Requirements for Costa Ricans

The ETIAS visa waiver is the new EU Travel Information and Authorization System for Europe. The aim of the new system, which will be effective starting in 2021, is to improve border controls within the Schengen Area. Costa Ricans traveling to France for purposes such as leisure, family visits, or business meetings will need to obtain an ETIAS visa waiver prior to their travel.

Applying for an ETIAS France for Costa Ricans will be a very simple process, done entirely online in a matter of minutes. There will be no need for Costa Rican citizens to contact the French Embassy or one of the consulates in their country. For all new information regarding the ETIAS travel authorization, travelers are advised to regularly check the ETIAS France website for updates.

europe union for etias

ETIAS France Personal Information for Costa Rican Citizens

As part of the ETIAS application process, Costa Rican citizens will need to provide a number of personal and passport details and answer several health-related questions.

personal information
Personal and passport information that needs to be filled in the application form is:
  • Full name(s)
  • Country of birth
  • Date of birth
  • Nationality
  • Gender
  • Home address
  • Telephone number
  • Email address
  • Passport country
  • Passport number
  • Date of expiry of the passport
  • Date of issue of the passport
Travelers will also be asked questions pertaining to the reason of their visit to France, intended country of arrival (in this case France), their previous travels to Europe and past criminal record. All the security-related information will be checked against international databases such as Interpol and Europol in order to pre-screen for security threats.

It is essential that all the data is correct to the best of the applicant’s knowledge. Any failure to provide error-free information may result in longer processing times. In some cases, travel authorization may be denied.

Documents That I Need for France ETIAS

There are a number of ETIAS France requirements for Costa Ricans, including the following:

  • Having a passport valid for at least 3 months after submitting the application
  • Having an email address for receiving the necessary correspondence regarding the travel authorization and obtaining the ETIAS approval
  • Having an unexpired payment card (both credit and debit cards are accepted) for paying the visa waiver fee online
documentation

Medical Information for Costa Ricans

Costa Rican citizens who wish to apply for an ETIAS to visit France are strongly advised to purchase a comprehensive travel insurance. The insurance should provide coverage for medical evacuation and hospital stays in France. It is usually possible to fill in a treatment form called “feuille de soins” for reimbursement at a later date.

medical information
French medical system is very expensive and foreign travelers can be denied medical treatment if they are unable to pay upfront. The only exception are emergencies and visitors should call 15 for serious life-threatening situations or 122 for any type of emergency in order to receive immediate medical attention. For emergency treatments, visitors are not asked for prepayment.

Costa Rican travelers who are taking prescription medications need to check if they are legal in France and make sure they are in their original packaging, clearly labeled, and accompanied by the prescription.

The ETIAS for France Online Application

All travelers to France, including minors, need to submit an individual ETIAS application form through the ETIAS France website.

Once all the necessary information has been filled in and confirmed as correct, the applicant will be asked to pay a small processing fee. The payment will be done through a secure payment system online. The Costa Rican passport holder can then go ahead and submit the application. In most cases, the approval will be received in a matter of hours and within 72 hours at most. If the application is refused, the candidate will be informed of the reason for the refusal and instructed on how to proceed.
The ETIAS visa waiver must be printed out and presented to the immigration officer at the French border along with the Costa Rican passport. The authorization is valid for 3 years from the date of issue, for multiple visits of up to 3 months each. However, only one stay of 90 days is allowed within any 180 days period. Travelers who wish to remain in France longer need to apply for a visa according to the purpose of their stay.

Origin Embassy
Embassy of France in Costa Rica
De la Mitsubishi 200 m, 25 m west Curridabat, San José, Costa Rica
(+506) 22 34 41 67
Destination Embassy
Embassy of Costa Rica in France
4, Square Rapp, 75007 Paris, France
(+33) 1 4 578 9696
embcr-fr@rree.go.cr