't have a computer and a terminal at home, you can have friends, relatives or an agency fill out the form for you. It is not yet clear whether it will be possible to upload your passport, as is the case with ESTA. Even if it is, the traveller cannot be sure that all the information will be transmitted correctly. In particular, the name and passport number must match, otherwise the ETIAS will be invalid and the officer will refuse entry. It is possible to submit a new application at the border, but it is doubtful that this will arrive in time for the call from Costa Rica.
Once the application has been sent, it usually takes one to two hours for the ETIAS to be approved. Only in a few justified cases is the application rejected. The traveller can usually appeal. However, as this can take some time, it is advisable to submit the ETIAS application well in advance of entry. If the application is rejected, there is still time to apply for a Schengen visa at the consulate.
ETIAS makes Schengen travel safer
Travelling is never completely safe. Even those who travel to countries as safe as the Schengen area cannot be completely sure that they will not be involved in a crime or become a victim of an attack. ETIAS makes travel to the Schengen area safer overall by preventing the entry of people with a history of criminal and/or terrorist activity. Filling in the form may be inconvenient for the individual, but it only takes a few minutes. In return, the tourist receives an enormous gain in security.