No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeNewsCosta RicaCustoms form no longer a requirement for international arrivals

Customs form no longer a requirement for international arrivals

When you’re flying to Costa Rica, you can now leave your pen in your bag.

As of mid-2019, Costa Rica’s Customs Administration no longer requires the majority of international travelers to complete a customs declaration form when entering the country.

Travelers who do have items to declare (e.g. agriculture, live animals, chemical agents, or goods that exceed the personal allowance) will still need to complete the form before clearing customs.

However, the change means a more straightforward arrival into Costa Rica for most people.

After landing at either of Costa Rica’s two major airports, international passengers still clear immigration, collect their checked bags, and must pass all luggage through an x-ray scanner at customs. But that’s entirely a paperless process as of July 2019.

Previously, every passenger had to complete an immigration form, and each family had to fill out a customs form. The documents asked for demographic information and included questions confirming how long the travelers had been out of the country, whether they were transporting more than $10,000, and if they were carrying plants or animals.

The changes will help shorten lines and allow customs officials to focus on inspecting declared goods.

“The elimination of this declaration was made thinking, mainly, of Costa Rican travelers and tourists who usually must make long lines to present their declaration to customs, even if they do not bring with them any additional merchandise beyond their luggage,” said Juan Carlos Gómez, General Director of Customs, according to La Nación.

For more information about flying through Juan Santamaría International Airport, check out Costa Rica 101

 

Trending Now

Nicaragua Pulls Out of UN Refugee Agency, Citing Bias

Nicaragua announced that it is withdrawing from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), accusing the agency of making “biased” statements about Nicaraguans...

Costa Rica’s Investment Appeal Fades Amid Social and Environmental Challenges

Costa Rica’s reputation as a prime destination for foreign investment is under threat, according to a new study from the University of Costa Rica...

Costa Rica’s UN Ocean Conference Role Slammed as Hypocritical

Costa Rica’s high-profile role in the 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) in Nice, France, has triggered fierce criticism from lawmakers and environmentalists, who...

Panama Police Clash with Protesters Over Pension Reform Near Costa Rica Border

Police and protesters clashed in Panama on Saturday during an operation to clear a highway near the Costa Rican border, where teachers and Indigenous...

Former Nicaraguan President Violeta Chamorro Dies in San José at 95

Violeta Barrios de Chamorro, Nicaragua’s first female president and a key figure in ending her country’s civil war, passed away peacefully this morning in...

Gold Cup 2025: Costa Rica, Mexico and Canada Aim for Glory

While other CONCACAF teams have their sights set on the 2026 World Cup, Mexico, Costa Rica, and Canada are raising the stakes by targeting...
spot_img
Costa Rica Tours
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica