Costa Rica passport → United Kingdom

United Kingdom visa for citizens of Costa Rica

eTAElectronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)

Citizens of Costa Rica don't need a visa for the United Kingdom but must get an electronic travel authorization (eTA) online before travelling.

Official application site

Verified · Last checked 2026-09-04. Policies change. Confirm with the embassy or official visa portal before you travel.

Key facts

Entry route	eTA · Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)
How to apply	Electronic travel authorization (online)
Entries	Multiple entry
Government fee	£20

How to apply

1
Apply online or through the UK ETA app
Use the GOV.UK online application or the UK ETA mobile application.
2
Provide passport and applicant information
Use the passport you will travel with, provide an email address and payment method, and provide the applicant's facial image. Online applicants provide a passport photo; app applicants scan the passport, with a photo used if scanning fails.
3
Await the decision
A decision is usually sent by email within a day, but can take up to 3 working days.
4
Wait for confirmation before travel
Wait until the email confirms that an ETA has been granted.
5
Travel with the linked passport and seek entry permission
The ETA is linked to the passport used in the application; the holder must obtain permission to enter as a Visitor on arrival.

Documents checklist

Identity

National passport
Must establish identity and nationality and be the passport used for travel.
Photo of passport
Required for online applications; the app scans the passport and uses a passport photo if scanning fails.
Facial image of applicant
Required through the ETA application process.

Financial

Credit card, debit card, Apple Pay or Google Pay
Payment method for the ETA fee.

Supporting

Email address
Must be usable by the Home Office to contact the applicant.

Good to know

An ETA does not guarantee entry to the UK.
For tourism, an ETA permits travel to the UK for up to 6 months, subject to permission to enter.
An ETA lasts for 2 years or until the passport expires, whichever is sooner; validityDays remains null because the rule is not expressed as a fixed integer.
A valid ETA permits multiple journeys to the UK.
The holder must obtain permission to enter on arrival; an ETA refusal is not itself a refusal of permission to enter, but a visa is required if the person wishes to travel after refusal.
The holder cannot stay in the UK for longer than 6 months.
Paid or unpaid work for a UK company or self-employment is not permitted, except for a permitted paid engagement or event or work on the Creative Worker visa concession.
Frequent or successive visits cannot be used to live in the UK.
The ETA is valid only when the holder travels using the passport specified in the ETA application.

Common refusal reasons

Exclusion or deportation order: the applicant is personally directed to be excluded, subject to an exclusion order, or subject to a deportation order or decision to make one.

Criminality: the applicant has a UK or overseas conviction with a custodial or suspended sentence of 12 months or more, or has any UK or overseas conviction unless more than 12 months have passed since the conviction date.

Non-conducive presence: the applicant's presence in the UK is not conducive to the public good because of conduct, character, associations or other reasons, including convictions outside the criminality grounds.

Previous immigration breach under ETA 2.4 when the applicant was aged 18 or older: overstaying, unless permission was subsequently granted with knowledge of the overstaying; voluntary departure without state expense after an overstay of 90 days or less beginning before 6 April 2017, 30 days or less beginning on or after 6 April 2017, or an overstay covered by the Exceptions for overstayers section; breaching a condition, illegal entry or deception also applies unless the relevant later permission or entry clearance was granted with knowledge of the breach, entry or deception.

False representations or failure to disclose relevant facts in the current or a previous ETA application, including false documents or false information whether or not relevant to the application or known to the applicant.

Failure to pay litigation costs awarded to the Home Office.

Previous ETA cancellation under ETA 5.8, unless entry clearance or permission to enter or stay was subsequently granted with knowledge of the cancellation.

Previous refusal under Appendix V: Visitor, unless a valid ETA, entry clearance or permission was held and was not cancelled as a result of that refusal, or was subsequently granted with knowledge of that refusal.

Failure to meet ETA validity requirements: the application is invalid and must be rejected without consideration.

FAQ

Do citizens of Costa Rica need a visa for the United Kingdom?

Citizens of Costa Rica don't need a visa for the United Kingdom but must get an electronic travel authorization (eTA) online before travelling. Visa type: Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA).

How much does the United Kingdom visa cost for citizens of Costa Rica?

Government fee: £20.

What documents do citizens of Costa Rica need for the United Kingdom?

National passport; Photo of passport; Facial image of applicant; Email address; Credit card, debit card, Apple Pay or Google Pay.

Where do I apply?

On the official site: https://www.gov.uk/eta/apply

Sources

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