TheCougar

I've read that some couples have been charged very high custom fees for their wedding decorations that they were bringing with them, and for the brides dress. Their destination was Jamaica, so I was wondering if anyone knew if this applied to Costa Rica as well?

hsmithcr

Does not apply to Costa Rica. In fact, the only thing I know of that you would be charged custom fees is if you have a humongous about of liquor or cigarettes. No need to declare any of your decorations or your wedding dress. Basically, you would need to declare huge amounts of liquor, cigarettes or if you have $10,000 or more, several computers, etc.

You will arrive at the airport, go immediately through passport control (Migracion) and then downstairs to get your luggage. After that, you pass through customs. Typically, they have a little box where you deposit your customs declaration - they usually don't even look at it. They will xray your bags and then you are free to leave the airport.

If you forget something for the wedding or need something else, there is tons of stuff available in Costa Rica to make things for decorations. And, of course, fresh flowers are everywhere, all year long. Most little flower shops have supplies for making decorations.

Jeff_Costa_Rica

A Costa Rican who had purchased a wedding dress abroad would pay import duty on it. You'll be taking it out of the country again, so no. No import duties.

Hsmithcr:

"go immediately through passport control (Migracion) and then downstairs to get your luggage"

It's been a few months since you flew in, I take it? Passport control is downstairs these days and much more spacious and efficient.

hsmithcr

Wow - thanks Jeff - yes, the last time I flew in was in May so I missed the new renovations. Glad to know things have improved and will now remember that Migracion is downstairs.

TheCougar

Thanks for the info. One less thing to worry about!

NOTE TO GUESTS: Do not bring 10,000 dollars worth of liquor, or computers.

Jeff_Costa_Rica

The other thing you might not have experienced yet, hsmithcr, is when flying out, the security area is completely new and spacious with eight x-ray machines. They've done away with that cramped little room.

hsmithcr

So cool! So does this mean that getting through everything is a lot quicker? I would imagine so. Now, if only the airlines would put on enough agents to keep things moving. Of course, if you only have carryon, this could go pretty fast I would imagine.

Hey - maybe I can actually arrive at the airport 2 hours ahead of time next trip instead of 3 hours!

Thanks again, Jeff.

Jeff_Costa_Rica

"Now, if only the airlines would put on enough agents to keep things moving."

Check-in seems to be the bottleneck these days. As I'm sure you know, those lines can move very slowly. Considering that you have to be checked in at the one-hour mark for flights to the U.S., I don't think I'd ever chance arriving only two hours before flight departure.

hsmithcr

If you have only carryon, couldn't you just pay your departure tax and head for the police checkpoint and security, skipping the airline counter check-in?

Jeff_Costa_Rica

Can you do on-line check-in leaving Costa Rica on an internetional flight?

hsmithcr

I don't know why you wouldn't be able to. I can't really remember, but I think I have done it leaving Costa Rica but I know I have done it in other countries.

Maybe someone who has done this recently will chime in. Maybe this should be a separate discussion since we more or less hijacked the wedding dress thread.