If you’ve never visited Costa Rica before, this post will tell you exactly what to expect when going through customs and immigration in San Jose International Airport and Guanacaste Airport.
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What to Know About Going Through Customs and Immigration in San Jose International Airport and Guanacaste Airport
Costa Rica has 2 international airports: San Jose International Airport in Alajuela (near San Jose) and Guanacaste Airport (formerly named Liberia International Airport) in Liberia, Guanacaste.
It doesn’t matter which one you’re flying into, the process for immigration and customs in San Jose International Airport and Guanacaste Airport are exactly the same.
This post will tell you what it’s like to go through immigration and customs at both airports so you know what to expect.
Also remember that immigration is for people, customs is for luggage.
Flying Into Costa Rica
Things have gotten very easy when it comes to immigration and customs in Costa Rica. They no longer give out forms for customs and immigration.
After deplaning, you will first go through immigration and then customs.
Going Through Immigration in San Jose International Airport and Guanacaste Airport in Costa Rica
Once you get off the plane, follow the markers to immigration which you will go through first (foreign passports).
Just a side note, there is a bathroom in the immigration area with 4 stalls and immigration has air conditioning. There are also bathrooms in baggage claim and in the main terminal of the airports on either end.
Families go through immigration together. Spouses go together and if you’re traveling with friends, normally they will ask each adult to go separately.
When your turn is called, go up to the desk to go through immigration.
What the Officer Will Ask You
First, hand your passport to the immigration officer. They will scan it and look at your picture.
Then they will ask you for the following:
Your passport. Must be valid, original and not expiring during your time in Costa Rica.
Your lodging information. Usually they want to know your first destination and your first hotel you’re staying at. If you’re staying at an Airbnb, tell them the location and that it’s an Airbnb.
Your return itinerary out of Costa Rica. You must present proof of exit within 180 days if you are in Group 1 (and if you want a 180 day tourist visa). Immigration is getting more strict so have this ready to show. This is your airplane ticket (best proof) out of Costa Rica. You can print it out or show it to them on your phone.
If you do not show a plane ticket out of Costa Rica in 180 days, the officer may give you 90 days or even for the number of days until your flight out. Even though the tourist visa for Group 1 countries is valid for up to 180 days, it is at the discretion of the officer for how many days they want to give you.
You can answer in English. All officers speak basic English and are very used to tourists.
Tourist Visas
***Some officers do not stamp passports anymore…but if you are renting a car, you will need the stamp to show as a tourist visa and for how many days you are valid to be in the country. If the officer doesn’t stamp your passport for some reason, ask them to and make sure they also write how many days your tourist stamp is valid for. Foreigners can only legally drive for however many days their tourist visa is valid for (how many days written in your passport).****
After they’ve asked you all the questions, the officer will stamp your passport. In the stamp, they will write how many days your tourist visa is valid for.
This is equal to how many days you can legally stay in Costa Rica. They’ll hand your passport back to you and you’re clear with immigration.
Tip: I like to check my immigration stamp when I’m waiting for my luggage. One time, my immigration officer forgot to write in how many days my visa was valid for because she was on the phone and I had to go back to immigration in order for her to fill it in. Luckily I checked it while I was in baggage claim.
Now you need to pick up your luggage if you have any checked luggage and clear customs.
Baggage Claim and Customs
After you finish immigration, you will go to baggage claim which are through the double doors. There aren’t that many carousels so you’ll easily be able to find yours.
Pick up all your luggage (they have free carts if you need them) and take them to the luggage scanners which is the customs.
Now you will go through customs. Go to any line and put ALL your luggage, backpacks, bags, purses and carry ons to be scanned.
Everything you are carrying needs to be put in the scanner except for duty free bags if you just purchased anything in the Costa Rican duty free store after immigration.
Go around the other side, pick up your luggage and then you’re free! If you happen to get stopped by the custom officer, pick up your luggage and bring it over to the side where they can examine it.
I have been stopped three times. Once when I brought down two computer towers, another time they confiscated some food (I had leftover dried fruit from the flight) and another time when I brought down some shower heads which they didn’t confiscate.
