Thailand visa requirements for Costa Rican citizens

Royal Thai Embassy in Santiago, Chile, which covers Costa Rica, through the e-Visa platform (thaievisa.go.th)

Since 15 September 2026 Costa Ricans with an ordinary passport must apply for a visa for Thailand, tourism included, following the Thai Ministry of Interior's rule change. Thailand has no embassy in Costa Rica: applications are decided by the Royal Thai Embassy in Santiago, Chile, which covers Chile, Panama, Costa Rica and El Salvador. It is done at thaievisa.go.th, with no embassy visit or paper documents unless the applicant is called for an interview. Anyone in one of those four countries can apply; a Costa Rican living in Costa Rica proves location with their national ID card, a utility bill from the last month or a driving licence. A Costa Rican outside those countries must go to the Thai embassy of the country where they are. The single-entry tourist visa costs 40 USD, paid online by Visa or Mastercard, is valid for three months and allows a 60-day stay. The embassy asks for a return ticket or booking, hotel bookings for the whole stay and statements for the last three months showing a balance of about 600 USD or more. Processing takes 10 to 15 working days; the embassy recommends applying at least one month ahead and no more than three.

Official application site →

Authorisation system

TDAC: Thailand Digital Arrival Card (not a visa)

Mandatory for all foreigners entering Thailand since 1 May 2025, replacing the old paper TM6 card. It is not an ETA-type travel authorisation: it is an arrival card with a basic health and accommodation declaration. It is free and is submitted online within the three days before arrival.

Apply on the official site →

Fee

40 USD

Amount published by the consular post that handles this corridor; the country page may give another consulate's figure.

Processing time

TDAC: less than 5 minutes. Consular visa processing time, when applicable, not verified.

Required documents

• A passport valid for at least 6 months with at least 2 blank pages, both when entering and when leaving Thailand
• A Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) submitted online within the 3 days before arrival. It is mandatory for every entry and for every nationality, including visa-exempt entry; it is free and does not replace a visa
• Proof of accommodation, which the immigration officer may ask for at the border

Health insurance

Not mandatory for this destination.

When travel insurance is mandatory → Travel insurance policies ↓

Transit rules

The line Thailand draws is 12 hours, and whether or not you clear immigration. If you stay inside the airport transit area and your connection is under 12 hours, you need no visa. The moment you have to clear immigration: to collect baggage, change terminal, or because the connection runs over 12 hours: a transit visa is required, unless your nationality falls under the tourist visa exemption. The TDAC follows the same logic: not needed if you do not clear immigration; required if you leave the airport.