15

In regards to borders, yes you can cross the borders in Nicaragua, as well as the the CA countries, without proof of onward travel, with the exception of Panama, they may require you to buy a return bus ticket to Costa Rica for $14.

Above posters- Taca departing FROM US Cities to Central America countries, enforce the "Onward Travel" Requirements, and they are not a US Based airline, that is my point. Stop the bashing and grow up. If you are a resident of a country in CA, then that is a different matter, as you are not entering as a tourist.

16

TACA does NOT require an onward ticket from LAX-SAL for a non-resident, I have actually flown this route, unlike #16 who has NEVER been to SV!

I have also heard CR is requiring an onward bus ticket when entering from Panama, a tit for tat scam.

17

In the last few months, Costa Rica has started enforcing the "return ticket" requirement at the the land crossing at Peñas Blancas. (This was recently discussed in NicaLiving.) What usually happens is that when one of these two countries starts enforcing something, the other country retaliates. Thus, things could change.

That said, if you are traveling to Nicaragua and leaving from Guatemala, the rules of the CA-4 agreement should follow. Subject to any restrictions of any individual country with regard to your country of origin, you can travel freely within El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. Thus, a return ticket from any of these four countries should meet the requirement.

Finally, my experience flying in/out of Nicaragua for 10 years now (most recently a few months ago) is that you never seem to get asked to show a return ticket.

18

I'm planning to fly from Europe through Miami into Nicaragua on a one-way ticket (it's actually a return ticket on a n earlier roundtrip when I went back home) soon with only an onwards roundtrip bus ticket out of Nicaragua to Costa Rica in my hand since I haven't planned any more of the trip, is that going to be a problem somewhere or is a physical bus ticket sufficient proof that I'm not planning to stay in the country?

I'm flying British Airways to Miami and then Taca to Nicaragua (although I think they might be borrowing seats from American Airlines).

Could they even require me to buy a return ticket across the Atlantic when I do my first checking into the plane in Europe? Because those one-way trips are about as expensive as a ticket with roundtrip so that would be a bit inconvenient.

19

Last couple of times I've flown from London to CR via Miami on BA or Virgin on a one way ticket I've been challenged at check-in. I have Costa Rican residency and had to show this or I would not have been allowed to board without proof of onward travel (such as a return ticket, or perhaps a bus ticket?)...

20

Have a look here. You need to clarify with BA and TACA as well.

http://www.qantas.com.au/travel/airlines/visa-health/global/en

21

Okay, so if I'm flying from Europe through Miami into Nicaragua with an onward bus ticket to Costa Rica where I do NOT have residency then I have to buy a one-way return ticket all the way back to Europe at check-in? Is that more or less 100% guaranteed these days (checking in with British Airways like I said)?

Because that single return ticket is more expensive than a roundtrip ticket for whatever reason, so that kinda defeats the purpose of going on this trip in the first place.

Or could you buy a fully refundable ticket flying across the Atlantic Ocean that actually works in getting your money back right away without getting credits or being forced to wait? I don't really want to gamble with a ticket that might be 2-4 times as expensive.

22

Like we keep saying- IF asked at check-in (no its not 100% guaranteed) you will need "proof of onward travel". Yes that can be a fully refundable fare, and yes people have claimed to be able to show a bus ticket. Others claim that they simply talked their way out of it with an itinerary. Its a crapshoot, but dats da deal....