Costa Rica - Customs
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CloseLength of Stay in Costa Rica:
Customs on arrival will issue a Temporary Import Certificate (Certificado de Entrada) for the yacht, valid for three months (90 days).
Costa Rica is now offering a Tourist TIP for a period of 6 months – or one year – and is renewable for a maximum of two years. However, there are stipulations:
- The vessel must first have the standard 90 day TIP on arrival.
- Before the expiration of the 90 day tip an agent can apply for a 6 month tourist TIP (renewable for up to a maximum of 2 years) – (see fees for costs involved).
- The vessel must be in a marina while this process is underway because it requires an inspection by Aduana.
One of the benefits of getting the Tourist TIP is the ability to bring in spares duty-free – but there is a process for this.
There is no requirement to remain in a specific marina, but a Zarpe is required to move from port to port, just as with the regular 90-day TIP.
Remember, the Tourist TIP is for the vessel only. Regular immigration regulations still apply to the vessel owners and crew.
Ultimately this is an easier process than the two-year MOPT duty exoneration and has the benefit of the duty free spares.
Other Options for Staying Longer:
- Permisode Permanencia – MOPT Permit (Ministero de Obras Publicas Transportes)
There is an alternative which will allow you to stay in Costa Rica for 2 years (renewable for equal periods) called a Permisode Permanencia. However, this permission is only given to vessels that sign a slip agreement at marinas recognized by the Government of Costa Rica, such as Papagayo, Pez Vela, and Los Suenos. Marina Papagayo, for example, has one slip available for boats staying in Costa Rica with a Permisode Permanencia. An agent or lawyer is required to process the permit and secure this permission. Costs vary widely depending on who is handling it for you and how the ownership of the vessel is held. If the vessel is in the name of the owner, it is pretty easy and less expensive. If the ownership is held in a corporation or family trust then the process is more completed and requires more documents. The cost is usually between $ 900 and $ 1,500.
The advantages of the MOPT permit is it allows yachts to move from port to port within Costa Rica without the need for a National Zarpe. The marina that holds the permit can issue a Float plan for the movement of the boat. So this saves the hassle of getting a Zarpe from the Port Captain every time you move. It also allows boats to depart Costa Rica and return without waiting the 90 days required with the TIP. - Bonding
You can no longer put your boat in bond for the sake of extending your Temporary Import Permit. There is, however, limited bonding available in Golfito but only if the vessel is waiting to be loaded onto a ship. So for example, if you have only a week left on your temporary import and the boat is waiting for the ship, they offer a bonding if the ship is late. The bonding agent will charge a fee.
Other Customs Requirements:
- Firearms must be declared.
- Customs may also want to see proof of the serial number of the boat engine and dinghy engine which will be listed in the TIP (valid for 3 months). Pictures of the nameplates satisfied the need.
Last updated: June 2023
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Just checked into the country at Playa del Coco, Costa Rica, DIY style. Port captain sent us right to Migracion, about two blocks down the street. Back to Port Captain at 8am next morning (closed at 3). List of last 5 ports and dates required at both captania and migracion, but no zarpes needed but for previous port. After that, a trip to aduana was needed. 800 colones for a bus to the airport. The old Aduana office (1 mi past the airport) appears to be closed. With some persistence, we were able to find someone at the airport who as able to find an aduana representative to help us with the TIP.
Return to Capitania required for a domestic zarpe if you’re looking to move along. 32000 colones for a van back to Del Coco from the airport. No fees from any of the officials otherwise. No ag inspection at the boat.
Under Formalities, Pre-arrival mentions an insurance requirement, but insurance is not listed under the Documents section. Has anyone had recent experience suggesting that boat insurance is required for entry?
Thanks!
Do not use the Nautica agent in Coco, see my comments under their listing. Use the agent that Marina Papagayo recommends.
Just checked in via Golfito, anyone coming north highly recommend Gabriela at Banana Bay Marina. Was able to check-in and deal with vessel temp import all in about a couple hrs. Very smooth process.
