Canadian visa

Costa Rica: New visa rules to consolidate visa categories and change certain visa exemptions

The Costa Rican government has issued new visa rules for Non-Residents that will amend the visa requirements and the allowed periods of stay for certain nationalities in Costa Rica on or after December 14, 2016.

The official bulletin is available here (in Spanish) and the most notable changes will include the following:

  • Instead of the current four visa groups, nationalities will be divided into two main groups: visa-exempt nationals; and nationalities that require a consular or restricted entry visa, unless they possess one of following visas or statuses:

Canada: Electronic Travel Authorization deadline relaxed

To allow more time to prepare for changes when flying to or transiting through Canada, the government has extended the deadline to apply for Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA).

On or after November 10, 2016, visa-exempt nationals who enter or exit and re-enter Canada by air must apply for an eTA prior to boarding a flight to Canada. The previous deadline was September 30, 2016

Mexico: Exemptions for visa nationals expanded

A new law exempts visa nationals with a Canadian, Japanese, Schengen or UK visa from business, tourist and transit visa requirements for up to 180 days, effective immediately. This policy expands the current exemption available to visa nationals who hold a U.S. visa. 

Additionally, visa nationals who are permanent residents of Chile, Colombia or Peru will be exempt from business, tourist and transit visa requirements for up to 180 days on or after July 1, 2016. The current exemption is available to visa nationals with permanent residence in Canada, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States or the Schengen Area countries

Canada: Visa-exempt nationals to require Electronic Travel Authorization on or after September 30, 2016

Due to a relaxation of the deadline to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA), visa-exempt nationals who plan to enter or exit and re-enter Canada by air will be able to board their flight and enter Canada as long as they have appropriate travel documents, such as a valid passport, until September 29, 2016.