San Marcos, Costa Rica to Rio Sereno, Panama | Customs and Immigration

Really relaxed crossing. First exit Costa Rica, white building to the left before border. Afterwards get a copy of your passport left from the restaurant. Here can also ask for insurance for motorcycles 30$. Go to Panama migration, get stamp and go to white building next to migration for TIP. Like always be chill and enjoy the atmosphere. Everything is done in dollars.

Report Check-In

Samedi matin, on a franchi la frontière Costa Rica - Panama avec notre véhicule camper et notre chien. Durée totale: 2 heures (dont au moins 30mn pour le chien). Il n'y a pas beaucoup de panneaux, mais voilà le parcours: 1: au bout de la route en goudron avec des batiments officiels, prendre à gauche le chemin en gravier qui part en virage à gauche et se garer. 2: entrer dans le bâtiment moderne du Costa Rica 3: aller au guichet de l'immigration. Ils vous indiqueront de payer 8 USD pp à la machine (paiement par carte bancaire - pas de reçu, mais le numero du passeport est enregistré). Puis revenir au même guichet pour avoir le visa sur les passeports.  4: aller au guichet de la douane juste à côté dans le même bâtiment, pour annuler le TIP (on reçoit un reçu. Gratuit. Pas d'inspection du véhicule). 5: laisser la voiture sur place et redescendre à pied un le chemin en graviers pour aller à l'immigration du Panama et obtenir un visa (gratuit). 6: aller souscrire une assurance voiture (point sur Ioverlander. Attention: fermé le samedi après 16h et fermé le dimanche). 25 USD pour 1 mois. 7: aller à la douane pour obtenir le TIP (gratuit - bien faire attention aux informations saisies). 8: déclarer le chien au même endroit (voir note plus loin). 9: fumigation avec un agent du bureau de la douane (gratuit), juste devant la douane au niveau d'une chaîne. 10: bienvenue au Panama!!!    PROPRIETAIRES DE CHIEN OU D'ANIMAUX: no stress. On est tombés sur un agent vétérinaire MIDA adorable et très gentil. On lui a expliqué que les Douanes du Costa Rica n'avaient rien demandé à l'entrée du pays, ni à la sortie du territoire (en fait, on n'a pas pu le déclarer car le Nicaragua ne nous a pas donné le papier nécessaire quand on est entrés dans ce pays. Et en sortant du Costa Rica, on ne nous a pas demandé si on avait un chien, et il n'y a pas eu d'inspection dans le véhicule). Il est donc inutile de se compliquer la vie avec le papier SENASA qui coûte plus de 160 USD, c'est du racket! De plus, on a utilisé le certificat de bonne santé du Guatemala et qui datait de plus d'1 mois. L'agent a dit que c'était OK. Message aux autorités: PURA VIDA! 🤣👍
Petite astuce: au lieu d'annuler le TIP du Costa Rica, on l'a juste suspendu, au cas ou ça bloque côté Panama... Le TIP s'annuler automatiquement après 3 mois.

On doit néanmoins payer 25 USD pour le chien. On laisse notre email car on est sensés recevoir un permis d'importation dans les prochains jours .

Saturday morning, we crossed the Costa Rica - Panama border with our camper vehicle and our dog. Total duration: 2 hours (including at least 30 minutes for the dog). There are not many signs, but here is the route: 1: at the end of the tar road with official buildings, turn left onto the gravel path which curves to the left and park. 2: enter the modern Costa Rican building 3: go to the immigration counter. They will tell you to pay 8 USD pp at the machine (credit card payment - no receipt, but the passport number is recorded). Then return to the same counter to get the visa on the passports. 4: go to the customs counter next door in the same building, to cancel the TIP (you receive a receipt. Free. No vehicle inspection). 5: leave the car there and walk down the gravel path to go to Panama immigration and obtain a visa (free). 6: go and take out car insurance (point on Ioverlander. Please note: closed on Saturday after 4 p.m. and closed on Sunday). 25 USD for 1 month. 7: go to customs to obtain the TIP (free - pay attention to the information entered). 8: declare the dog in the same place (see note below). 9: fumigation with a customs office agent (free), just in front of customs at a chain. 10: welcome to Panama!!! DOG OR ANIMAL OWNERS: no stress. We came across a lovely and very kind MIDA veterinary agent. We explained to him that Costa Rica Customs had not asked for anything when entering the country, nor when leaving the territory (in fact, we could not declare it because Nicaragua did not give us the paper). necessary when we entered this country. And when leaving Costa Rica, we were not asked if we had a dog, and there was no inspection in the vehicle). There is therefore no point in complicating your life with SENASA paper which costs more than 160 USD, it's racketeering! In addition, we used the certificate of good health from Guatemala which was more than 1 month old. The agent said it was OK. Message to the authorities: PURA VIDA! 🤣👍
Little tip: instead of canceling the Costa Rica TIP, we just suspended it, in case things get stuck on the Panama side... The TIP is automatically canceled after 3 months.

