Planning a Central America trip and researched the exit-proof rules for Costa Rica and Panama:
• Costa Rica is one of the strictest countries for onward travel proof. Immigration requires a ticket out within your 90-day visa period, and airlines departing the US/Europe WILL check before boarding.
• Panama has similar rules — they want to see proof you're leaving within the permitted stay (usually 90 days). A bus ticket to Costa Rica works for land borders, but a flight is safer.
• Pro tip: If you're doing the Costa Rica -> Panama -> Colombia route, get a rental onward ticket that shows your flight out of Colombia. This covers multiple border checks in one document.
Full details:
https://onwardticket.global/costa-rica-panama-proof-of-exit-requirements-2026Anyone crossed between Costa Rica and Panama overland recently? How was the exit-proof check?
