Photo: Daniel Ingersoll / Unsplash
Practical info for Costa Rica
Emergencies, embassy, entry requirements, money: the essentials before you go, with the official source and the date each piece of information was checked.
Embassy and entry requirements shown for travellers from: United Kingdom.
Emergency numbers
Source: France Diplomatie, GOV.UK, French embassy, Portal das Comunidades Portuguesas, Ministerstwo Spraw Zagranicznych RP · verified on 26/10/2026
Embassy and consulates
- British EmbassyEmbassy
- Address
- The British Embassy has moved out of its premises on Paseo Colon. We will provide information on our new location as soon as possible., Mailing address:, Apartado 815 -
1007, San Jose, Costa Rica - Consular emergency line
- To reach us in an emergency or send us an online enquiry, use our contact form: https://www.contact.service.csd.fcdo.gov.uk/posts/costa-rica/british-embassy-san-jose
Consular emergency numbers (emergencies only): FCDO, London (24 hours): +44 20 7008 5000.
Entry requirements
The rules depend on your passport: check them here before you book, for every traveller, children included.
Official page: GOV.UK (FCDO), updated 19/05/2026 ›
Source: GOV.UK · verified on 26/10/2026
Safety and travel advice
The FCDO does not currently advise against travel to any part of this country.
Source: GOV.UK · verified on 26/10/2026
Currency and payments
Currency: Costa Rican colon (CRC).
The ECB does not publish a reference rate for CRC.
Source: SIX Group (ISO 4217), European Central Bank, EU Publications Office · verified on 26/10/2026
Time difference
Local time: UTC-06:00, −6 h compared with London (calculated on 26/10/2026).
The clocks change in London on 28/03/2027: the difference may change that day.
Source: IANA (time zones) · verified on 26/10/2026
Driving
Driving licence, according to GOV.UK (FCDO): “You can use a UK photocard driving licence to drive in Costa Rica for up to 180 days, depending on the length of stay you have been granted as a Tourist. If you still have a paper driving licence, you may need to update it to a photocard licence or get an international driving permit.”
Source: GOV.UK · verified on 26/10/2026
Mobile networks
Networks listed by the eSIMs we checked: Claro (Sirocco); Liberty (Airalo); Movistar (Sirocco).
eSIM prices for Costa Rica
7 days, 5 GB · prices checked on 26/10/2026
3 brands compared, not an exhaustive listWhy this ranking?
Ranked by price: for each brand, the cheapest plan that covers 7 days and 5 GB.
Not an exhaustive comparison: 3 brands out of the dozens that sell eSIMs. The list of brands compared is in our Methodology.
eSIMeter is published by Mocom SAS, which sells Sirocco: the site is funded by those sales. No other brand pays us.
Frequently asked questions
What are the emergency numbers in Costa Rica?
Single emergency number: 911 ; Police: 117 ; Fire brigade: 118
How do I contact the embassy or consulate in Costa Rica?
British Embassy, The British Embassy has moved out of its premises on Paseo Colon. We will provide information on our new location as soon as possible., Mailing address:, Apartado 815 -
What are the entry requirements for Costa Rica?
The rules depend on your passport: check them here before you book, for every traveller, children included. Official page: GOV.UK (FCDO), updated 19/05/2026.
What is the travel advice for Costa Rica?
The FCDO does not currently advise against travel to any part of this country.
What currency is used in Costa Rica?
Currency: Costa Rican colon (CRC). The ECB does not publish a reference rate for CRC.
What is the time difference in Costa Rica?
Local time: UTC-06:00, −6 h compared with London (calculated on 26/10/2026). The clocks change in London on 28/03/2027: the difference may change that day.
What should I know about driving in Costa Rica?
Driving licence, according to GOV.UK (FCDO): “You can use a UK photocard driving licence to drive in Costa Rica for up to 180 days, depending on the length of stay you have been granted as a Tourist. If you still have a paper driving licence, you may need to update it to a photocard licence or get an international driving permit.”
Which mobile networks operate in Costa Rica?
Networks listed by the eSIMs we checked: Claro (Sirocco); Liberty (Airalo); Movistar (Sirocco).