Can you bring cash to Costa Rica?

• Cash

  allowed, declaration may be required

  Declare cash and/or títulos valores (securities/bearer instruments) of US$10,000 or more (or the equivalent in other currency) when entering or leaving

  Art. 35 Ley 8204 as quoted in Decreto 44096: 'Al ingresar en el país o salir de él, toda persona, nacional o extranjera, estará obligada a declarar el dinero efectivo o los títulos valores que porte, si la cantidad es igual o superior a los diez mil dólares … (US$10.000,00) o su equivalente en otra moneda.' The 'Declaración de dinero en efectivo y/o títulos valores' form (issued by the Instituto Costarricense sobre Drogas) is available at the migration posts; it must be completed and signed before finishing immigration and handed to Customs (arts. 4, 8, 11, 17). Failing to declare, or declaring a different amount, means 'la pérdida inmediata del dinero en efectivo y/o títulos valores a favor del Instituto Costarricense sobre Drogas' (art. 5) — it does not stop you entering or leaving. The threshold is 'igual o superior' — exactly US$10,000 must be declared. Cross-check: GOV.UK also says declare cash/travellers cheques of US$10,000 or more.

  Also covers: cash, currency, money, us dollars, colones, euros, traveller's cheques, bearer instruments, securities, efectivo

  Download border card (PDF)

  Source Decreto Ejecutivo N° 44096-MP-H-MAG-MOPT-MGP-MSP, Reglamento al artículo 35 de la Ley N° 8204 (cash and bearer-instrument declarations) — SCIJ/Sinalevi, Procuraduría General de la RepúblicaChecked against the source on 2026-10-09

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Informational only — not legal advice. Customs rules change; confirm with the official source above before you travel. See update history