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.
LMR says
I am bringing two new shower systems down for my daughter who is building a new house. (Shower heads, valves, handles etc. ) What I have read, is that if they are out of the boxes then they don’t have to be declared? The value is around $2K US.
Can someone please verify?
Sammi says
I brought down 2 shower systems and 4 sinks in my luggage however I did get called aside even though they were all out of the boxes, no tags, wrapped in clothes and plastic bags as customs noticed them right away on the scanner. Luckily I had packed a very very old shower system in there with the new ones and the agent pulled out only the super 30+ year old one, looked at it and sent me on my way right away since they saw how old it is. It is always up to the customs agents if they decide to pull you over to check your luggage. Probably cause I was bringing 6 different sink/shower systems but for two, try to pack them in separate luggages wrapped well, tags off, none of the original packaging or anything.
Jamie Waplington says
Hi guys, thank you so much for the great site. I havent yet decided on my lenght of stay or return itinerary yet (considering exploring work (EFL teacher) and some countries to the north), and was wondering if explaining that to customs would suffice? If not could you suggest any good bus companies that travel to Nicaragua/ Pamama? Greatful for any advice… Thank you!
Sammi says
For immigration at the airports, they’ll want to see a planet ticket out. I haven’t really heard of anyone being able to use a bus ticket lately, maybe before COVID but lately they’ve been getting more strict so it’ll all be up to the immigration officers mercy if they will accept a bus ticket or not
Kathy says
You mention a four stall restroom in immigration. Is that in Guanacaste airport? Thank you.
Sammi says
Yes there are bathrooms (I believe 3 stalls) in immigration in the Guanacaste Airport, they are to the left hand side right when you go down the stairs. In baggage claim, there is only one bathroom per gender so usually it’s a longer long and there is no AC in baggage claim so I prefer to go to the immigration bathrooms.
Donna says
Hi,
This is our first trip to Costa Rica and we are wondering if we can take gluten free bread and crackers, homemade muffins, and packaged cheese. I’ve been reading conflicting information on various sites.
Sammi says
If you mean take in on the plane, I believe you can but best in check in. I’ve brought in cakes, bread, jerky, pastries before (not cheese since I don’t eat cheese but I have heard people bring cheese before)
Jane says
Hola. Senior citizen (75) first time visit 5 days from USA. So excited. Carryon/personal item with packaged snacks. Doing 2 long all day tours & rest is local sights. Can I Uber from SJO to downtown Balmoral hotel? What time to leave for flight home at noon on a Saturday (11/4)? Gracias for the great information you provide.
Sammi says
Yes there are lots of Ubers in San Jose and around the airport. You need to be at the airport at least 3 hours for international flights.
Kc says
Thank you for your article, im going solo to CR and its nice to have an idea of what to expect. Helps settle the nerves…
Viviana says
Hi! we are traveling to costa rica in a few days, our flight arrives at 8:33 am SJO airport and I booked my car rental (with Adobe thanks to you guys) at 9:00 am pickup, will they wait for me if I take longer at Customs and Immigration, I didn’t consider the time that it would take since I wasn’t aware of their procedure after arrival.
Sammi says
Hi Viviana, yes no problem, the Adobe agent will wait for you outside the airport terminal exit until you complete immigration and customs. We’ve already sent you the welcome email with more information about this
Tonya Norman says
You have been a lifesaver for us. We are visiting CR for 11 days on March 1st. We have booked a few VRBOs and Hotels along with renting our own car for the adventure. My worry is that our return flight has been booked very early in the morning leaving at 7:30. Will customs be open that early? I believe we would need to arrive around 430 am, correct?
Sammi says
Yes the airport is open at that time, there are several flights departing early. Also be aware customs is for luggage, immigration is for people.
Arlene Cunningham says
Hi,I am traveling with my cat to Costa Rica. I have all the proper paperwork- but do you know the process? Also, I have global entry. Can I bring dry cat food with me in my suitcase?
Sammi says
You need to have all your paperwork and present it when asked, and make sure you check the requirements for when your cat is on the plane, etc.
I think you can bring cat food in your suitcase with you, I have heard some people bring a little bit (dry).
Shuting says
Hi Sammy! Thank you for your post!
I’m a solo traveler entertaining the idea of going to CR for lafortuna and monteverde for a total of 5 days to escape the mid-december weather in Toronto.
This would be my first time going there and I couldn’t seem to decide how much time should I leave for the shuttle commute from Liberia airport to la fortuna. I’m looking at a flight that lands in Liberia at 12:30 PM (Dec 15, Thu) and there’s a Tropical Tours Shuttle leaving Liberia to any hotel in la fortuna at 9:30 AM and 3 PM daily. I’d only have a carry on. Do you think this leaves enough time? There seems to be not many shuttle options (twice per day) based o my research, so I’m also wondering if there’s a plan B if I couldn’t catch the 3 PM shuttle. Idealy, I’d like to not drive.
Again, thank you for your information!
Sammi says
the 3 PM will probably work as long as you don’t have any flight delays and you can get up to the front of the immigration line since noon is when like 4 or 5 flights arrive at the same time so immigration and customs takes longer. Unfortunately there aren’t many options – if you miss that shuttle, you will need to stay a night there and then get the AM one the next day. Your next best option is a private shuttle as they will wait for you whenever you finish immigration and they will wait for you directly at the airport.
Christi says
Do you think it better to fly into Liberia vs San Jose in June to reduce Immigration wait time?
Sammi says
Liberia is less busy than San Jose, but around noon, several flights land at the same time