Free Trade Zone Exporting Regulations
Companies that do business in Free Trade Zones are required to acquire an export license and are encouraged to file export declarations electronically through an Automated Export System (AES). The AES is a Costa Rican software called SIVUCE (Sistema de Informacion de Ventanilla Unica de Comercio Exterior). The AES will require your company to get an export license, and an electronic account with a user I. D. and a password to access the system. You install the software in your computer, connect to Costa Rican customs via modem, file your export declarations and take your products to the nearest port of exit.
read more closeRequired General Documents:
1. A company's export license issued by the Foreign Trade Commission (Ventanilla Unica de Comercio Exterior).
2. A Shipper's Export Declaration Form (Declaracion Aduanera de Exportacion) issued by Costa Rican Customs and endorsed by a customs broker.
3. Commercial Invoice (Factura Comercial)
5. Animal health certificate (Permiso Zoosanitario) issued by the manager of the plant of the Office of of Animal Health at the Ministry of Agriculture and Animals (Direccion de Sanidad Animal del Ministerio de Agricultura y Ganaderia) located at the Customs Port of Exit on the FTZ. The permit will be required only if your export goods are made from animals: it is issued after your merchandise has been examined.
6. Plant health certificate (Permiso Fitosanitario) issued by the manager of the plant of the Office of of Animal Health at the Ministry of Agriculture and Animals (Direccion de Sanidad Animal del Ministerio de Agricultura y Ganaderia) located at the Customs Port of Exit on the FTZ. The permit will be required only if your export goods are made from plants: it is issued after your merchandise has been examined.
7. Certificate of Product Origin issued by PROCOMER, The Industry Council (La Camara de Industrias), or Commerce Council (Camara de Comercio.) This certificate will allow you to obtain preferential treatments in specific worldwide markets.
8. Central American Form (Formulario Unico Centroamericano) if your exports go directly to the Central American Market.
9. Temporary Export Declaration Form (Declaracion Aduanera de Exportacion Provisional) if you are exporting during non-business hours.
Required Transportation Documents:
Exporting by Air: A "guia area" or "carta de porte aereo" is the document by which you formalize the shipment contract via air.
Exporting by Land: "Carta de Porte Terrestre," a document that proves the contract between the shipment and receipt of the merchandise. It does not give ownership of the merchandise to the person who has it.
Exporting by Sea: You need a receipt of shipment or bill of lading issued by a shipping company. It is a document (titulo de propiedad) that allows you to claim the delivery of your merchandise. There are normative shipments, order shipments, negotiable shipments.
Exit & Registration of Products:
A Customs Exit Officer will examine your merchandise at the Customs Port of Exit ensuring that the documentation matches the products that are being exported. Upon departure of your goods, your customs broker will provide you with an export registry (registro de divisas) along with your Tax Bond (Certificado de Abono Tributario). You will need those documents to declare the total amount of your export in U.S. dollars at the Central Bank of Costa Rica (Banco Central de Costa Rica.) You will not need a custom broker to do the above if you use the AES.