Costa Rica Changes Yellow Fever Vaccination Requirements

The Costa Rican Ministry of Health published a notice in December 2024 regarding changes to yellow fever certificate requirements for travelers, effective January 11, 2025.

The countries that are now considered at risk and for which yellow fever vaccination against yellow fever is required are the following: Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, French Guiana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Venezuela, and Trinidad and Tobago. Additionally, countries in Africa have been added to Costa Rica's list.

When visiting Costa Rica, a yellow fever vaccination (YF-VAX or Stamaril) certificate may be required at the airport. Foreigners who arrive in Costa Rica and do not present the International Certificate of Vaccination against Yellow Fever to the immigration authority will not be allowed to enter the territory.

As of December 31, 2024, the YF vaccine is not part of the mandatory vaccination schedule, so it must be purchased at private pharmacies.

In addition to YF, Costa Rica has reported Chikungunya (45), Dengue, and Zika (25) cases in 2024.

Most of this year's Dengue cases (30,000) have been detected near San Jose in the mountains, not at Costa Rica's beaches.

Previously, in early December 2024, the U.S. State Department issued a Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution, Travel Advisory, for the Republic of Costa Rica. This U.S. advisory says visitors to Costa Rica should exercise increased caution due to various civil unrest targeting tourists.

Last year, about 2.4 million people visited Costa Rica, many traveling from the United States.