However, you have to pay 25 USD for the dog. We leave our email because we are supposed
to receive an import permit in the coming days.

Report Check-In

What a friendly border! Absolutely no issues and like described before.
pay here your exit tax online for costa rica: https://www.bancobcr.com/wps/portal/bcr/bancobcr/personas/solicitudes_en_linea/pago_impuesto_salida_terrestre/

or: there is a QR Code hanging at the migration office and you have conection with claro, so possible to do right at the border, too.
New buildings but everything has signs and you find everything easily - and the staff is really, really helpful!!

But attention: The supermarket doesn't change money anymore and so you can not change colones here.
But for border crossing you only need US$ anyway. We needed 25$ for insurance (card was possible) and 25$ for the import of the dog - only cash and only the correct amount, but in the supermarket you can still change the amounts of your bills if needed.
Pets: Take care to have your papers of SENASA before you are on the border. It's the export permission of Costa Rica and the Costa Rica border checked it. Can dure up to ten days to get it, but there is a really fast&helpful vet in San Vito: Dr. Alberth Castro! Highly recommended! We got everything the same day - we marked it here in iOverlander, too. Ask at Insta @cita_la_mama or @ufbruchstimmig if you don't understand something, we are glad to help :-)

No more costs - neither for TIP or migration. Recommended crossing here!

Report Check-In

This is a very small sleepy border-crossing between Costa Rica & Panama, which is a great alternative to Paseo Canoa. On google and here it lists this border as closed on weekends. However it is open, but a bit tricky to navigate because it operates in typical Latin America fashion of you needing to understand how to make the system work.

You need to get private insurance for your vehicle to be able to enter Panama. But the person who does the insurance does not work on Sunday. However we found out from a local that it’s possible to go in to the pharmacy/general store and have the attendant there take photos of your paperwork, wait for a text response from the real insurance agent, and then complete your forms.

So what you can do is go there first, start the Panama insurance process, then go to Costa Rica border control and complete your exit paperwork while you’re waiting on a response about the insurance. The Costa Rica side has an $8 tourist exit tax, which you can pay online in advance or at a small digital kiosk with a credit card. After completing the Costa Rica exit, and receiving the Panama insurance, you then go to the Panama migration & customs and complete the entry there. The Panama customs also takes a lunch break, I believe it said 12:30-2 or something like that.

Crossing with a local Costa Rican friend, this border took us just over 2 hours on a Sunday. The longest part of this was having cake and coffee with the border agents (a VIP moment thanks to my local friend.) It took about 25-30 min on the Panama side mostly for the customs/vehicle TIP. As of now there were no terrible broken roads on either side of the crossing, it was all good new pavement

Report Check-In

Crossed from CR to PA with truck & dog. Went around 1PM. There was a bit of a line but we were flagged ahead. We didn't get any paperwork in CR for dog because it seemed like a giant scam to me as we had current US paperwork. Bit of a risk but they didn't really seem to care. Made a few phone calls, charged us $25. I think it helped that it was close to when they closed and they wanted to go home.

Everyone else's instructions are correct. Definitely do the exit tax online, the guy at the hardware store just pulls up the website and enters the information for you and takes a picture of the confirmation screen with your phone. Nice guy though. Also no one actually asked us to see it.

Directions:
CR Emigration is actually down this rock/dirt road that kind of seems like you shouldn't be driving on it. As you enter town you T into the Panama Immigration building, turn right there and follow the road until you see the fence on your left. They want you to park there so they can see your vehicle.

Seguro/Insurance - This building is more or less across the street from the yellow Copies sign (which is where you can get copies done) As you enter town you take a right at the T. The "office" is down a little side street on the left, the first you come to. It's about three structures in, also on the left. It's a very small building with a single person in it.

