Vietnam Visa for Costa Rican Citizens: E-Visa Cost in Colones and Steps
Vietnam visa for costa rican citizens: ordinary passports need a visa, usually the 90-day e-visa from $47 (approx. CRC 21,338). Colón prices, San José cut-offs.
Costa Rican citizens with an ordinary passport need a visa for Vietnam, so the Vietnam visa for Costa Rican citizens is the e-visa, valid for up to 90 days and from $47 (approx. CRC 21,338) all-in through us for single entry. Costa Rica appears on a Vietnamese exemption list, but only for diplomatic and official passports. This page covers the e-visa, prices in colones, urgent cut-offs in San José time, the steps, documents, visa on arrival and the embassy. You can apply for your e-visa with us in about ten minutes.
San José is thirteen hours behind Vietnam, so the Vietnamese working day runs from 19:00 the evening before to 5:00 in your morning. Orders placed in your evening reach Vietnam as its day begins, and the table below shows why.
Vietnam visa for Costa Rican citizens at a glance:
| Visa-free? | No, not for ordinary passports |
| Usual visa | E-visa, up to 90 days, single or multiple entry |
| Price through us | From $47 (approx. CRC 21,338) single, $82 (approx. CRC 37,228) multiple |
| Same-day option | Order before 1:15 in San José, delivered by 5:00 |
| Passport | Valid for at least 6 months from your entry date, with two blank pages |
Do Costa Rican citizens need a visa for Vietnam?
Yes. Costa Rican citizens with an ordinary passport need a visa for any stay in Vietnam, and the e-visa is the usual route.
Costa Rica's row on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs exemption list (published June 30, 2025, checked October 2026) is marked under Diplomatic and under Official/Service/Special, with a 90-day stay. The Ordinary column is empty, and Costa Rica is absent from the later 45-day lists.
A guide that quotes a 30-day single-entry visa describes an older product; the e-visa now allows up to 90 days. For the general rules, see Do I need a visa for Vietnam?
Visa for Vietnam from Costa Rica: the e-visa
A visa for Vietnam from Costa Rica is nearly always the e-visa. It lets Costa Rican citizens stay up to 90 days, with single or multiple entry, under Law 23/2023/QH15. It covers holidays, family visits and short business trips.
The Vietnam e-visa for Costa Rican passport holders works at any of 79 border gates: 15 international airports, 26 land border gates and 38 seaports (as of October 2026). You apply online from Central America, so there is no trip to a consulate, and you carry the approved PDF with your passport.
Vietnam visa Costa Rica: e-visa cost in colones
A Vietnam e-visa costs $47 (approx. CRC 21,338) through us for single entry at Standard speed, government fee included. The table gives every speed per person, slowest first, with an approximate figure in Costa Rican colones.
Prices last updated: 2026-10-07. Costa Rican colones at 1 USD = 454.00 CRC (xe.com, October 10, 2026). Your card is charged in USD and your bank converts it.
| Speed | Single entry | Multiple entry |
|---|---|---|
| Standard, 5 to 7 working days | $47 (approx. CRC 21,338) | $82 (approx. CRC 37,228) |
| 3 working days | $69 (approx. CRC 31,326) | $98 (approx. CRC 44,492) |
| 2 working days | $92 (approx. CRC 41,768) | $116 (approx. CRC 52,663) |
| 1 working day | $99 (approx. CRC 44,945) | $123 (approx. CRC 55,841) |
| Same day | $118 (approx. CRC 53,571) | $150 (approx. CRC 68,099) |
| Super Urgent | $169 (approx. CRC 76,725) | $212 (approx. CRC 96,247) |
| Emergency | $260 (approx. CRC 118,039) | $285 (approx. CRC 129,389) |
| Weekend and public holidays | $250 (approx. CRC 113,499) | $280 (approx. CRC 127,119) |
A 90-day e-visa costs no more than a 30-day one. We refund 100% if the e-visa is refused, unless the application had false information, or if it arrives after the delivery time shown at checkout. On evisa.gov.vn the government fee alone is US$25 (approx. CRC 11,350), not refunded on refusal. Our full price table breaks down each price.
