Costa Rica
Last update 18 March 2020Diplomatic missions
Risk index
Level 3: Increased level of risk (recommendation not to travel in certain areas of the country unless necessary)
3
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The Republic of Bulgaria does not have an operational embassy in Costa Rica. The Embassy accredited for Costa Rica is the one in Mexico City, Mexico.
Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in Mexico
Address: Paseo de la Reforma 1990, Col. Lomas de Chapultepec, Del. Miguel Hidalgo, c.p.11000, México D.F.
Telephone: + 52 55 55963283; + 52 55 55963295
Fax: + 52 55 55961012
Office hours: Mon to Fri, 09.00 - 12.30 h
Information by telephone: Mon to Fri, 09.00 - 14.00 h
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.mfa.bg/embassies/mexico
General information
general information
Local currency
Costa Rican colon (CRC)
It is advisable to travel with USD; it is possible to exchange Euros as well.
Crime and security
The country maintains normal conditions of public security. There are thefts cases, mainly in the public transport and for that reason it is worth exercising caution. It is advisable to travel in country at dark; neither is hiring a taxi from undesignated locations.
Legislation specifics
Possession and use of narcotic substances is an offence and is a persecuted crime.
Customs requirements
Foreign currency at the amount of up to USD 10 000 does not require to be declared.
Healthcare
Sanitation: it is advisable to use bottle water. Infection with dengue fever and malaria may be acquired.
Climate
September and October are the rainiest months through the year. The hurricane season is from June to November.
Travel papers and visas
Passport valid for at least six months.
No visa is required for a short-term stay of up to 90 days.
It is recommended to make sure migration authorities stamp a seal in your passport at the point of entry. Missing the seal may result in an administrative fine. Exiting the country by plane requires payment of an exit fee.
For additional information about visa and other issues, Bulgarian citizen may contact the following institutions or address an e-mail:
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Consular Issues:
Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores y Culto de Costa Rica
Address:Avenida 7-9, Calle 11-13, San José, Costa Rica
Telephone: + 506 223 7555; + 506 258 2389
E-mail: [email protected]
E-mail: [email protected]
Embassy of Costa Rica in Vienna, Austria
Address:Wagramer Strasse 23, Stiege 1, Etage 1, Top 2 y 3 A-1220 Vienna, Austria
Telephone: + 431 263 3824
Fax: + 431 26338245
E-mail: [email protected]
Delegation of the European Union to Costa Rica
Telephone: + 506 2283 2959
E-mail: [email protected]
Practical advice
Bulgarian citizens entering the territory of Costa Rica through Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameron, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Bolivia, Venezuela, Brazil, Peru, Colombia and Ecuador need to hold an international certificate for vaccination against yellow fever and dengue fever. If they do not have such a certificate they will be denied entry to Costa Rica.
Competitive service
Certifications and legalisations
Costa Ricais not a signatory to the Hague Convention about an “Apostille” certification of documents.
The certification and legalisation procedure of documents issued in Costa Rica and designated for use in the Republic of Bulgaria is the following:
- The document is certified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Costa Rica;
- then it is certified by the Embassy of Mexico in Costa Rica;
- then it is certified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mexico;
- then it is certified by the Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in Mexico, accredited for Costa Rica.
The certification procedure for documents issued in the Republic of Bulgaria and designated for use in Costa Rica is the following:
- Certification with an “Apostille” by the Ministry of Foreign Affair of Bulgaria;
- certification by the Embassy of Mexico in Budapest, accredited for the Republic of Bulgaria;
- certification by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mexico;
- certification by the Consular Office of the Embassy of Costa Rica in Mexico.
Such documents need to be accompanied by a translation certified under the same procedure.
Identity documents issuance
The Bulgarian citizens in Costa Rica could apply for issuing of new passports, identity cards and driving licences through the embassy of Bulgaria in Mexico, which has the technical equipment for the collection of biometric data - fingerprints and photographs.
When applying for the first time to be issued identity card, you will be required to submit a birth certificate. In the event of lost, stolen, damaged or destroyed identity card and/or passport, you shall submit a document issued by the police evidencing these facts.
When applying to be issued a temporary passport for children, born abroad, it is necessary to submit a certified local birth certificate of the child and the presence of both parents. When applying to be issued a temporary passport for returning to Bulgaria, in the event of lost/stolen documents, one shall submit a protocol issued by the police evidencing the statement of facts (theft, robbery, burglary, etc.).