Yes, Costa Rican citizens need a visa for Vietnam. Vietnam has visa exemption agreements with Panama and Chile, but not with Costa Rica, so the usual choice is the Vietnam visa for Costa Rican citizens issued online: a 90-day e-visa costing US$25 for single entry or US$50 for multiple entry, usually ready in about 3 working days.
Neither country has an embassy in the other, so the e-visa is also the most practical route. This page covers the comparison with your neighbours, the options for Costa Rican-Spanish dual citizens, the 13-hour time difference, timing over the long school holidays, flights, costs and who to contact.
Vietnam visa for Costa Rican citizens: quick facts (November 2026)
- Visa needed: yes. Costa Rica is not on Vietnam’s visa exemption list.
- Spanish passport: up to 45 days visa-free for dual citizens.
- Best option otherwise: e-visa, up to 90 days, single or multiple entry, US$25 or US$50.
- Processing: about 3 working days, longer around Tet.
- Time difference: Vietnam is 13 hours ahead of San José.
- Embassies: Vietnam covers Costa Rica from Panama City; Costa Rica covers Vietnam from Singapore.
Why Panama is visa-free and Costa Rica is not
Besides its unilateral exemptions for European and Asian countries, Vietnam has signed bilateral visa exemption agreements with a few Latin American countries, including Chile (2017) and Panama (2021). There is no such agreement with Costa Rica yet. As a result, a Panamanian and a Costa Rican traveling together face different rules: only the Costa Rican needs an e-visa.
How many Costa Rican visitors go to Vietnam
Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security counted 1,338 arrivals from Costa Rica in 2019. The number fell to 74 in 2021, when Vietnam’s borders were closed, and recovered to 430 in 2022. In January 2023, 124 Costa Ricans arrived.
Vietnam visa for Costa Rican citizens: your options
| Passport or option | Length | Government fee | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spanish passport (dual citizens) | Up to 45 days | Free | Short trips |
| E-visa on your Costa Rican passport | Up to 90 days | US$25 / US$50 | Everyone else, and longer trips |
| Visa on arrival (approval letter) | As stated on the letter | US$25 / US$50 cash + letter fee | Some urgent air arrivals |
| Phu Quoc exemption | Up to 30 days | Free | Phu Quoc island only |
Costa Rica and Spain have a dual nationality agreement, so some Costa Ricans also hold a Spanish passport. If you do, enter Vietnam on it for up to 45 days, then use the same passport for check-in, entry and exit. An American passport, however, does not help, because the US also needs a visa.
How to apply for a Vietnam visa as a Costa Rican citizen
- Check your passport. It must be valid for at least six months after arrival, with blank pages. The cédula is not accepted for Vietnam.
- Enter both surnames. Costa Rican passports show the father’s and the mother’s surname; type both in the surname field, in the same order. If the form will not take accents or ñ, copy the spelling from the two lines of letters at the bottom of your data page.
- Prepare a 4×6 cm portrait on a white background, no glasses, plus a full scan of the data page. See our Vietnam visa photo guide.
- Apply on evisa.gov.vn or through our service if you want your form checked before it is sent.
- Choose single or multiple entry and your entry gate from the list of e-visa ports of entry.
When to apply: the 13-hour time difference and holidays
Vietnam is 13 hours ahead of Costa Rica all year. The 3 working days are counted on Hanoi time, so if you apply at 7 pm on a Thursday in San José, it is already 8 am on Friday in Hanoi, and Friday counts as your first working day. Read more in our Vietnam visa processing time guide.
- School holidays (December to February): the main season for long trips. However, Vietnam’s Tet starts on 6 February 2027, and processing slows or pauses around it; in 2026 the pause ran from 14 to 22 February. So apply before mid-January.
- Semana Santa: 22 to 28 March in 2027. Apply at least 2 weeks before.
- Flights: there are no direct flights. Most routes connect in the United States, which needs a US visa, or in Madrid.
How much does a Vietnam visa for Costa Rican citizens cost
The government fee is US$25 for single entry and US$50 for multiple entry, the same for every nationality. Many Costa Ricans already have a US dollar account, which avoids most conversion fees; otherwise, your bank may add a fee on top of the colón amount. With a service, you pay the government fee plus a service fee, and the full total appears before payment. Compare all routes in our Vietnam visa cost guide.
Embassies covering both countries
Vietnam for Costa Rica. There is no Vietnamese embassy in San José. Instead, Vietnam’s embassy in Panama City covers Costa Rica. You need it only for paper visas or special cases, not for an e-visa.
Costa Rica for Vietnam. In September 2024, Costa Rica accredited its first ambassador to Vietnam, who is based in Singapore. Contact that embassy if you lose your passport or need consular help during your trip. The two countries have had diplomatic relations since 1976.
Worked examples
- Couple from San José, 3 weeks in Vietnam in January: two single-entry e-visas (US$25 each), applied in December.
- Costa Rican-Spanish dual citizen, 2-week holiday: no visa needed on the Spanish passport, because the trip is under 45 days.
- Coffee buyer from Heredia visiting Vietnamese roasters twice in 2 months: one multiple-entry e-visa (US$50) covering both trips within 90 days.
FAQ: Vietnam visa for Costa Rican citizens
Do Costa Rican citizens need a visa for Vietnam?
Yes. Costa Rica is not on Vietnam’s visa exemption list, unlike Panama and Chile.
Is there a Vietnamese embassy in Costa Rica?
No. The Vietnamese embassy in Panama City covers Costa Rica. For most trips, apply for the e-visa online instead.
Can I get a visa on arrival?
Only with an approval letter arranged before the flight, and only at international airports. See our guide to Vietnam visa on arrival.
Do I need the Digital Arrival Card?
If you land in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Da Nang, Phu Quoc or Cam Ranh, submit the free card within 72 hours before arrival. It is not a visa. Learn more about the Vietnam e-visa.
Sources: Vietnam Government Resolutions 44/NQ-CP, 229/NQ-CP, 127/NQ-CP and 389/NQ-CP; Vietnam Ministry of Public Security arrival figures; Vietnam Ministry of Foreign Affairs; El Observador (September 2024); Visa policy of Vietnam (Wikipedia). Last reviewed: 9 November 2026. We are an independent visa service, not a government website.