Costa Rica Tourism website has updated showing a plan for accepting yachts starting Sept 1st. Details at visitcostarica.com
Thanks so much for the update – it’s really appreciated! We’ve updated Noonsite.
Hi from Distant Drummer
We’ve just been through the process of getting a permit for Isla del Coco and thought it was worth sharing the “latest” information.
You can download the forms from www. isladelcoco.go.cr
Fill in the application form for entry to PNIC and deliver it or send it to the Director of the ACMIC at the address below. Allow a minimum of 15 days prior to the date of expected arrival in PNIC.
Área de Conservación Marina Cocos
Parque Ecológico SINAC
Santo Domingo de Heredia (antiguo Inbio Parque)
The form must be sent with a cover letter giving the following additional information:
1. Full name, gender, passport number, nationality, date of birth for each person
2. Diving certification number of each diver
3. Itinerary of the activities planned in PNIC for each day of the visit including the number of persons carrying out each activity
Support documents:
1. Certified copies of passports for each person
2. Certified copy of the certification of seaworthiness or equivalent documents which specify the range of the vessel *
3. Evidence of permission to operate in Costa Rican waters. We submitted copies of our Zarpe and our Certificate of Temporary Importation
4. An affidavit stating that the vessel complies with the following requirements:
a) effective systems for handling emergencies
b) a holding tank for sanitary waste
c) a radio with marine frequencies
5. If you are planning on diving an affidavit stating that if the vessel meets the following requirements:
a) a life vest for each passenger
b) equipment necessary for a marine rescue
* We did not have a “Certificate of Seaworthiness” so we included in the affidavit a statement outlining our sailing experience on board Distant Drummer. We included certified copies of our arrival documents in French Polynesia and Hawaii to demonstrate nautical miles covered.
Notes:
They ask for an address or fax number to receive notifications but you can use an email address if you prefer. If you deliver the documents to their office by hand they will want to see the original copies of all the support documents. If you are sending the application in by mail you will need to get all the support documents certified.
Make sure you clearly understand the fees as they are pretty high and stack up quickly. The document explaining the tariffs is Decreto Tarifas ASP – No. 38295.pdf and is 25 pages of Spanish. Read the parts about Isla del Coco (PNIC). In summary for us:
• Admission: $50 per person per day
• Anchoring for vessel <15m: $40 per day
• Snorkeling: $10 per person per day
• Diving: sorry – not sure about this but there will be a fee
A very good contact for information and questions is Johanning Corrales Vega (johanning.corrales@sinac.go.cr). He answers emails promptly and completely and was very helpful to us.
Hope this is useful
Suzy Carmody
S/V Distant Drummer
http://www.carmody-clan.com
Cocos Island, Costa Rica
Diver Killed by Tiger Shark
As reported by https://scubadiverlife.com
On Thursday, Nov. 30, a tiger shark at Cocos Island, Costa Rica bit and killed a diver and injured the instructor she was diving with while they were awaiting pickup from their liveaboard’s skiff. This is the first fatal attack to ever happen in the area.
Posted on Women Who Sail Facebook Page
Re: Tropical Storm Nate – 5 October 2017
Here in Costa Rica, we are being hit hard by Nate, and it’s all about the flooding. Mudslides, bridges out, roads closed, six confirmed dead so far, 600 reportedly homeless, 5000 in shelters, houses sliding off mountains.
We have moored up a tidal estuary in Puntarenas, and when the tide and the river are going the same way, it’s pretty intense; lots of uprooted trees going by or sometimes getting hung up on us. Costa Rica will recover, but it’s going to be grim for Nicaragua.
Just to update Paul’s comment above. If you’re a CR resident and your boat isn’t registered in CR, the tax is not 85%. As of 2015, it’s 69%. An official telling you it’s a higher rate, it may have been changed, but as of 2016, it’s still 69%. Still outrageous, but mildly better.
Do not enter this country on your non-CR registered vessel if you are a CR resident (pensionado, rentista, etc.). CR Customs will hit you with the import tax at 85% of the value of the boat and the news that residents are not allowed cruising permits. I was ordered to pay up or leave immediately when I asked for a cruising permit at Golfito in March 2015. I left!