Before shipping household goods to Costa Rica, build an inventory, compare the full delivered cost with buying locally, and have an authorized customs professional confirm the procedure for your shipment. Booking a container does not establish that your goods qualify for a particular customs treatment or exemption.
Reviewed 7 September 2026. Hacienda currently lists its household-goods policy MH-DGA-PRO01-POL-001; the document itself is dated September 2020. Confirm applicable later rules and your individual eligibility before shipping.
What is “menaje de casa”?
Hacienda describes a specific household-goods import procedure covering appropriate household items in quantities consistent with the importer’s and immediate family’s needs. The policy distinguishes household goods from vehicles, construction materials and professional equipment. Do not assume everything you own can be declared under one household category.
Ask an authorized customs broker to confirm whether this procedure applies to you and how any items outside it must be declared. Immigration approval and customs treatment are separate questions; do not rely on a general moving checklist as proof of a tax exemption.
Prepare an inventory before requesting quotes
List the items, quantities, condition and estimated values. Identify electronics by brand, model and serial number where available, and photograph valuable or fragile possessions. Keep the inventory consistent with the packing list and transport documents.
The published household policy calls for a detailed sworn list with estimated values and declaration through an authorized customs agent or agency. Have the professional handling your shipment confirm the format and supporting documents required for your case.
Compare the full cost of shipping
Request written quotes that separate packing, transport, insurance, customs handling, taxes, destination charges, storage and final delivery. Ask which amounts are estimates and what triggers extra charges. A low transport price is not necessarily a low delivered price.
Compare shipping with local replacement costs, especially for bulky furniture and older appliances. Check whether appliances suit the home and whether repairs or spare parts are practical. Our shopping guide offers questions for comparing local purchases.
Select a shipping method and provider
Discuss a dedicated container, shared shipment or air freight based on your volume, budget and timing. Ask who handles each stage, who is responsible for customs coordination, and whether the delivery vehicle can reach your property.
Check the written insurance terms, including declared value, exclusions, packing requirements, deductibles and claim deadlines. Professional packing does not guarantee that nothing will be damaged. Keep photographs and signed condition records.
Which shipping companies serve Costa Rica?
Two primary-source starting points are Maersk’s Costa Rica information page and Crowley’s Costa Rica logistics page. Maersk lists local port and office information and inland services. Crowley describes ocean, inland, warehousing and customs-related services. These are examples to contact, not a ranking, endorsement or confirmation that your particular household shipment is accepted.
Tell the company your origin, destination, inventory and approximate volume. Ask specifically whether it accepts personal household effects on that route and whether you need a freight forwarder or relocation company to arrange the shipment. A commercial ocean carrier and a household moving company may offer very different scopes of service.
Compare a carrier, freight forwarder and moving company
Ask who packs and collects the goods, books the international transport, handles customs coordination, pays local charges and delivers inside your home. A port-to-port quotation may leave packing, loading, clearance and final delivery to you. A door-to-door proposal still needs a written list of inclusions and exclusions.
For a moving company, request an inventory-based estimate and identify the destination partner before accepting. Clarify whether the company is performing each service or arranging it through another business. Obtain the legal business name, claims contact and written terms, and check references for comparable moves.
For a few parcels, compare a parcel service separately from container shipping. Do not assume its weight limits, prohibited-item rules, valuation or customs service will suit an entire household. Whichever method you choose, confirm who is responsible for export paperwork, insurance and receiving the goods.
Carrier service pages checked on 8 September 2026. Routes, acceptance, prices and included services must be confirmed in the quote for your shipment. Carrier marketing does not determine Costa Rican customs eligibility.
Check special items before packing
Tell your customs professional about food, plants, medicines, animal products, batteries, hazardous materials and any weapons. Ask which items require separate permits or should be left out. Do not add restricted goods to a shipment because another mover says they had no difficulty.
Vehicles require their own customs review and should not be treated as ordinary household effects. Pets also need separate planning; consult our pet-travel guide.
Plan the arrival and clearance
Agree on the document deadline before departure and confirm who receives arrival notices. Ask what happens if documents are missing, an inspection is required or delivery is delayed. Keep funds available for confirmed destination charges and arrange accommodation that does not depend on receiving your belongings immediately.
On delivery, compare the shipment against your inventory and report missing or damaged items within the contractual deadlines. Retain customs records, receipts and insurance documents.
Official source and next steps
Read Hacienda’s household-goods import policy, listed in its customs documents directory. Use it to prepare questions for your customs professional rather than assuming a particular shipment is already approved.