North America
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Importing to Costa Rica
Costa Rica is becoming a tech hub due to its strong economic position, skilled workforce, and prime geographical location. Navigating imports into Costa Rica can become challenging, requiring an Importer of Record to step in.
Tax
Up to 14%
Duties
Up to 20%
Lead Times
9-10 Weeks
Restricted Items
Second-hand Goods and Refurbished Goods
Best Carrier Option
Courier or Freight Forwarder
Non-Working Days
Sunday and Public Holidays
Prominent Language
Spanish
Exporting from and Importing to Costa Rica
Costa Rica has immense tech potential. Its high education levels, political stability, and low levels of corruption make it an attractive country for investment. The Free Trade Zones in Costa Rica, known as the Zona Franca, have boosted imports due to the ease of regulations, reduced tariffs, and tax benefits. The availability of a skilled workforce and strong technical support make Costa Rica an attractive destination for a tech company to invest in.
Costa Rica’s strategic location between North and South America makes it ideal for global trade. Its access to the Atlantic and Pacific oceans provides easy access to the rest of the world. This has allowed Costa Rica to maintain excellent relations with the United States, accompanied by Free Trade Agreements between the two countries, promoting investments and global trade.
Population
5M
Biggest Industry by Export
Medical Equipment
Capital City
San José
Biggest Industry by Import
Refined Petroleum
Specialized Solution for Costa Rica
TecEx has a long history of successfully shipping to complex Latin American destinations. Our dedicated team of compliance specialists ensures your goods have all the necessary compliance documents before you ship, giving you complete confidence that your imports will be cleared the first time.
Although compliance lead times are inherently long in Costa Rica, TecEx is well established in the country and helps to streamline the import process as much as possible.
Costa Rica is well known for its strict and precise customs procedures, making accuracy essential for smooth clearance. Our TecEx compliance experts understand all documentation requirements and ensure everything is submitted correctly to prevent delays.
Unique Pain Points for Costa Rica
Although technology imports make up a significant portion of Costa Rica’s trade, importing into Costa Rica is complex, with restrictions on second-hand and refurbished goods. Many documents required for customs clearance take a long time to prepare, especially for restricted goods.
Costa Rica also has strict health and safety regulations and emphasizes green technologies. Therefore, you must ensure that your imported tech complies with all the necessary rules.
The relatively poor infrastructure in Costa Rica causes delays in the inland transportation of imported goods. This slows down the import journey, adding extra logistical costs. The lack of adequate infrastructure has also resulted in port bottlenecks and congestion, leading to even slower lead times.
Countries Associated with Costa Rica
Asia
China
Europe
The Netherlands
Specific Compliance Regulations for Costa Rica
Health and Safety Standards
When importing goods such as medical devices, you must comply with health and safety standards from the Ministerio de Salud (Ministry of Health) to ensure they meet the country’s correct standards. Ensuring these standards are adhered to requires multiple documents to be completed and accurate Spanish labeling. This ensures that all imports align with Costa Rica’s strict environmental policies.
Technical Sheet
Costa Rica also requires a technical sheet for importing tech goods, which contains in-depth information about the imported goods. Customs are meticulous regarding this, so it is crucial to ensure that all import permits are accurate and all regulations are followed to avoid delays and financial penalties.
High Duties
Costa Rican import duties are extremely high, reaching up to 20%, posing a significant cost risk for international tech shipments. An Importer of Record (IOR) like TecEx can help you navigate these challenges by leveraging our in-depth expertise in Free Trade Zones, tax exemptions, and complex customs regulations. By guiding you through compliant import procedures, we help streamline your entry into the Costa Rican market while minimizing financial risk.
Your global trade solution for Costa Rica
Navigate Costa Rica’s import-export landscape with confidence. With our expertise in customs compliance and Importer of Record services in Costa Rica, your shipments will be handled efficiently and with precision.
