French GuianaCosta Rica: Visa-free

French GuianaCosta Rica

Do France passport holders need a visa for Costa Rica?

Visa-free

No. France passport holders do not need a visa to visit Costa Rica for tourism for stays of up to 6 months.

No visa is required for a short tourist stay. Travel on a valid passport alone.

French Guiana does not issue its own passport; residents travel on a France passport. See the France passport.

Source: embassycr.org (checked July 18, 2026).

RequirementVisa-free

Maximum stay6 months

ScopeTourism, ordinary passport

Action before travelNone, travel on your passport

Data as of2026-10-19

Visa-free access to Costa Rica139 of 242 nationalities tracked

Travelling the other way? Costa Rica passport holders visiting French Guiana: Visa-free.

Other visa-free destinations for France passport holders

See all France destinations →

Frequently asked questions

Do France passport holders need a visa for Costa Rica?

No. France passport holders do not need a visa to visit Costa Rica for tourism for stays of up to 6 months.

How long can France citizens stay in Costa Rica without a visa?

Up to 6 months, for tourism, ordinary passport.

What currency is used in Costa Rica?

Costa Rican colón (CRC).

What is the emergency number in Costa Rica?

112 / 911.

What time zone is Costa Rica in?

Costa Rica (UTC-6).

What is the nearest airport to San Jose?

Quepos Managua Airport (XQP), about 25 km away.

How many countries can enter Costa Rica without a visa?

139 of the 242 nationalities this site tracks can enter Costa Rica visa-free, with a visa on arrival, or with an eTA.

Visa rules change frequently and can depend on your specific circumstances. This site is compiled from public government sources and is provided for general information only. Always confirm requirements with the official immigration authority or a consulate of your destination before you travel.

About French Guiana

French Guiana, also known by its French name Guyane or Guyane française, is an overseas department and region of France located on the northern coast of South America in the Guianas and the West Indies. Bordered by Suriname to the west and Brazil to the east and south, French Guiana covers a total area of 84,000 km2 (32,000 sq mi) and a land area of 83,534 km2 (32,253 sq mi). As of January 2026, it is home to 298,554 people.

RegionSouth America

Area83,534 km²

CurrencyEuro (1 USD ≈ 0.89 EUR)

LanguagesFrench

Calling code+594

Drives on theright

Climate in French Guiana

Warmest October, coolest January, driest October, sunniest October. Best time to visit: January, February, March, July, August, September, October.

Monthly climate normals for French Guiana, 2020
Month	High	Low	Rainfall	Sunshine
January	28.3°C	21.7°C	136mm	272h
February	28.7°C	21.4°C	112mm	269h
March	29.7°C	22.1°C	189mm	271h
April	28°C	22.3°C	604mm	166h
May	28.1°C	22.5°C	514mm	179h
June	28.6°C	22.1°C	383mm	234h
July	29.4°C	21.8°C	202mm	285h
August	30.4°C	22.1°C	136mm	322h
September	32°C	22.2°C	74mm	323h
October	32.9°C	22.8°C	71mm	334h
November	28.6°C	22.3°C	310mm	213h
December	28.5°C	22.1°C	240mm	258h

Avg. high/low, °C (left axis) Rainfall, mm (bar maxes out at 250mm/month)

Daily normals for 2020. Hover a month for exact figures.

Travel guide

French Guiana is an overseas French department and region in the Amazonia region of South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Brazil and Suriname. It is governed as an overseas department of France with the same rights and privileges granted to all other French departments, and it benefits financially from the arrangement. Compared to the other "Guianas", French Guiana has the most visible preserved rainforest and a more relaxed and organized lifestyle, but also the highest prices and the least backpacker infrastructure.

Upcoming public holidays

November 1, 2026Toussaint

November 11, 2026Armistice de 1918

December 25, 2026Noël

Full source list on About.

About Costa Rica

Costa Rica, officially the Republic of Costa Rica, is a country in Central America. It borders Nicaragua to the north, the Caribbean Sea to the northeast, Panama to the southeast, and the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, sharing a maritime border with Ecuador to the south of Cocos Island. It has a population of around five million in a land area of nearly 51,180 km2 (19,760 sq mi); the capital and largest city is San José, home to around 350,000 residents and two million people in the surrounding metropolitan area.

CapitalSan Jose

RegionCentral America

Population5.2M

Area51,100 km²

CurrencyCosta Rican colón (1 USD ≈ 454.24 CRC)

LanguagesSpanish

Calling code+506

Drives on theright

TimezoneCosta Rica (UTC-6)

Nearest airportQuepos Managua Airport (XQP), 25 km

Emergency number112 / 911

UNESCO sites5

Income levelHigh income

GDP per capita$19,970 (2025)

Tourist arrivals1.1M (2020)

Climate in San Jose

Warmest April, coolest December, driest February, sunniest March. Best time to visit: January, February, March, April, June, July.

Monthly climate normals for San Jose, 2020
Month	High	Low	Rainfall	Sunshine
January	21.9°C	15.8°C	84mm	320h
February	22.7°C	15.3°C	12mm	332h
March	23.5°C	15.1°C	12mm	362h
April	23.4°C	15.6°C	152mm	302h
May	22.4°C	16.5°C	540mm	234h
June	21.4°C	15.7°C	526mm	231h
July	21.8°C	15.4°C	456mm	278h
August	21.5°C	15.7°C	1010mm	241h
September	21.4°C	15.2°C	1009mm	250h
October	21.1°C	15.4°C	958mm	235h
November	20.3°C	15.3°C	967mm	213h
December	20.9°C	14.7°C	260mm	299h

Avg. high/low, °C (left axis) Rainfall, mm (bar maxes out at 250mm/month)

Daily normals for 2020. Hover a month for exact figures.

Travel guide

Costa Rica has bewilderingly diverse culture, climates, flora, and fauna, and landscapes range from rainforests, to dry tropical and temperate forests, to volcanoes, to Caribbean and Pacific beaches, to high mountains, and marshy lowlands. Costa Rica is an exceptionally stable and peaceful country compared to the volatile region it's in, and is one of the world's top destinations for nature and ecotourism. Owing in part to its comparative wealth, it can be a bit more expensive than its northern neighbors in Central America.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Area de Conservación Guanacaste World Heritage Site
Cocos Island National Park
Precolumbian Chiefdom Settlements with Stone Spheres of the Diquís
Stone spheres of Costa Rica
Talamanca Range-La Amistad Reserves

Upcoming public holidays

December 1, 2026Día de la Abolición del Ejército

December 25, 2026Navidad

January 1, 2027Año Nuevo

Full source list on About.