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Can you bring insulin to Costa Rica?

Short answer
Allowed, within limits

The official rule for Costa Rica below names insulin. The same rule also covers the other medicines it lists, so read the conditions carefully.

  • Injectable medication

    allowed, within limits

    Medicines plus the medical instruments and disposable items used with them (syringes, pen needles) enter duty-free as baggage in quantities matching your needs

    Art. 365(c) Decreto 44051-H covers 'Medicamentos … instrumentos, aparatos médicos … y artículos desechables utilizados con estos, en cantidades acordes con las circunstancias y necesidades del viajero' — this is a general rule; it does not name insulin or GLP-1 brands. Insulin, semaglutide (Ozempic/Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro) are not narcotics/psychotropics, so the one-month controlled-medicine authorisation (Decreto 45161-S art. 57) does not apply to them as such. Keep the prescription with you; airline rules on carrying needles and cooling packs are separate from customs.

    Also covers: injectable medication, insulin, insulin pen, syringes, needles, epipen, ozempic, wegovy, mounjaro, glp-1, semaglutide, tirzepatide

    Source Reglamento a la Ley General de Aduanas, Decreto Ejecutivo N° 44051-H (18 May 2023), arts. 365–371 — SCIJ/Sinalevi, Procuraduría General de la RepúblicaChecked against the source on 2026-10-09

Check your specific trip →All medication rules for Costa Rica →

Insulin in other countries

Insulin in every country we cover →

Other medicines

Informational only — not legal advice. Customs rules change; confirm with the official source above before you travel. Not medical advice. Don't stop or change a medicine because of a travel rule without talking to your doctor. See update history