If you’re moving here or if you live here: I’ve brought down a ton of stuff to Costa Rica including Roombas, dog treats, dog toys, cameras, drones, faucets, shower heads, laptops, car side view mirrors, and all sorts of stuff. Make sure you pack them without tags and wrap them carefully with clothes.
Exit
You’ll exit through a pair of swinging doors (the ones that say, no going back beyond this point) and be out in the airport.
At San Jose International Airport, you will exit to the outside. You will see all the drivers, taxis, tour companies and guides waiting to your right. You may need to walk down the sidewalk a bit to find your person.
At Guanacaste Airport, you will exit into the actual airport terminal. Mostly everyone is waiting outside straight ahead.
How Long Does it Take to Go Through Customs and Immigration in San Jose Airport and Liberia Airport?
How long it takes for you to go through customs and immigration in San Jose Airport and Guanacaste Airport depends on when you are flying into Costa Rica and the time you land.
San Jose International Airport takes much longer than Guanacaste Airport, especially if you are landing during the day on Friday-Monday during high season (December through April. July is also very busy).
Pack your patience because it may take at least an hour or so to get through the lines, could be even more in February and March.
Noon to mid afternoon is the busiest time at the airports as multiple flights land at the same time.
For Guanacaste Airport, it’s always been faster because there aren’t as many flights. However, it can still take 30 minutes to an hour if you are landing during the high tourism months anytime from 11 AM to 2 PM as many flights arrive between those hours.
Pack your patience if you are landing at either airports during Christmas, New Years, Spring Break, Holy Week or North American summer vacation months.
To see what it’s like to go through customs and immigration in San Jose and Guanacaste Airport, you can watch the following Youtube videos. These videos are for our Costa Rica car rental discount so you’ll see where to meet the Adobe Car rental agent.
San Jose International Airport
Money Exchange, Duty Free, Car Rentals, Etc.
You can find money exchanges and duty free at both airports after immigration. Below is the money exchange and duty free at Guanacaste Airport. Still open at 730 PM.
Hint: we do not recommend exchanging money at the airport. They give an extremely poor rate. You can use your credit card and USD until you can go to a bank to exchange money which will give the best rates.
If you really want to get some local currency right away, just exchange a little amount like $20 USD or so first until you can go to the bank. You can also get local currency at supermarkets if you pay in USD – they will give change back in CRC.
Read more about handling money in Costa Rica here.
The money exchange, SIM card stand and duty free are in baggage claim at San Jose International Airport. SIM card stand by baggage claim 5 at SJO Airport.
You will also see car rental companies at baggage claim at both airports. This is where you check in, if you already have a reservation with them.
Learn about car rentals at Guanacaste Airport.
And that’s it! See, isn’t that easy? Nothing to worry about! That is all you need to know about going through customs and immigration in San Jose Airport and Liberia Airport for a stress free arrival.
Read more Costa Rica travel tips below!
What to know about grocery shopping in Costa Rica
15 things to know about Costa Rica before you visit
10 mistakes to avoid in Costa Rica
Common scams and how to avoid them in Costa Rica
Costa Rica Vacation Checklist
- First time to Costa Rica? Read our First Time in Costa Rica guide.
- Not sure how to move around Costa Rica? Read our How to Get Around Costa Rica guide to find the best transportation method for you.
- Click the link to get our detailed Costa Rica Packing List so you know what essential items to bring.
- Check our Costa Rica destinations map and Costa Rica restaurant map
- Do not forget to purchase Travel Insurance for your trip to Costa Rica.
- Stay connected by purchasing a prepaid SIM Card in Costa Rica.
- Save money with Mytanfeet Deals for tours and hotels and our Costa Rica Car Rental Discount.
Dana M Robbins says
HI! Will it be a problem if I fly into SJO, stay overnight, then depart SJO for Panama? I know it seems odd, but it beats flying an overnight trip of paying twice as much…..
Sammi says
Hi Dana! That is not a problem but I would recommend to book a hotel near the airport. You can’t really stay overnight or sleep in the airport and there’s not much around. You can find many cheap hotels near the airport like Terida or you can check this post: hotels near San Jose Airport for recommendations.