PA Customs - The all green building slightly to the left of the T coming into town.
Aduana - Another greenish building to the right of the T coming into town and behind the fence. At least when we were there, you have to sort of snake around the little fumigation area past some cones and around the fence. It doesn't really look like you're supposed to be there.

We went to PA customs, who sent us to Aduana, who then sent us to get photocopies and insurance and back to customs who stamped us and then sent us back to Aduana. You could save a lot of time by clearly knowing where things are and following everyone else's order of operations.

Make a copy of the suspended/canceled Costa Rican TIP. That's the only thing you can't make a copy of beforehand.

Report Check-In

Exit CR. Save the hassle and a few extra dollars by paying your exit tax from Costa Rica online. Exit stamp at immigration. Can suspend or cancel TIP at aduana. Easy smooth process.

Enter Panama. Slow going bureaucratic process with no lines Only waiting on officials. Despite filling out required health pass for Panama online and receiving QR code in email, staff wanted a paper copy with all the dates of vaccinations and QR code as apparently they can’t scan the code. Copy shop down the hill (big yellow sign) was very helpful in getting proof off our phones onto paper. Onto immigration, stamped in. Buy insurance before going to aduana for TIP. 30 days given. $6 for fumigation. Pulled van into fumigation area and got sprayed then brief inspection.

Report Check-In

Costa Rica Immigration closes at 4pm and opens at 8am! We were 5 minutes past closure and were out of luck! Very nice security guard though. Let us use the bano.

Report Check-In

This was the easiest border crossing we have done on our whole trip from USA.
No que, no stress. Just very helpful nice people.
1. Pay export tax at hardware store in cash 8 usd per person.
2. Emigrate costa rica side at emmigration.
3. go to next window and cancel or pause tip.
4. Go pay for panama vehicle insurance (it is on ioverlander down the road.
5. Go to panama immigration. (We didnt need forward ticket cause we told them we were in a vehicle)
6. Go to panam aduana 20 meters away. Give details and pay 2 usd cash for fumigation
7. Go to the grocery store and by the cheapest milka oreo chocolate we have ever seen.

Enjoy!

Report Check-In

We came here to avoid the horrible sounding Paso Canoas border. Super chilled and we were the only ones crossing with a vehicle BUT on the Panama side they gave us a different type of TIP which was due to the pope's visit, even though the dates stated had expired on the sticker we got. This gave us a major major headache down the line as we can't renew it until the day we are supposed to get the police inspection for the loading of the ship. For this reason I really really recommend using Paso Canoas as they'll have all the right documentation. Fumigation is now $3.

Report Check-In

Update on this, I was there today trying to cross from Costa Rica into Panama...
Immigration and Aduana are open from 8 to 5 Costa Rica time. To pay the immigration fee for exiting Costa Rica can be done at those times as long as you have a credit card, since there is a machine there. The shops that sell the insurance for Panama are open on Saturday until noon, but according to them if you contact them they will come and sell you the insurance off those times.
Below are the contact info for the shops:
SEGUROS FEDPAS S.A (this one says she will open the shop for you on any day if you call)
Iris Isaac
6777-2925 (Country code 507)

D&C Seguros
Geanie P Blanco
6806-6466 (country code 507)
[email protected]
[email protected]

Everything is now tarmac except for the first 50 metres on the Panama side where it is still gravel.

Now, for people who said they are strict, this border has always been known as a very difficult border.

Report Check-In

Don't cross here during the weekend. We were there on a Saturday just after noon and both offices to get car insurance were closed! Without the car insurance you cannot get the Panama car permit. On top as all your papers for Costa Rica are cancelled already, you cannot drive back in Costa Rica to go to the other big border. We were stuck there the whole weekend. The longest border crossing ever. Luckily the Costa Rican authorities agreed to REACTIVATE the cancelled TIP and stamps in our pasport, so we can head for the large border crossing instead. The exit fee needs to be paid again at the orher crossing. So we passed into Panama the day after

Report Check-In

We have adjusted the coordinates. All other information are correct. If you have some Colones left from Costa Rica you can change it at the hardware shop where you also buy the exit stamp.

Report Check-In

Crossed into Panama on 15 April 2017. Very chilled out border crossing. Notes from calderaescapes proved accurate.

