Household goods and personal effects shipments are subject to duties and import charges, with the following exceptions; accredited diplomatic or international organizations members.

Employees of any organization under contract with the Costa Rican government, with temporary or definitive authorization to import their household goods.

Costa Rican citizens with more than 24 months out of the country, they have partial exemption.

Required Documents

• Diplomatic Shipments

a)  Original of the bill of lading or airway bill.

b)  Packing list including: make, serial number and model of electronic equipment or electrical household appliances.

c)  Exemption of the payment of duties.

d)  Complete copy of the passport.

Time of Dispatch:  5 to 8 days.

Duties:  Duty free.

• Non Citizen Shipment

a)  Original of the bill of lading or airway bill.

b)  Inventory list including: make, serial number and model of electronic equipment or electrical household appliances.

c)  Complete copy of the passport.

Time of the Dispatch:  5 to 8 days.

Duties:  Must pay duties.

• Returning Citizens

a)  Original of the bill of lading or airway bill.

b)  Inventory list including: make, serial number and model of electronic equipment or electrical household appliances.

c)  Complete copy of the passport.

Notice:  For the tax exemption the following documents are needed;

-  Certificate issued by the Costa Rican consulate, stating the number of years living abroad.

-  Certificate issued by the immigration office in Costa Rica, stating the entries and departures in the country during the last two years.

-  Certificate issued by a lawyer, stating that no exemption of duties has been granted to the customer in the last five years for the importation of household goods and that the customer is returning definitively to the country.

Time of Dispatch:  Five to eitht days.

Duties:  Must pay duties.

Automobiles

• Diplomatics

a)  Original of the ocean bill of lading.

b)  Ownership title or registration card.

c)  Exemption of duties.

d)  Invoice of purchase if the car is new or model of the last year, or sworn declaration of the value of the car when it is used.

e)  Certificate of transmission of gases and must be legalized by the Consulate in Spanish language or the translated in Spanish must be legalized by the consulate.

Time of the Dispatch:  Five days.

Duties:  Duty free.

• Non Citizen Shipments

a)  Original of the bill of lading.

b)  Ownership title or registration card.

Time of the Dispatch:  5 days.

Duties:  Must pay duties.

• Returning Citizens

a)  Original of the bill of lading.

b)  Ownership title or registration card.

Time of the Dispatch:  Five days.

Duties:  Must pay duties.

Pets

Domestic animals (dogs and cats):

a)  Airway bill.

b)  Health certificate.

c)  Anti rabies vaccine.

d)  Invoice stating the value of the animal.

Prohibited Articles

Importation:  Narcotics, explosives, and pornographic or subversive material. A special permit is needed for firearms, ammunition, animals or agricultural products, plants, medicines, large amounts of liquor or edibles.

Exportation: Original Pre-Columbus pottery and archeological pieces.