Immigration Director
Warns Of Risk Of Being
Denied Entry Without
Yellow Fever Vaccination
Beginning on Friday
November 30 the
Dirección General de
Migración y Extranjería
will be requiring
visitors arriving from a
select group of
countries to have a
certificate of
vaccination against
yellow fever before they
can step on Costa Rican
soil.
The countries affected
by the regulation are
Colombia, Venezuela,
Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador
and French Guyana from
South America and from
Africa, Angola, Benin,
Burkina Faso, Cameroon,
Congo, Gabon, Gambia,
Guinea, and Nigeria.
Affected by the
regulations are Costa
Rican residents who
travel to countries on
the list, requiring a
certificate to re-enter
Costa Rica.
The certificate has to
be obtained at least 10
days before arriving or
returning to Costa Rica,
as this is the
incubation period for
the vaccine, according
to Costa Rican
immigration officials.
Residents in Costa Rica
can get vaccinated in
Costa Rica before they
leave for a visit to a
listed country. The
problem is that the
vaccine is not currently
available in Costa Rica.
Pharmacies and hospitals
do not have a supply of
the vaccine and health
officials say it won't
be available at least
until next January when
a shipment is expected.
For residents in Costa
Rica it will mean they
will need to obtain a
certificate of exemption
prior to travel since
there is no vaccine
available, otherwise
they will have to obtain
one in the country of
origin and may have to
extend their visit to
wait for the incubation
period.
Mario Zamora, director
pf Migración, said that
the measure will be
strictly adhered to and
his officials will
refuse entry to anyone
who does not present the
certificate.
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