United Kingdom e-Visa for citizens of Costa Rica: online application, fees and processing time 2026
Yes, an e-Visa is required: citizens of Costa Rica apply online before departure, for stays up to 6 months.
Data updated on
Apply online through iVisa
Official fees from €23.
iVisa is a paid service, charged on top of the official fees. Partner link: IziVisas earns a commission if you order, at no extra cost to you.
Indicative information: confirm with the embassy or the official portal before booking. Our methodology · Official portal
Official fee
20 GBP
Processing time
3 business days
Allowed stay
6 months
Our guide to the United Kingdom visa from Costa Rica
To enter the United Kingdom, citizens of Costa Rica must obtain an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) online before departure. The official fee recorded is 20 GBP, the recorded processing time is 3 business days, and the permitted stay is up to 6 months.
Travellers from Costa Rica visiting the United Kingdom for tourism complete the whole process on the official UK government portal: form, photos and payment. The authorisation is linked to the passport used for the application, which must be shown at boarding and at border control. Allow a few days of margin before your flight.
Do you need a visa for the United Kingdom?
Holders of a Costa Rican passport need prior permission: the ETA, an electronic travel authorisation issued online by the British authorities. It is not a visa in the traditional sense, but it is mandatory for a short tourist stay of up to 6 months. Without an approved ETA, the airline may refuse boarding.
How much does an e-visa for the United Kingdom cost from Costa Rica?
20 GBP
Official government fee only. Providers and visa centres add their own service charge on top.
What does a visa for the United Kingdom really cost?
The published fee is the government charge alone. Two or three other lines are added before the visa is in the passport, and they are what makes the final bill.
- Government fee20 GBP
Paid to the state, non-refundable if the visa is refused.
- Agency or online serviceOptional, added on top
Never compulsory. An intermediary fills the form for you, it does not change the decision or the processing time.
We only display amounts published by an official source. Confirm the total before paying anything.
What documents are required for an e-visa for the United Kingdom?
Documents required for an e-visa for the United Kingdom:
- Eligible passport
- Photo
- Payment card
Documents and fees
The official fee recorded for the ETA is 20 GBP per person, payable only on the official portal. Have a valid passport, an email address, a payment method and a recent photo of your face that meets the portal’s requirements. Every traveller, including children, needs their own authorisation. For any additional document, refer to the official UK government information page.
How to apply for an e-visa for the United Kingdom from Costa Rica
- 1Fill in the form on the destination’s official portal.
- 2Upload the required documents (passport, photo, supporting papers).
- 3Pay the fee online by card.
- 4Receive the authorisation by email, usually without a consular visit.
- 5Show the authorisation, printed or on your phone, at boarding.
How to apply
Apply on the official UK government portal (GOV.UK) or through the official app it links to. You enter your passport details, upload a photo of the passport identity page and a recent photo of your face, answer a few eligibility questions and pay online. Avoid unofficial intermediary websites: they resell the same form with extra charges.
Where do you apply for a visa for the United Kingdom from Costa Rica?
An e-visa for the United Kingdom is filed entirely online: there is no counter to visit and no file to hand in. The only address that matters is the official portal.
- The application, the supporting documents and the payment all go through the official portal, from any country.
- Lookalike sites copy the portal’s name and layout, then resell the same application with a margin. Check the domain before you type in a passport number.
- The authorisation arrives by email. Keep a printed copy, some airlines ask for it at boarding.
Using an online service
You never have to use an intermediary. If you would rather have a service fill in and file the application online for you before departure, iVisa does it for a service fee, charged on top of the official fees. It does not change the decision.
File my application with iVisaPartner link: IziVisas earns a commission if you order, at no extra cost to you.
You live in Costa Rica on another passport?
The regime follows your nationality, not where you live. If you reside in Costa Rica but travel on another country's passport, the rule on this page is not yours. Filing usually still happens from your country of residence, at the post competent for it, but the requirement itself comes from your passport.
Pick your nationality to see the rule
How long does an e-visa for the United Kingdom take?
3 business days
Indicative time, counted from a complete file. Peak season can be longer.
Processing times and tips
The recorded processing time is 3 business days. Apply at least a few days before departure, especially if you travel just after a weekend or a public holiday. Once the ETA is granted, check that the passport number and the spelling of your name exactly match the document you will travel with.
Before you fly, and at the border
- Passport validity: most countries require the passport to stay valid beyond the return date, and the margin required differs from one destination to the next. Check it on the official source, and count from your return, not from your departure.
