Exporting guide to

Costa Rica

Overview

Costa Rica is a Central American country bordered by the Caribbean Sea to the north east and the Pacific Ocean to the south west.

Trade statistics

£107.0 million total UK exports to Costa Rica for the four quarters to the end of Q2 2022

(Source: ONS UK total trade: all countries, seasonally adjusted
Last updated: October 2022)

121st largest UK export market

(Source: ONS UK total trade: all countries, seasonally adjusted
Last updated: October 2022)

less than 0.1% of total UK exports for the four quarters to the end of Q2 2022

(Source: ONS UK total trade: all countries, seasonally adjusted
Last updated: October 2022)

UK-Central America association agreement

The UK has signed an association agreement with a number of Central American countries, including Costa Rica. Read our latest updates for more information on the status of this agreement and how it may benefit your business.

Top five UK goods exported to Costa Rica, in the four quarters to the end of Q2 2022

Goods Value (£million)
Cars 11.6
Specialised machinery (capital) 7.0
Medicinal & pharmaceutical products 3.5
Plastics in non-primary forms 3.0
Other chemicals 3.0

Source: ONS Trade in goods: country-by-commodity exports
Last updated: November 2022
Download the latest trade and investment factsheet for Costa Rica.

Costa Rica: at a glance

Economic growth

7.8%

Actual figure (IMF, 2021)
The UK is 7.4% (IMF, 2021, projected figure)

GDP per capita

$12,436

Actual figure (IMF, 2021)
The UK is $47,329 (IMF, 2021, projected figure)

Currency

Costa Rican colon

Business languages

Spanish

You may need a translator

Time zone

GMT -6

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Opportunities for exporters

The Department for Business and Trade team in San José has identified opportunities for UK companies in the following sectors.

Check for trade barriers

Trade barriers, such as tariffs or taxes, can raise costs, cause delays, or even stop you from exporting. Check for any issues that may impact your business when exporting.

See current trade barriers

See resolved trade barriers

Check duties and customs

Find information on how to export goods from the UK. View the duties, rules, restrictions, and the documents you need for your products.

See current duties and customs procedures

Doing business in Costa Rica

Preparing to export

Register with Costa Rica's Customs agency

You must be registered with the General Customs Agency (DGA) and have submitted the appropriate paperwork.
This includes:
the Unique Customs Declaration of importation carried out by a customs agency

original commercial invoice

original transportation documents customs value declaration
It is strongly recommended that you hire a customs agency authorised by the National Customs Agency.

Guidelines for specific goods

There are additional requirements for certain import goods to enter the Costa Rican market.

Agricultural products must be registered with the Agriculture and Cattle Ministry and comply with phytosanitary or zoo-sanitary certifications.

Other products such as food, cosmetics, fertilisers and dangerous chemical products must be registered with the Health Ministry.

Products with additional safety measures must be registered with the corresponding authorities and comply with international guidelines. They include food, cosmetics, fertilisers and dangerous chemical products.

Operating in Costa Rica

Intellectual property

Intellectual property (IP) rights are territorial and rights granted in the UK do not provide protection elsewhere. You should consider getting IP protection abroad if you want to trade overseas or sell to overseas customers via the internet.

The Intellectual Property Office provides practical information to help you protect, manage and enforce your IP abroad. Further support for British businesses can be found through a network of IP attachés, based in key UK export markets.

Tax-free zones

Costa Rica offers incentives and benefits to companies looking to invest and export in the country.

The Costa Rican Foreign Trade Promoter (PROCOMER) agency can grant benefits fully or for a 10-year period. They can cover corporate income tax, custom duties on imports and exports, sales tax stamp duty and territorial tax.

Challenges

Bureaucracy in Costa Rica can be overwhelming and obstructive due to the multiplicity of government agencies, institutions and required procedures.

You should seeking experienced professionals who know the legal and regulatory landscape to operate efficiently.

Next steps

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Get ready to do business abroad

Step-by-step lessons to accelerate your exporting ability.

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Contact an international trade advisor

Get in touch with your local trade office for advice from an international trade adviser.

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