Moving to Costa Rica: Shipping, Pets, Cars and Customs Checklist
By The Costa Rica List Editorial Team
Published · Last updated
You've made the decision to live in Costa Rica and worked out the legal details. Next comes the reality of moving your belongings, your pets and perhaps your vehicle. This checklist covers shipping, pet relocation, vehicles and the customs process run by the Dirección General de Aduanas (Costa Rican Customs) and SENASA, the Servicio Nacional de Salud Animal (National Animal Health Service), so you can decide what to ship, what to sell and what it will cost.
Ship It or Buy It There?
Ship personal effects, used furniture and pets; sell most large appliances and nearly every car.
| Item | Ship it? | Why (as of November 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Personal effects, clothes, books | Yes | Low volume, hard to replace; duty applies unless you already hold a menaje de casa exemption |
| Used furniture | Usually yes | Good-quality furniture is expensive locally; check sizing, humidity tolerance and the duty estimate |
| Large appliances, stoves, ovens | Usually no | Voltage and gas differences; combined taxes of roughly 40–60% on many items |
| Electronics | Case by case | Duty depends on tariff classification; laptops and phones in luggage are treated differently from boxed items |
| Vehicle | Usually no | About 52–79% of assessed value; older cars are taxed harder |
| Pets | Yes | No routine quarantine with correct SENASA paperwork |
The Menaje de Casa Exemption: What It Covers
The menaje de casa exemption closed to new applicants on 14 July 2026, so most people moving now should budget to pay duty on household goods.
The menaje de casa (household goods) exemption is the benefit most moving guides still describe as available. Under Law 9996, the Law to Attract Investors, Rentistas and Pensionados, it allowed a one-time import free of all import taxes on a resident's household goods. Its article 12 limited applications to the law's first five years, which ended on 14 July 2026.
- Who qualified: foreigners granted pensionado, rentista or inversionista residency who applied for the incentive while the window was open.
- What it covered: household furniture, appliances, decorative items, kitchen and bathroom utensils and bed linen for the beneficiary and immediate family, plus professional or scientific instruments. The same article allowed up to two personal vehicles duty-free.
- Value cap: the law sets no fixed dollar cap. Applicants had to itemise and justify the quantity, which had to be consistent with their economic, family and professional situation.
- What it excluded or clawed back: goods sold or transferred while the benefit was in force had to pay the exempted taxes. Applications were made through the Ministerio de Hacienda.
- If you already have it: residents granted the incentive before 14 July 2026 keep it for ten years from the grant date.
As of November 2026 we are not aware of a replacement exemption for new pensionado, rentista or investor residents. Ask a Costa Rican immigration lawyer or licensed customs agent whether any other franchise applies to your situation, such as returning Costa Rican nationals or diplomatic status, before you assume your container will enter duty-free.
Shipping Household Goods to Costa Rica
Shipping household goods is often the first and largest expense on your moving to Costa Rica checklist, and it is where most people get stuck at the port.
Timing and Cost Expectations
Most household shipments take four to six weeks at sea, plus customs clearance once they arrive.
Costs are driven by volume, so measure or list everything before requesting quotes. The real trade-off is between cost and comfort: one consolidated container is cheaper per cubic metre, but you live without your belongings until it clears. Sending a small advance shipment, or carrying essentials as extra luggage, costs more per item but gets you settled sooner.
Documents You'll Need
- Detailed inventory of everything being shipped, ideally in Spanish
- Valid passport
- Proof of residency status or your residency application file
- Original bill of lading and transport paperwork
- Proof of ownership or purchase invoices for higher-value items, if requested
- Your menaje de casa resolution from Hacienda, only if you were granted the exemption before 14 July 2026
In practice, household shipments are cleared through a licensed customs agent (agente aduanero) rather than by the owner, and we are not aware of a practical route for a foreign individual to clear a full container alone. Local clearance and forwarding agents are licensed to undertake this function; ask any agent for their Aduanas licence number before you hire them.
What to Leave Behind
Leave behind new electronics, appliances and furniture you could buy locally, because combined import taxes on many such items run roughly 40–60% as of November 2026.
That figure is not a single rate. It is the stacked total of the import tariff (DAI), any selective consumption tax, a 1% Law 6946 levy and 13% IVA on the cumulative value, all set by tariff classification at Hacienda's Dirección General de Aduanas. Some stoves and ovens may also be unusable because of voltage and gas differences, and large North American furniture may not suit smaller homes or humid coastal climates.
Bringing a Pet to Costa Rica
Dogs and cats can enter Costa Rica without quarantine if they arrive with an official health certificate issued within two weeks of travel, current vaccinations and recent parasite treatment.
Required Paperwork
- Clinical examination and health certificate issued within the two weeks before travel by an accredited veterinarian, as required by SENASA.
- Official endorsement of the certificate where your country requires it. From the United States, USDA APHIS endorsement is required as of November 2026 and can be done digitally.
- Rabies vaccination for dogs and cats older than three months, current on arrival. Vets commonly advise giving it at least 30 days before travel; confirm the exact window on the current certificate.
- Other vaccinations: distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus and leptospirosis for dogs; feline rhinotracheitis, calicivirus and panleukopenia for cats.
- Treatment for internal and external parasites within 15 days before arrival.
