How strict are gun laws in Costa Rica?
Permissive
Handguns are licensed as of right, and personal protection is an accepted reason on its own.
Costa Rica is one of 26 countries classified “Permissive” for civilian gun ownership — 13% of the 202 with data. (Also searched as firearm laws.)
Source
- Last checked
- 17 September 2026
- How it was classified
- Read directly from the source’s own table, without interpretation.
Nearby countries
- Nicaragua
- Permissive Handguns are licensed as of right, and personal protection is an accepted reason on its own.
- Panama
- Permissive Handguns are licensed as of right, and personal protection is an accepted reason on its own.
- Honduras
- Permissive Handguns are licensed as of right, and personal protection is an accepted reason on its own.
- El Salvador
- Permissive Handguns are licensed as of right, and personal protection is an accepted reason on its own.
- Guatemala
- Permissive Possession does not require a good reason, and long guns are shall-issue, indicating a permissive regime.
- Belize
- Restrictive Handguns are licensed only at the authorities' discretion, or only to club members or existing owners.
Other laws in Costa Rica
- Death Penalty
- Fully abolished
Every law in Costa Rica → · How strict are gun laws around the world? →
A visual reference compiled from Wikipedia’s law-by-country articles, not legal advice. Laws change and summaries simplify — check a primary source before relying on anything here.