- A visa is not a right of entry. The border officer decides, and may ask for a return ticket, an address or proof of funds even when everything is in order.
- Conditional exemptions exist: several countries waive the visa for holders of a valid visa or residence permit from a third country. This depends on the destination and on the document, and we do not publish that rule when our sources do not carry it. The official page does.
- Minors travelling alone or with one parent are often asked for extra papers, typically a parental authorisation and the family record. Ask the post before booking.
- Overstaying is not a formality. It exposes you to a fine, to removal, and to an entry ban that can outlast the trip by years, including for the whole area when the destination belongs to one.
Common mistakes
A frequent and costly mistake is using an intermediary site that charges far more than the official 20 GBP. Other common errors are a typo in the passport number, applying with one passport and travelling with another, and confusing the 6-month stay with the validity of the authorisation. If you travel for a purpose other than tourism, check the applicable conditions on the official page.
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Other visa types for United Kingdom
A tourist stay is not the only purpose. These are the other permits the destination issues and that your nationality is eligible for, each with its own fee and processing time.
Official sources
Guide generated automatically on October 17, 2026, from the verified catalogue.
Short-stay (tourism)
eVisa / authorization
Entry regime
eVisa / authorization
Price
£135
Processing time
3 weeks
Global Talent visa
Work visa
Duration
5 years
Price
£766
Processing time
3 weeks
Official websiteVerified
Scale-up Worker visa
Work visa
Duration
2 years
Price
£937
Processing time
3 weeks
Official websiteVerified
Graduate visa
Work visa
Duration
2 years
Price
£937
Processing time
8 weeks
Official websiteVerified
Student visa
Student visa
Duration
5 years
Price
£558
Processing time
3 weeks
Official websiteVerified
Marriage Visitor visa
Family reunification
Duration
6 months
Price
£135
Processing time
3 weeks
Official websiteVerified
Skilled Worker visa
Work visa
Duration
5 years
Price
£819
Processing time
3 weeks
Official websiteVerified
Health and Care Worker visa
Work visa
Duration
5 years
Price
£324
Processing time
3 weeks
Official websiteVerified
Child Student visa
Student visa
Duration
6 years
Price
£558
Processing time
3 weeks
Official websiteVerified
UK family visa
Family reunification
Duration
2.5 years
Price
£2,064
Processing time
12 weeks
Official websiteVerified
Innovator Founder visa
Investor visa
Duration
3 years
Price
£1,357
Processing time
3 weeks
Official websiteVerified
Seasonal Worker visa
Work visa
Duration
6 months
Price
£340
Processing time
3 weeks
Official websiteVerified
UK ETA
eVisa / authorization
Entry regime
eVisa / authorization
Duration
2 years (6 months per stay)
Price
£20
Processing time
3 business days
Apply online with iVisa
Online application for United Kingdom, with no consulate visit.
- Online filing for e-visa and visa-on-arrival destinations
- Online application tracking
- Paid service, on top of official fees
- Decision made by the country's authorities, not by iVisa
Official fees from €23Start my application on iVisa
Partner link: we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. The visa verdict above does not depend on this partner.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a visa to travel to the United Kingdom from Costa Rica?▾
Yes, an e-visa (electronic visa) is required. It is applied for online before departure and allows a stay of 6 months.
How much does a tourist visa for the United Kingdom cost?▾
The tourist visa costs from 20 GBP in official fees. Service fees may apply when using a provider.
How long does it take to get a visa for the United Kingdom?▾
Usual processing time: 3 business days. Allow some buffer before your departure.
What documents are required for a visa to the United Kingdom?▾
For the tourist visa application, you will need: Eligible passport, Photo, Email, Payment card.
How do you apply for a visa for the United Kingdom from Costa Rica?▾
The application is fully online and made before departure: form on the official portal, documents uploaded, card payment, then the authorisation arrives by email. In most cases no consular visit is needed.
How long can you stay in the United Kingdom?▾
The tourist visa allows a stay of 6 months.
What other visa types exist for the United Kingdom?▾
Depending on the purpose of stay, the United Kingdom offers among others: Global Talent visa, Scale-up Worker visa, Graduate visa, Skilled Worker visa, Health and Care Worker visa, Seasonal Worker visa.
Data verified on 25/10/2026 · Our methodology
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Indicative information, drawn from official sources and Wikipedia, and updated automatically. Rules change: confirm with the embassy or the official portal before booking. Our methodology · Official portal
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