Costa Rica postpones yellow fever vaccine mandate for 8 nations until Oct. 1

Costa Rica has postponed its expanded yellow fever vaccine mandate for travelers linked to eight South American and Caribbean nations until Oct. 1, 2026.

Mandatory vaccination rules at the border

Costa Rican citizens and foreign residents traveling to designated risk countries must present a valid International Certificate of Vaccination against Yellow Fever before departure, the Ministry of Health confirmed. The rule applies equally to inbound travelers arriving from or transiting through risk zones.

Immigration officials and airlines will turn away passengers who can't prove they received the shot at least 10 days before travel. Anyone planning an itinerary through South America while moving to Costa Rica or holding local residency status must factor this window into their travel schedule.

Destinations covered and phase-in dates

Travelers heading to Brazil, Colombia, Peru and designated African risk nations must already comply, as those mandates took effect in March 2026. The grace period applies only to the newly added jurisdictions.

Starting Oct. 1, 2026, proof of vaccination becomes mandatory for travel involving the entire territories of eight additional destinations:

• Bolivia

• Ecuador

• French Guiana

• Guyana

• Paraguay

• Suriname

• Trinidad and Tobago

• Venezuela

Remote workers and frequent fliers using San José as a regional base should secure a single lifetime dose well in advance, because border officials verify the exact date of administration against departure stamps.