Can you bring your household goods to Costa Rica duty-free?

Some laws let people who return or move to Costa Rica bring their household goods without paying import duties and taxes. Whether you qualify depends on who you are and your situation. This check tells you what we found in the official texts, what is missing, and what to prepare.

• Costa Ricans returning — menaje de casa (Ley 6986, art. 21 a)Adult Costa Ricans who lived abroad at least 24 consecutive months and come back for good can ask the Ministry of Hacienda for an exemption of the import duty on their household goods (new or used, reasonable for the family, from the country where they lived). The duty (DAI) is waived by the text; whether the 13% IVA, the 1% Ley 6946 and the ISC are also waived is not stated in any official text we read: our team and our customs agent confirm, and the estimate shows both figures. No value or weight cap exists in the official texts. A customs agent must file the declaration: Walio provides it.
• Retirees, rentistas and investors already granted the franchise — Ley 9996, art. 5 a)Ley 9996 gave retired residents ("pensionados"), "rentistas" and investors a one-time franchise on duties and "todos los impuestos de importación presentes" for their household goods. The window to opt in closed on 14 July 2026 (five years from publication): we do not promise this franchise to new arrivals. It applies only to people whose franchise Hacienda granted on or before that date, for ten years from the grant, once only. Whether the IVA and the 1% Ley 6946 are included is not clear (art. 5 a) does not name the IVA): our team confirms and the estimate shows both figures. Send us your residency and Hacienda (EXONET) documents.
• Diplomats, consuls and international-organisation staff — Vienna Conventions and Decreto 15877-REForeign diplomatic agents and consular officers (and members of their household who are not Costa Rican) can bring their personal-use goods, including the effects for their installation, free of customs duties, taxes and related charges, except storage, haulage and similar services. Administrative and consular staff have the same only for the goods imported at their first installation. International-organisation staff only if their headquarters agreement provides it, and if they are paid, dedicated to their duties and stay at least one year. The request goes through the Foreign Ministry (Protocol, Immunities and Privileges Department), which asks Hacienda to release the goods; the diplomatic ID (DIDI) must be registered in TICA first. Everything runs on reciprocity, and the Foreign Ministry can refuse quantities beyond reasonable limits.

1. Say who is moving.
2. Answer only the questions that apply to you: the result updates after every answer.
3. Get the documents and deadlines, and send or save the summary.