All about the working holiday in Costa Rica
We’ve been recommending Globe WHV since 2005 (medical expenses, hospitalization, repatriation…).
Between 18 and 35 years old
Valid for the entire duration of your working holiday
At least CA$2500
This must be your first participation
Must cover medical care, hospitalization and repatriation
Provide a clean Canadian Police Certificate
01. What is the Working Holiday Visa?
WHVs are bilateral accords signed between governments to promote youth mobility and cultural exchange. Participating countries allow young adults to spend a set period of time (usually one year) living and working abroad. Most of the accords are signed between countries in Europe, the Americas, Oceania, and East Asia. A WHV encourages cultural exchange alongside the chance to gain valuable work experience.
02. Which nationalities are eligible?
At the moment, only Canadians are eligible for the Costa Rica WHV.
03. How long is the visa good for?
The WHV allows you to work and live in Costa Rica for up to one year.
04. Where can I apply?
Apply by following the steps and requirements listed on the website of the Costa Rican embassy.
05. What is pvtistes.net and how can it help me?
We are a team of current and former working holiday makers dedicated to providing free information and resources about the working holiday in Costa Rica and other destinations. Read our helpful articles, leave comments if you have questions, and check out our special deals.
We don’t ask for any money, and neither should anyone else in your application process (besides the embassy/consulate and their official partners). Be very careful of online scams where someone might ask you for an exorbitant amount to help you get your visa. Working Holiday Visas are designed to be relatively easy to obtain yourself, so there is absolutely no need to pay any professional service to do it on your behalf.
You must purchase health insurance prior to arriving in Costa Rica, and it should cover at least medical, hospitalization, and repatriation expenses.
We’ve been recommending Globe WHV since 2005. They have covered thousands of working holiday makers over the years.
- FAQs about working holiday travel insurance
- What to have in your Working Holiday adventure first-aid kit
Costa Rica’s currency is the colón (CRC, ₡).
If you want to have a CRC debit card in hand before even arriving in Costa Rica, you may want to consider an online neo-bank like Wise. Wise is an app that offers multi-currency financial services. Customers receive a physical debit card that can be used to withdraw cash at local ATMs and make payments in Costa Rica. You can top up your card using one of the supported currencies and it will auto-convert into reals when making purchases in Costa Rica. This way you can avoid the foreign transaction fees that many international travellers incur when using their home cards abroad. Learn more about Wise.
Once your application is approved, you’ll need to think about where to live, especially in the first few days and weeks. If you are planning on renting long term housing, we recommend you wait until you arrive in Costa Rica before paying a deposit or signing anything. Never send money to anyone without seeing the place in person.
For your first couple of weeks, you could consider hotels. But the most affordable option is going to be youth hostels. You can find some great ones on Hostelworld.
- Chapter 6: Booking housing for your arrival
- 7 Tips for finding housing during your working holiday abroad
- Five ways to get free accommodation when travelling
After you get your visa, you will have plenty of things to take care of. Some of them are more urgent than others, so this list breaks down your to-dos, starting with the most urgent to the least. It may seem like a lot, but don’t worry, one step at a time!
As you prepare for your working holiday in Costa Rica, check out our library of free articles and guides. Everyone on the pvtistes.net team has done (or is currently on) a working holiday, and so everything we write is from personal experience.
This is also the perfect chance to learn or brush up on Spanish. Babbel is partnering with pvtistes.net to offer 20% off on language courses (learn more). Also check out our other deals for working holiday makers.
You must be between 18 and 35 years old at the time of application.
You must hold a Canadian passport that is valid for the entire duration of your working holiday.
You must prove that you have savings of at least CA$2500 to support yourself for the first few months of your stay.
If you have already stayed in Costa Rica as a working holiday maker, then you cannot apply again.
Applicants must accept to purchase insurance for health care, including hospitalization and repatriation, for the duration of their authorized stay prior to arriving in the host country.
As a part of your application, you will need to provide a clean Canadian Police Certificate.