COSTA RICA IMMIGRATION & MOVING EXPERTS

Your Move to Costa Rica


Shipping Advice/Instructions:


In order to provide you with a quote for costs to move your 
personal effects to Costa Rica, we require:

1.Date of proposed departure.
2. Your address and zip code.
3. Do you require assistance in packing your personal effects?
4. Do you require assistance loading the container?


We arrange for: 

1.Consultation between yourself and shipper’s representative.
2.Suitable container, i.e. 20 ft. or 40 ft. or other to be delivered to your address.
3. 2 hours for loading and additional time charges @ $145.00 per hour.
4.Container to be taken to local port or marshalling yard and shipped.
5.Container to be delivered to San Jose for Customs inspections and Customs                  payment.
6.Items can be stored or transshipped to ultimate destination.

The last thing you want to own in Costa Rica is a unique car or truck for which parts and service are impossible to find. Parts, service & dealerships are important. Find out what is available locally or get expert assistance from our team as to what type & brand of car is best to purchase here or to ship. Our team does it all for you. . . advises on shipping costs, amount of duty to be paid and local delivery to your new home in Costa Rica. Tell us your needs and you'll receive the best advice & professional services and all for a fair price.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Costa Rica will not accept vehicles that are or were designated, “salvage” at any point in their history. 
 If the word, "salvage" appears on the title, 
it will be rejected by Customs here in Costa Rica.


Certain items require special or additional information.  If you choose to import your vehicle, we will require the following information:

a.Type of vehicle
b.Model & Color
c.Age of vehicle
d.Any special designations model may have, i.e. super sport, XL, Super XL, etc.
e.Number of cylinders & size of engine (i.e., 440 cubic inch).
f.  If 4-wheel drive or normal 2-wheel drive.
g.  2 door or 4 door.
h.  Automatic or standard transmission.
i.  Any special features such as sun roof, trailer hitch, etc.
j.  Require the vehicle identification number (VIN) located typically on dash under           windshield. 
k. Type of fuel. . . gas or diesel, hybrid or is it an electric vehicle.

If you are moving a truck, the above information is required, plus:

l.  If cab is double, extended or simple cab.   

With the above information, we are able to provide you a very close, 
if not a completely accurate cost for your shipment. 


We arrange payment for:

1.Shipping company for delivery and pick up from your current address.
2.Delivery to port of exit.
3.Delivery to port of entry and on to San Jose.
4.Payment of duty.
5.Storage locally or immediate shipment to  your ultimate destination.


In the event that you are going to ship your vehicle, additional steps must be taken, which we do on your behalf:

a.Duty is paid.
b.Compulsory inspection at government-sponsored inspection center.
c.Registration is paid & filed.
d.Road tax paid (Marchamo). 



FAQ's:

1.)  Q.  Are there any restrictions as to what we can move?

A. Yes.  The following is a list to use as a guide.  If in any doubt about additional items, contact us.
-Golf Carts w/ batteries - if shipping a golf cart with a battery, the battery must be disconnected & the shipper must get a MSDS (material data safety sheet) from the manufacturer & fill out a hazardous shipper's declaration sheet.

-Kerosene lamps
-Gas, propane, kerosene
-Used gas tanks, used propane tanks, used kerosene tanks
-Scuba diving tanks (unless they are completely empty)
-Flares
-Fireworks
-Paint
-Fire extinguishers
-Car battery (unless it's in the actual car)
-Portable air tank (unless they are completely empty)
  torches, tiki torches, bernzomatic torches (welding torch).


2.)  Q.  Do we have to itemize contents of every box that we pack?

A.  No.  Just make sure that the list of total contents is accurate and that you provide this to both the shipping company and to us when packed.  The shipping company needs this on their waybill (manifest) & our manager of transport here needs it for customs/duty purposes.


3.)  Q.  Any restrictions on the number of boxes we can pack?

A.  No.  Just ensure that any individual box has a manageable weight.  Example.  A hundred pound box of books will not work. . .better 4 boxes of 25 pounds each.


4.)  Q.  Can we put our vehicle in the container for shipment?