Report Check-In

Before you get to the Panamanian border, the Tico Immigration is on the left. Drive around the back and go inside to get paper, fill in and then walk down the street to the hardware store (!) to pay the $8. Go back to immigration, get stamped out. Next door is the Aduana to cancel your TIP. BEFORE you go to Panama immigration, drive through the gate, park and walk back out and to the left and around the corner is Insurance. It's $15 per month. Now go to Panama immigration who will want to see Costa Rica exit stamp first. Once you have the Panama stamp, walk back out to road, go left again and the Aduana is in the little blue building. After your TIP go back behind the fence to small building on right, he makes a copy of your TIP, stamps it then pay $1 for fumigation that doesn't happen (?), then go back to immigration building to front desk where police want a copy of your TIP and passport.

Report Check-In

Little traffic. No semis. No 'helpful guides.' But road on Costa Rican side is packed gravel and were putting down tar as we came through with truck camper. 4-wheel Not required. Only 5 km of gravel road.
Very important - check VIN on required insurance. Wrong VIN will cause problems with getting Correct Panama Aduana Temp. Import stamp. Which needs to be absolutely correct when shipping out of Panama to Columbia.
Helpful guide with pictures of where buildings are. But add one more copy of passport for Aduana office. So need 3 copies. http://www.twoweeksincostarica.com/rio-sereno-border/

Report Check-In

the location appears to be a little off, but usual crossing procedure. I went from Panama to Costa Rica.
1.sign out of Panama. obvious building
2. cancel vehicle import. building just down the hill 30m on the same side.
3. get stamped into Costa Rica. go to the covered containers just behind the Costa Rica Police station.
4. bring your vehicle around to the aduana. new building behind immigration. usual paperwork with a little twist. you must buy insurance. your details will be phoned through to somebody. now take the piece of paper from the official and go down the hill to the first building on your right with the red roof. it is a supermarket. go in and proceed to the back, go upstairs where you will find a person at a desk who will take your piece of paper and 32USD for the insurance.

overall fast and easy, but very strict. I almost didn't get through due to problems with my Chile paperwork, which 7 other countries have had no problem with

Report Check-In

Uber slow border crossing but very relaxed. We were the only people crossing into Panama having to do vehicle importation. You'll need to pay an $8 USD Costa Rican exit fee, go through Migración and then cancel your CR TIP. You need to show copies of your passport and TIP. On the Panama side you need to pay $15 for vehicle insurance first. Then walk to Migración and show proof of insurance and get your passport stamped. Then walk yo Aduana with copies of your passport, vehicle's title and insurance. Make sure the info in the TIP is correct to avoid major issues when shipping your vehicle to Colombia. Pay 1USD for fumigation. Then leave a copy of the TIP and driver's passport with the police. Then your good to go.

Report Check-In

We found the boarder post quite easily. When we arrived (around 10 am) we were the only ones to cross. But also we had the problem that the electricity was down so we had to wait a bit. When you cross in Rio Sereno you need a copy of your passport to leave the Panama Boarder Post! There is a shop a few buildings away that makes photo copies for 10 cents each. When the electricity was on again (around 30 minutes) later we could cross the boarder in around 20 minutes (2 adults). Everything was relaxed and the people were very nice.

Report Check-In

Just a word of warning - the Panamanian aduana only issues a TIP for 30 days. To stay longer you have to renew it - this is free (there is a place in David). If you try to renew it when expired they will tell you that you have to import the vehicle and pay all relevant taxes!

Report Check-In

Its VERY important to put this specific spot in the GPS and not your destination, or you will illegaly cross to panama by the gravel roads

Report Check-In

Great border to cross, there's no one there. Took us 1h30mn with a dog, imigration, vehicule importation, and insurance.

Report Check-In

Came through here in late November 2014.  Very lightly traveled crossing.  Didn't see any commercial trucks. Buses carrying mainly migrant workers and folks going shopping across the border.  
Very rough  5 mile broken rock road between the border and Sabalito, Costa Rica. The Costa Rican side of the border is steep and  broken rock.  There are few services on the Costa Rican side (no places to stay or gasoline). 

The up side to this crossing is the scenery on both sides of the border, the lack of lines when crossing. (except when a bus carrying migrant workers comes through and everyone needs to have their paperwork processed) and the helpful border crossing staff.  The down side: its a long way back to wherever if the computers of either country's system is down and that does happen more on the Panama side than the Costa Rican side (so we were told). 

Report Check-In