Customs declaration requirements for Costa Rica
Customs Declare produces the completed Documento Unico Aduanero (DUA) -- Single Customs Document -- filed electronically via the TICA (Tecnologia de Informacion para el Control Aduanero) system for Costa Rica’s own customs authority, in Spanish, from your invoice and supporting documents. You or your broker review and submit it -- nothing leaves your workspace automatically.
Declaration form
Confirmed against the authority’s own published source- Form
- Documento Unico Aduanero (DUA) -- Single Customs Document -- filed electronically via the TICA (Tecnologia de Informacion para el Control Aduanero) system
- Issuing authority
- Direccion General de Aduanas (DGA), Ministerio de Hacienda
- Primary language
- Spanish
- Accepted languages
- Spanish
- Last verified
- Aug 30, 2026
Import requirements & restrictions
Import permit required
Import of used vehicles into Costa Rica requires a licensed Costa Rican Customs Broker (Agencia Aduanal) to file the Documento Único Aduanero (DUA). Import duty scales steeply with vehicle age (roughly 52% for vehicles under 3 years old, up to 79% for vehicles 6+ years old). A mandatory post-import mechanical inspection (Riteve) is required before the vehicle may be used on public roads.
HS 8703 -- Costa Rica Ministry of the Treasury Customs (Aduanas)
Duty & tax
- VAT (default rate)
- 13%
- MFN duty rate data
- Available
- Preferential rate
- None on record
- Free duty calculator
- Check a duty rate for Costa Rica
Quick answers
What customs declaration form does Costa Rica require?
Costa Rica’s import declaration is the Documento Unico Aduanero (DUA) -- Single Customs Document -- filed electronically via the TICA (Tecnologia de Informacion para el Control Aduanero) system, issued by Direccion General de Aduanas (DGA), Ministerio de Hacienda.
Which languages does Costa Rica accept on a customs declaration?
Spanish
What is the VAT rate on imports into Costa Rica?
The default VAT rate on record for Costa Rica is 13%.