Bringing Plants into Costa Rica

1. A plant health certificate (Phitosanitary Certificate) issued by U. S. Department of Agriculture: Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service.

3. Proof of payment of your Customs duty for plants (if applicable).

4. A plant quarantine permit issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Control ("Ministerio de Agricultura y Ganaderia" (MAG)) in Costa Rica.

Customs information:

When you pass through customs with your plant, a Customs officer will conduct a visual examination of your plant. There is a $1.00US (one U.S. dollar) fee per plant.

If your plant has a highly contagious disease that puts in threat the flora of Costa Rica, your plant will not be allowed in the country, and you will be required to take your plant out of Costa Rica. If you do not take your plant out of the country, your plant will be destroyed.

If your plant has a disease that is not highly contagious, your plant will be treated by an expert and must be hosted for 40 days or until the disease is terminated at the Custom Plant Shelter of the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Control.

You or your Customs broker will be required to show the plant's health certificate. If your plant does not have this certificate, your plant will not be allowed into the country, and you will have to send it back home.

Then, you will be required to file for a plant's quarantine permit at the the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Control ("Ministerio de Agricultura y Ganaderia"). Once you get this permit, you can take your plant anywhere within Costa Rica.

Customs will not release your plant unless you have the plant's quarantine permit. Your plant will remain at Customs or will be transferred to the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Control ("Ministerio de Agricultura y Ganaderia")'s Customs Plant Shelter in San José, Costa Rica until you get the permit: it all depends on how fast you can get the quarantine permit. You will have a visit schedule to water your plant.

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