A.  To steal a line from the postal service,  “If it fits, it ships”.  Actually, the vehicle must be the last item loaded so it will be the first item unloaded.  It must also be loaded with the front end facing the container doors.  In other words, it must be backed into the container.


5.)  Q. What can I do if I do not have access to a ramp when I want to ship my car        down to Costa Rica?

A. We suggest that you hire a tow truck that has a tilt platform to come to the site. Simply drive the vehicle onto the platform, the tow truck driver will level the platform and back the tow truck up to the container. Then it is a simple matter of backing the vehicle into the container where it will be secured.


6.)  Q.  Can we load additional items into the car or truck?

A.  Yes.  Load it up and be sure those items are included on the list of items that have for the shipment.


7.)  Q.  Does the shipping company supply the things needed to secure the vehicle in the container?

A.  The shipping company will advise you of what is needed to secure your vehicle but they do not provide the tie downs and wheel blocks.  These items are readily available from any hardware store.


8.)  Q.  Any additional steps we should take regarding the car?

A.  Leave only 2-3 gallons of gas in the tank of the car.  
Definitely no more that ¼ tank.
-disconnect battery cables.
-leave the keys in the ashtray or over the sun visor.
-insure that the car is in good running order.  Lights work, signal indicators work, good muffler and get a tune up prior to shipping.  


The reason for this is that the car upon arrival and prior to your driving away 
must have the following steps taken in order to make your car road legal 
(which we do for you).

1.  Duty paid.
2. Compulsory government vehicle inspection has to take place.  If it fails for any mechanical reason, repairs have to be performed 
and vehicle re-inspected.  
3. Car registered. 
4. Marchamo (annual road tax) paid.  Marchamo not available until compulsory government inspection passed.


9.)  Q. If I ship my car to Costa Rica, can I drive it once it is out of the container?

A. Your driver’s license is valid & allows you to drive here for 90 days. Within that 90 days, the vehicle must be processed for customs. This currently takes about 15 -17 days. We suggest this process begins when the vehicle arrives. The official inspectors have a window of up to 10 days to do the inspection of the vehicle to ensure that it is as described in the manifest and that the VIN number, etc., are correct. We need approximately 4-5 days in addition to the 10 days required by customs to register, pay duty, transfer, inspection, etc.


10.)  Q. What if our new residence in Costa Rica is not ready when shipment arrives?

A.  Secure storage facilities are available locally and in most cases available close to where you are actually moving to in Costa Rica.  


11.)  Q.  Can we request that our shipment (container) 
be stored “below deck” on the transport down to Costa Rica?

A.  Although this sounds like a good idea, it does not work in this day and age.  The container has to be moved too many times on an average trip when adding or removing other containers.  Plus, your container is itself a sealed unit and basically impervious to the elements. Your contents are safe and no additional benefits derived from under vs on-board storage. 


12.)  Q.  Is there any recommendations as to what we should or should not include in our shipment?

A.  No recommendations.  It is up to the individual.  
Some examples to consider. . .  

If you have fairly new stove, refrigerator, dishwasher, washer and dryer, etc., and you know you will not get a good price for them if you sell them before you leave, then bring them down.  If all your appliances are old and worn out, then dump them or buy new ones and bring them (appliances in Costa Rica are very expensive and quality here is questionable).  If you buy new appliances or anything else new for your new home before you leave, do not ship them in the original boxes and do remove the special preparations that the factory includes when the store ships items to you.  The tape on the doors, the styrofoam packing material, the factory installed small pallets meant for local shipping, etc., are all indications that items are brand new.


13.)  Q. What size container will you need when you arrange for the shipping of your personal household goods?

A. Although every family's possessions vary in quantity and overall size, normally the contents of a 3-bedroom home fits into a 40 ft. container.


14.)  Q. Can I bring my gun / gun collection?

A. You must have a cedula indicating permanent status in order to obtain a gun permit.


15.)  Q.  Are there any special instructions we need to know about when you have arranged for a container to be delivered to your current address?

A. Yes, this is the typical information that our assigned agent will require and then include the information I have attached.



Contact us today 
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