- Airline documentation if your pet travels in the hold; unaccompanied pets need a Costa Rican import permit.
Costa Rica does not have a long quarantine for pets when the paperwork is complete and accurate. Book a check-up with a local vet soon after you land; our services directory lists local providers by area.
Arrival Logistics
SENASA inspects every imported animal on arrival, so carry printed originals of every document.
Pet travel rules vary by size and weight, so check airline policies on fees, crate sizes and advance notice. Although you will probably hold digital copies, printed and organised originals speed up inspection considerably.
Importing a Car to Costa Rica
Importing a car to Costa Rica is usually more expensive than selling it and buying locally.
Documents You'll Need
- Original vehicle title, with Spanish translation
- Vehicle registration, with Spanish translation
- Bill of sale or purchase invoice
- Bill of lading and completed customs import declaration (filed by your agent)
- Passport and proof of residency status
Import Taxes Are Steep
Costa Rica taxes older vehicles at higher rates, the reverse of what most people expect, so the import tax on an older car can exceed what the car is worth.
As of November 2026, combined taxes on used passenger cars are commonly quoted at about 52% for vehicles up to three years old, about 64% for four to five years, and about 79% for anything older. Those percentages apply to the value assessed by Costa Rican Customs from Hacienda's vehicle-value tables, not to what you paid. A ten-year-old car you value at US$8,000 can therefore be assessed higher and taxed at the top rate.
Weigh Your Options
Most people sell their car before the move and buy one locally after arrival.
Local prices for used cars are high, but so is the tax on importing one. Compare a realistic local purchase price with the shipping quote plus taxes on the assessed value. While you look, a local car rental bridges the gap.
What It All Costs
Budget roughly US$3,000 to US$8,500 for an ocean container from Florida, plus agent fees and duty, as of November 2026.
| Item | Indicative range (US$, November 2026) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 20-foot container, Florida ports | 3,000–5,500 | Door to door; Houston and New York usually higher |
| 40-foot container, Florida ports | 4,500–8,500 | Best value per cubic metre for a full house |
| West Coast departures | Add 20–50% | Longer routing via Panama |
| Customs agent fee | 600–1,500 | Excludes duty, storage and inspection charges |
| Small pet in cabin | 300–700 | Airline fee plus vet certificate and endorsement |
| Medium or large pet in hold | 800–2,500 | Crate, cargo fee and paperwork |
| Full-service pet relocation | 2,000–5,000+ | Depends on size, route and season |
These are indicative editorial ranges compiled from typical published quotes, not offers. Fuel surcharges and port congestion move container prices quickly, so obtain written estimates from at least three movers.
Customs Checklist Basics
A few customs rules apply to almost every move.
- Always keep your originals; copies are often not accepted as proof.
- Understand the rules for your residency status, which determine whether any exemption applies.
- Review current duty rates with your agent before shipping anything valuable.
- Complete shipment forms and inventories in Spanish.
- Allow extra time for clearance; rules and rates can change at short notice.
- Declare restricted items such as medicines, plants, food and firearms in advance.
Once your container is on its way, start planning where it will be delivered: compare the best places to buy property in Costa Rica, decide how to hold title, and browse the Costa Rica real estate section.
Frequently Asked Questions
Short answers to the questions movers ask most, as of November 2026.
How long will it take to relocate household goods to Costa Rica?
Most household shipments take four to six weeks at sea from the United States, as of November 2026, plus customs clearance in Costa Rica. Clearance commonly adds one to three weeks, depending on paperwork, inspection and the port. Plan to live without your belongings for roughly six to nine weeks from pickup, and keep essentials in your luggage.
Is quarantine required for pets imported to Costa Rica?
No. Costa Rica does not normally quarantine dogs or cats when the paperwork is complete and accurate. SENASA, the Servicio Nacional de Salud Animal, inspects every imported animal on arrival, not only service animals. Missing or incorrect documents can lead to a hold, extra inspection or return of the animal, so check the current certificate before you fly.
Is it worth importing a car to Costa Rica?
Usually not. As of November 2026, combined import taxes on used vehicles run from about 52% to 79% of the customs-assessed value, and older cars pay the highest rate. On an older car the tax can exceed what the car is worth. Most movers sell before leaving and buy locally after arrival.
What is the menaje de casa exemption and who qualifies?
The menaje de casa was a one-time exemption from import taxes on household goods for pensionado, rentista and investor residents under Law 9996. New applications closed on 14 July 2026. Residents granted it before then keep the benefit for ten years. As of November 2026 most new movers pay duty, so ask a licensed customs agent about current options.
How much does it cost to ship household goods to Costa Rica?
As of November 2026, a 20-foot container from Florida typically costs about US$3,000 to US$5,500 door to door, and a 40-foot container about US$4,500 to US$8,500. West Coast departures cost more. Customs agent fees and import duties are extra. These are indicative editorial ranges, not quotes, so obtain written estimates from several movers.
What can I not bring into Costa Rica?
You cannot bring illegal drugs, counterfeit goods or undeclared weapons into Costa Rica. Firearms, ammunition, plants, seeds, soil, fresh food, meat and some medicines need prior permits or prescriptions, and Customs or SENASA can seize them without one. Declare anything uncertain, and ask your customs agent to check restricted items before you pack the container.
Primary Sources
Check the official sources before you ship.