Emigrating from Cuba: Visa and Flights to Costa Rica

Looking to emigrate during these times of crisis? Visas and flights to Costa Rica from Cuba: a complete guide to applying for a tourist visa.

If you're thinking of traveling to Costa Rica from Cuba, it's important to know the steps and requirements for applying for a Tourist Visa.

This visa, which is granted to Cuban citizens who wish to enter the country for tourism or professional purposes without remuneration, is a restricted non-resident visa. That is, its primary purpose is for recreational, business, or professional activities, as long as they do not involve any type of profit within Costa Rican territory.

To obtain a Tourist Visa, Cuban citizens must apply directly at the Costa Rican Consulate in Cuba.

The process begins with a request for an appointment by phone at 7204-6937 or by email at [email protected]Once the appointment has been obtained, the applicant must present a series of documents at the consular office to begin their application.

Requirements to Apply for a Tourist Visa from Cuba to Costa Rica in 2025

The Tourist Visa application requires submitting various documents that prove both the applicant's identity and financial solvency. The main requirements include:

1. Letter of request addressed to the Consul detailing relevant information such as full name, passport number, reason for travel, and place of residence in Costa Rica.
2. Valid passport with a minimum validity of six months, in addition to a legalized and consularized copy of the passport.
3. Return flight reservation or continuation of the journey.
4. Documents that demonstrate financial solvency, such as bank statements, letters from employers, or evidence of property.
5. Legal certificates, such as criminal records and family relationship certificates if the request is made by a relative residing in Costa Rica.

In addition to these basic documents, the applicant will present Other additional requirements depending on your situation, such as proof of employment, financial solvency, property, or, in the case of students, academic certifications.

Costs and processing times

The process involves several associated costs. These include the fee for consular processing of documents (approximately $40 USD per document) and the $380 USD security deposit if the visa is approved.

Visa stamping in the passport, once approved, has an additional cost of $52 USD.

The estimated processing time for a visa application is up to 90 days, after which the applicant will be notified of the decision. If the visa is approved, the applicant must pay the corresponding fee to have the visa stamped in their passport.

Flights to Costa Rica from Cuba

Once you have obtained your visa, the next step is to plan your flight to Costa Rica. Several airlines operate flights to Central America, primarily from Havana, such as Copa Airlines and Conviasa, which connect to Panama and Nicaragua. Currently, there are no direct connections between Havana and San José.

For more details on the requirements, procedures, and deadlines for applying for a Tourist Visa, please contact the Costa Rican Consulate in Cuba directly.

The consular office is located in Miramar, Havana, and its opening hours are fromuneFriday from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm and from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm.