Do minor children require a visa if their parents enter Costa Rica on student visas?
I am planning a semester stay in Costa Rica with my family for language school and volunteer work. I think I'm fairly informed about the residency statuses and the mechanics of the 90-day tourist visa (extended by the 72-hour shuffle to Nicaragua or Panama), and I was hoping to get student visas for my wife and myself so that we could avoid the logistic hassle of that shuffle.
However, what I haven't yet been able to find a clear answer about is whether all my children also need student visas, or if a parent's visa is good enough for them to enter. What will be required for my children aside from valid passports, if anything?
My family and I are US citizens.
Best Answer
I suppose I could have done this before posting, but maybe the answer here will be helpful to someone else. I called the consulate of Costa Rica in Houston, Tx and asked this question. Their answer was that "yes, they have to all have visas or else they would be illegal."
I got a little chuckle out of the phrase, "they would be illegal", but there it is: children also have to have visas for entry.
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Can a minor travel to Costa Rica?
Note: Minors who are not Costa Rican nationals nor legal residents in Costa Rica do not require a permit from the parents to enter/exit Costa Rica. However, they require a letter of consent duly notarized from the parent who is not accompanying the minor.Can children travel to Costa Rica without a passport?
All adults and children require the following documents to enter Costa Rica: A passport valid for at least 30 days (expiration date has to be 30 days or more after arrival date). In the case of minors, if they do not have a passport, they should be included in the passport of one of the parents.Do minors need a visa?
Q: Do children need a visa? A: All travelers, including children, need a visa to travel to the United States or must qualify to travel without a visa through a special program, such as the Visa Waiver Program.Who needs a visa for Costa Rica?
Foreign nationals who need a Costa Rica Consular Visa (Third group)AlbaniaAlgeriaArab DemocraticBosnia and HerzegovinaBotswanaBurkina Faso (Upper Volta)CambodiaCameroonCentral African RepublicColombiaComorosDemocratic Republic of LaosDominican RepublicEast TimorEgypt14 more rowsLatest Immigration Program Updates for 2022-2023 Year
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