Visa Requirements
Do Costa Rican citizens need a visa for Nicaragua?
Official Requirement
Visa-free
for Costa Rica citizens travelling to Nicaragua
Many nationalities may visit Nicaragua for tourism without a visa for up to 90 days. Nicaragua is a member of the CA-4 Border Control Agreement, and time spent in Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras counts towards the same 90-day allowance. Visitors must hold an onward or return ticket and an entry fee is payable on arrival.
Last checked 5 months ago (19 April 2026)
We are not a government authority. Requirements change without notice. Always verify with the official consulate link before travel.
No visa needed for this trip
Costa Rica passport holders can enter Nicaragua for short visits without a visa. Check that your passport stays valid for the whole stay, carry proof of onward travel, and confirm the current entry conditions on the official source before you fly.
Official Nicaragua entry requirements →
Lake Nicaragua
At a glance
Key facts for Costa Rican citizens visiting Nicaragua
- Requirement
- Visa-free
- Maximum stay
- Up to 90 days
- Official source
- Official source for this route →
Step by step
How Costa Rican citizens enter Nicaragua
Check your passport is valid for the whole trip. Many countries also want it valid for a period beyond your departure date, so confirm the exact rule on the official page below.
Plan a trip of 90 days or fewer. Beyond that, Nicaragua needs a different permission and this page does not cover it.
Carry proof of onward or return travel and of where you are staying. Border officers ask for both, and an airline can refuse boarding without them.
Check the requirement again close to your departure date. This route was last checked on 19 April 2026, and rules change without notice.
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Practical Info
Travel Essentials
Questions
What Costa Rican citizens ask about entering Nicaragua
No. Costa Rican citizens can enter Nicaragua without a visa for a short tourist or business visit. This was last checked on 19 April 2026.
Up to 90 days on this entry route. A longer trip needs a different permission, which this page does not cover. A border officer decides the length granted on the day.
A passport valid for the trip, proof of onward or return travel, and proof of where you are staying. Officers can ask for evidence that you can support yourself for the visit. Entry is always the officer's decision, whatever the paperwork says.
Nicaragua uses NIO. Check the rate before you exchange anything at the airport, where the spread is usually widest.
Changes to this route
No changes recorded since the first check on 19 April 2026.
Full change history for this route →