Laura says
Hi! We are flying into SJO and are meeting family who are flying in 3 hours after us. Where do you recommend waiting for them? Should we wait to go through customs or meet them after customs? Love your post. Thanks!
Sammi says
San Jose Airport doesn’t have a waiting area after customs as it leads directly outside the airport. There is a small cafe called Malinche at the airport but for 3 hours, I would actually recommend to take a 2 minute taxi to the Denny’s Restaurant across the street. There is also a Rostipollos restaurant and Fiesta casino so you can at least eat and rest for a little bit because 3 hours is a long time at San Jose airport since there’s nothing really at the airport.
Christina says
When flying out of San Jose back to the US, about how much time would you recommend to allow for customs and security-how early before our flight should we get to the airport?
Sammi says
You should always arrive at least 2 hours before an international flight and that is the same for San Jose AIrport. You won’t go through customs flying out of San Jose (you will when you arrive in USA). Customs is only for international arrivals. You will go through security at San Jose Airport.
Sammi says
Hi Mare! You can write USA, if you’ve never lived in Japan and don’t live there currently. Usually country of origin is nationality.
Mare says
So thankful to have found your website! I leave in four days and I’ve learned so much!
On these forms, I am an American but born in Japan while my father was stationed there. Is my country of origin the place of birth?
Thanks!
Lori says
Thank you for this really helpful info. I am meeting a friend at LIR, she’ll be on a different flight. Would you recommend I wait for her prior to customs or should I go through and meet her on the other side? Is there a good meeting point and/or wifi or should we get international coverage and prepare to text for meetups?
Sammi says
Depending on the time difference between flights, I’d meet her at the cafe outside the airport. It’s much more comfortable than waiting for her inside the airport. Once you exit the airport, walk to the left and you’ll see a small cafe outside where you can sit, get food, drinks, etc.
Frances says
Hi. Thanks for all this great info. I read somewhere that there is a duty free shop at LIR where you can buy liquor for a good price and that each person is allowed 5 litres to bring into Costa Rica. Is this accurate? And is this duty free shop before you go through customs?
Sammi says
Hi Frances, yes there is a duty free in Liberia airport, it’s right next to currency exchange after you pass immigration. I am not positive about the amount but that sounds about right. Last time I bought 3 liters with no problem. I gota
Mary Ann says
Hi, do you think prices are better in the duty free shop or in the grocery in Tamarindo for liquor? Thanks
Sammi says
Definitely duty free – stock up!
Sami says
I arrive a few hours before my friends and will be getting a rental car from Alamo while I wait for them. Should I wait at the office or can I park at the pick up exit near where taxis are waiting?
Sammi says
Hi Sami, if you’re picking up your friends from the airport, you can just pick them up at the arrivals area of the airport.
Gaby says
I’m travelling to Costa Rica in december but it’s like a 9 hour layover, how do the customs work? I’ll be travelling with the same airline so do they keep my big luggage in the meantime and should I just say San Jose when they ask me for the address? I’d like to go out and explore the city while I wait for my flight to the final destination, what do you recommend? 🙂
Sammi says
Hi Gaby, because your layover is 9 hours, you have to pick up your luggage. The airline won’t keep it for you because the layover is longer than 4 hours so you need to pick up all your luggage, go through immigration and customs. For your time in Costa Rica, I even recommend booking a cheap hotel so you can shower and everything.
So it’ll be exactly as if you were staying in Costa Rica for a week when you land. You’ll pick up all your luggage, write your hotel (if you book one) as your destination in San Jose and then go and have fun for a few hours. Then when its time for your flight, you have to re-check in so you need to go to the counter, check in your luggage and go through security.
Becky James says
The immigration form asks about pharmaceuticals. Does that mean you have to declare your prescribed medications?
Sammi says
If you have medications like opioids, you should declare them and also bring your prescription. We also recommend if you have prescription medicine like that, to have a written list of your prescriptions and the active ingredients in your medications just in case of emergency.