Vietnam visa for Costa Rican citizens: urgent cut-offs in San José time
Standard takes 5 to 7 working days. The urgent speeds use Vietnamese working days, which start at 8:00 in Vietnam, or 19:00 in San José.
| Order cut-off | San José time |
|---|---|
| Same day (Vietnam 14:15) | 1:15 |
| Super Urgent (Vietnam 15:30) | 2:30 |
| Emergency (Vietnam 17:30) | 4:30 |
| 1 working day (Vietnam 18:00) | 5:00 |
Example: you order on Monday at 20:00 in San José, which is 9:00 on Tuesday in Vietnam. Emergency arrives by 21:30, Super Urgent by 22:30 and Same day by 5:00 on Tuesday, all in San José time. Ordered on Tuesday at 3:00 instead (16:00 in Vietnam), Emergency still arrives by 4:30, but Super Urgent and Same day have passed their cut-offs: Super Urgent arrives at 22:00 and Same day on Wednesday at 1:00.
The weekend window starts at Friday 5:00 in San José and ends on Sunday at 3:00. In that window, order the Weekend and public holidays speed before 2:20 and it arrives by 5:30 the same day. Our urgent e-visa page has every speed in Vietnam time.
How to apply from Costa Rica
You apply from Costa Rica online, in three steps with us:
- Enter your details: Passport, travel dates, the airport or border gate you will use and your speed.
- Pay and add files: Pay by card, then upload your passport data page and a recent photo, straight away or later.
- Receive the e-visa: We check everything, submit it and email you the approved PDF.
You can also apply yourself on evisa.gov.vn with the same details. Our guide on how to apply walks through both.
Vietnam visa requirements for Costa Rican citizens
The Vietnam visa requirements for Costa Rican citizens match those for every e-visa applicant:
- Costa Rican passport: Valid for at least 6 months from your entry date, with two blank pages.
- Passport data page: Full page in the frame, no glare on the code lines at the bottom.
- Portrait: Recent, facing forward, white background, no glasses.
- Trip details: Arrival and departure dates, entry and exit gates, first accommodation address.
- Card: Debit or credit card that works for overseas online payments.
Photo examples and the full checklist are on our e-visa requirements page.
Visa on arrival for Costa Rican citizens
Costa Rican citizens can use visa on arrival only when flying into Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang or Cam Ranh. You need an approval letter before you board and pay a $25 or $50 stamping fee at the airport.
It does not work for cruise ports or land borders. For most trips the e-visa is simpler; you can compare both when you choose a service.
Vietnam embassy in Costa Rica
You do not need an embassy for an e-visa, which is issued online. For consular help, check the list of Vietnamese missions on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website (mofa.gov.vn) for the one that covers Costa Rica.
Tips for Costa Rican travelers
Two points help Costa Rican travelers: reading the exemption list correctly, and ordering at the right hour.
Diplomatic and official passports are different
The 90-day stay on Costa Rica's row of the exemption list belongs to diplomatic and official or service passports only. A holder of an ordinary Costa Rican passport needs the e-visa, even if a colleague with an official passport enters without one.
Order in your evening, not your morning
Ordered at 9:00 in the morning in San José, your file reaches Vietnam after every urgent cut-off and starts at 8:00 the next Vietnamese morning, which is 19:00 that evening in San José. Ordered at 19:00 instead, every speed is still open.
eVisaVietnam.com is a private visa service operated by TK VIET NAM., JSC, not the Vietnamese government. You can apply yourself at evisa.gov.vn for US$25. If you want your files checked and a delivery time backed by a full refund, apply for your e-visa with us.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Costa Rican citizens need a visa for Vietnam?
Yes, with an ordinary Costa Rican passport. Most apply online for the e-visa, valid for up to 90 days with single or multiple entry, and show the PDF with their passport at the border.
How long is the e-visa valid for Costa Rican citizens?
The e-visa allows a stay of up to 90 days, with single or multiple entry. You choose the entry type and travel dates on the form, and the e-visa does not cost more for 90 days than for 30.
How much is the Vietnam government fee in colones?
On evisa.gov.vn the government fee is US$25 (approx. CRC 11,350) for single entry and US$50 (approx. CRC 22,700) for multiple entry, charged in US dollars. It is not refunded if the e-visa is refused.
Can I get a Vietnam visa today in San José?
Yes, on a Vietnamese working day. Order Same day before 1:15 San José time for delivery by 5:00, or Emergency before 4:30 for delivery 1.5 working hours later. After those cut-offs, order 1 working day.
Can I use the e-visa for a business trip from Costa Rica?
Yes, for short business visits such as meetings or conferences, within the 90-day limit. Employment in Vietnam is outside what the e-visa covers.
