Customs Information

Costa Rica - Diplomat

CUSTOMS REGULATION Costa Rica

  • Used household goods and personal effects are subject to import taxes and duties (30%-35% approximately).
  • All shipments inspected
  • The Diplomatic Representatives credited in the Republic of Costa Rica, before filing the request of modality of household goods, should have the I.D. Diplomatic document, known as DIDI.
  • In case the importer corresponds to a diplomatic agent, consul, or member of an international organization will not be the object of review of documents and physical recognition, except in those cases in which there are founded reasons of the possible presence of merchandise forbidden in Costa Rica, or that there are founded motifs for the possible presence of merchandise forbidden in Costa Rica, or that have not complied with the corresponding quarantine sanitary conditions or conditions of defense of national historical artistic patrimony

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED

  • Passport (include all pages) for all members of the family
  • Rated Original Bill of Lading (B/L).
  • Inventory (in Spanish or English) indicating value declared for customs and showing complete contents of cartons and the exact number of cartons in the liftvan or container (SAMPLE)
  • Include brand name, serial #, model and price of the electronic equipment and electrical appliances
  • Letter authorizing destination agent to clear shipment
  • *NOTE:  ALL DOCUMENTS MUST BE COMPLETED ORIGINALS.   COSTS FOR ANY DELAYS DUE TO INCOMPLETE OR INCORRECT DOCUMENTS WILL BE CHARGED TO THE CUSTOMER

MOTOR VEHICLES

  • Subject to high import taxes and duties
  • Amount to be paid depends on the value, model, year, cubic centimeters and extras
  • Documents required:
    • Bill of Lading (B/L
    • Registration Card or Property Title
    • Purchase Invoice or certificate
  • *Originals required for all above documents
  • If you are sending a vehicle to Costa Rica, a new law was passed as of June 7th, 2000 that all vehicles coming into Costa Rica must have a EPA Smog Test signed off by the Local Consulate from the country which the auto is being exported. Contact your destination agent for more information before sending a vehicle to Costa Rica.
  • Government of Costa Rica prohibits the importation of used vehicles:
  • That have been declared as total loss
  • That present unauthorized structural joints on the chassis
  • That have been manipulated at its identification number, VIN or chassis
  • That have been withdrawn from circulation at the export country
  • That do not comply with the general requirement for movement, established in subsection d) article 32, relative to the location of the steering Wheel
  • must present a notarized affidavit stating that the vehicle is not under any of the cases mentioned in the preceding paragraphs and the amount of kilometers or miles traveled by it.
  • It must be emphasized that no extra tires can be imported only those corresponding to the vehicle with their corresponding spare tire.

PETS

  • Dogs and cats permitted
  • Documents required:
  • Anti-rabies vaccination
  • Rabies Vaccinations MUST be at least 4 weeks old from the date off departure
  • Health Certificate in Spanish or English issued by a veterinarian so authorized by the Competent Authority and endorsed by a Veterinary Services (VS) veterinarian.
  • Exportation veterinary health certificate
  • Invoice indicating value of animal
  • Original and valid Import Health Requirements Form must be given to the AQD at port of entry, in the case of pets that will be transported like cargo or unaccompanied by the owner on the same flight.
  • This form is not required if the owner can demonstrate that the pet arrived on their same flight as checked baggage. Shipper must visit the Ministry of Agriculture’s office located at the airport to prove this.

DUTIABLE/RESTRICTED ITEMS

  • New items are subject to very high duties and require an original receipt
  • Large appliances must not exceed one of each item
  • Computers subject to import regulations
    • Purchase Invoice, Instruction Booklets, and original Ocean Bill of Lading/Air Waybill required
  • Alcoholic beverages (milliliters of each bottle and percentage of alcohol needs to be indicated). There may be taxes imposed and fines up to the confiscation of the entire shipment as some customs regulations may forbid types imported.
  •  Animal or agricultural products, plants, medicines and food.
  •  Suggest not to send food, medicines, vitamins. Special customs permits will be required, and this could about additional charges and delays on the delivery of the shipment.
  • Please check with destination regarding the following restricted and/or prohibited items (may require special permits):
    • Domestic refrigerators -- Refrigerators, freezers, air conditioning. Take note that after October 2019, importation is forbidden. 
    • Computers, printers, photographic and video equipment, fax, scanners, keyboards, mouse, laptop, cell phones, routers, ups, external disks, wifi
    • Basketwork articles (wicker, rope, rattan, bamboo). They require permit in the port of entrance. Thus, it can cause many delays and additional costs in the importation process.
    • Wood ornaments, wooden clothes hooks, and wooden manufactured products. They require permits in the port of entrance. It can thus cause many delays and additional costs in importations.
    • Agricultural products
    • Insecticide
    • Small wickerwork - bamboo, rattan, wicker
    • Knives
    • Swords & spears
    • Bows & crossbows
    • First aid kits
    • Baby diapers and wet towels for babies
    • Sanitary tampons & towels 

PROHIBITED ITEMS

  • Construction materials and their parts
  • Electric material (motors, cutting, sectioning, protecting device, and others of electric circuits, cables)
  • Professional and technical use material and its parts
  • Transportation materials, vehicles, automobiles, bicycles, yachts and its parts.
  • Machinery and its parts.
  • Machines, tools, and their parts
  • Big tools, such as for example, table drills, among others
  • Instruments, apparatus, and/or accessories for: labs, physicians’ offices, workshops, or similar establishments; professional use furniture, pre-manufactured constructions, office accessories.
  • Liquid and inflammable fuels, chemical products, compressed gas, corrosives, explosives, canned sprays, arms munitions, and matches,
  • Used wheels and pneumatics for: cars, motorcycles, bicycles, or any type of vehicle
  • Medications, medicines without prescription, alternative medicines (homeopathy, Bach flowers)
  • Venoms
  • Archeological pieces and fossils
  • Live plants
  • Food in general (rice, seeds, and vegetable products)
  • Soaps, perfumes, shampoo, creams, cosmetics, and other personal hygiene articles
  • Coin or stamp collections
  • Pornography
  • Articles for sport use such as motocross suits, and other accessories
  • We also recommend not to include: jewelry, furs, money or securities or shares since these are not insured by insurance companies.