Restricted Products
Do not ship these products to your address, as they cannot be transported. You will be required to pay for their destruction or cover the return shipping costs.
Prohibited Products
Do NOT send these products to your address. They cannot be transported, and you will be responsible for the costs of destruction or return.
These products are not transported under any circumstances, and no claims will be accepted for them.
Products
- Live animals
- Weapons, knives, sabers, swords, spears, crossbows
- Saddlery items (e.g., horse saddles)
- Items under regulation DOT-SP 20936
- Cotton candy sugar
- Sugar, glucose
- Wet-cell batteries
- Batteries containing chemicals or considered hazardous materials
- Coal
- Dehydrated or dried meats
- Matches
- Certificates of value and any type of securities
- Checks
- Any flammable, corrosive, or explosive item
- Any item containing alcohol as its main ingredient
- Cash and coins
- Lighters
- Pressurized containers
- Stamps or tickets of any kind
- High-power explosives
- Fire starters
- Fireworks
- Gas
- Tear gas or pepper spray
- Gems or precious stones
- Gas-powered tools
- Tools that run on gas
- Milk in any form
- Tires for cars, bicycles, and/or motorcycles (new or used)
- Manuscripts
- Tattoo machines and accessories
- Ammunition, firearms, and firearm parts
- Passports or identification documents
- Plants
- Gunpowder
- Perishable goods
- Refrigerators, freezers, beverage storage equipment
- Used underwear
- Stamps and tickets of any kind
- Cleaning solutions
- Psychotropic substances, precursors, and controlled substances
- Credit or debit cards
- Gift cards
- Academic, real estate, or any other type of official certificates
- Vapes and their liquids
- Poisons
- Used shoes
- Real wicker
Special Handling
Personal items that can be imported in small quantities (no more than 4 units).
These items are restricted by local customs and require additional permits.
Products
- Deodorants
- Beauty powders
- Beauty products
- Creams
- Gels
- Non-corrosive cleaning solutions
- Mouthwash
- Electric scooters
- Nail polish
- Oil candles
- Perfumes
- Sunscreen or tanning lotion
- Sweeteners, flavorings, and food colorings
- Car shock absorbers
- Lithium batteries (depending on quantity)
- Batteries labeled as dangerous goods, UN3480
- Airbags
- Chargers
- Aerosol containers
**These products are shipped consolidated once a week, depending on airline availability, at no additional cost.
To verify whether your item is categorized as a Special Handling Product in Costa Rica, please contact our customer service team via WhatsApp at 7009-1159.**
Restricted by Local Customs
These items may have certain local restrictions or require special permits to enter the country.
These products include, but are not limited to:
REQUIRE A PERMIT FROM THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH
Products
- Cooking oil
- Massage oil
- Acetone
- Citric acid
- Aerosols
- Bottled water
- Mineral water
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Needles
- Ampoules
- Anesthetics
- Antibiotics
- Cotton applicators
- Air fresheners
- Asphalt
- Potassium bicarbonate
- Sunscreen
- Coffee capsules
- Calcium
- Empty capsules for pharmaceutical use
- Calcium carbonate
- Used cell phones
- Wax (hair removal)
- Chewing gum
- Cocoa powder
- Chocolates
- Cyanide
- Calcium chloride
- Baby food purées (Gerber)
- Orthopedic collar
- Food coloring
- Used desktop computer
- Condoms
- Candies
- Cream
- Whipped cream
- Powdered cream
- Band-aids
- Other salts
- Nasal decongestant
- Defibrillator
- Deodorants
- Solvent
- Transglutaminase enzyme
- Medical equipment
- Orthopedic equipment
- Glucose meters
- Coffee essences
- Nail polish
- Malt extract
- Canned fruits
- Cookies
- Gauze and/or bandages
- Teeth whitening gel
- Medicated gel
- Gelatin powder
- Gels
- Eye drops
- Ear drops
- Dental floss
- Processed vegetables
- Dental instruments
- Soap
- Bar soap
- Jellies
- Syrups
- Syringes
- Sex toys
- Lancets
- Used laptop
- Laxative
- Liquor and alcoholic beverages
- Contact lens solution
- Peanut butter
- Makeup
- Therapy, massage, or electro-patch machines
- Massagers
- Medications
- Baking mixes
- Crutches and fracture support devices
- Other dental preparations
- Other carbonates
- Chromium oxide and other oxides
- Nitrous oxide
- Popcorn
- Disposable diapers
- Nicotine patches
- Cotton-type patches
- Toothpaste
- Pasta and noodles
- Amylase tablets
- Vitamin supplement tablets
- Dental adhesive
- Perfumes
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Potassium peroxide
- Baking powder
- Shaving preparations
- Edible products
- Beauty products
- Personal care products
- Spray products harmful to the ozone layer
- Natural products or vitamins
- Hair products
- Used projectors
- Cake
- Chemical reagents
- Powdered drinks
- Makeup remover
- Paint or varnish remover
- Mosquito repellent
- Pastry products
- Flavorings
- Salt, sea salt, or refined salt
- Tomato sauce
- Seasonings and dressings
- Syrup
- Snacks
- Urinary catheter
- Instant soups
- Soy
- Dietary supplements
- Baby formula
- Suppositories
- Used tablets
- Purification tablets
- Tampons
- Tea bags
- Inks and paints
- Hair dye
- Feminine pads
- Tortillas
- Dental treatments
- Ointments
- Vinegar
- Yogurt and other dairy products
Observations
- LM Express recommends not importing more than 3 units of the product.
- Processing time (including warehouse release): 7–8 business days.
- Permit processing fee: USD $14.00 + VAT.
- It is an essential requirement that you provide us with a medical prescription or medical report for processing permits for medications, pills, syrups, suppositories, medicated gels, and similar products. Otherwise, the permit cannot be processed, and no claims will be accepted for these types of packages.
- For medical equipment, you must provide a letter explaining the intended use of the item, as this document is required by the Ministry of Health.
- LM Express processes import permits with the Ministry of Health for packages as long as the total value of the goods requiring the permit does not exceed $500.
- For any permit request with a value greater than $500, the importer must go directly to the Single Trade Window (Ventanilla Única de Comercio) of the Ministry of Health to obtain the import permit.
- If a package contains more than one item and one of them requires a permit — and the items do not come in separate boxes — the permit must be processed first. Afterward, the nationalization process can proceed. If the permit is not approved, the entire content will be considered abandoned according to customs regulations.
- If the Ministry of Health rejects the permit, you will be notified of the reason via the email registered in our system.
- The cost of the permit processing fee will still be applied. Transportation services and permit fees must be paid as usual.
- IMPORTANT: LM Express, as an Auxiliary of the Public Function, cannot accept claims for situations beyond our control, as the company must comply with customs regulations.
- Remember that LM Express does not charge storage fees for packages during the first 30 calendar days. After that period, the customer must pay storage fees ($50 and up) directly to the Fiscal Warehouse.
- The consignee is responsible for being informed about the requirements and procedures needed for nationalizing their purchases, as well as ensuring they have the required documentation. For guidance, you may contact our customer service team. Please note that LM Express is not responsible for processes, permits, documentation, or any additional costs that may arise.
Products Requiring Import Permits from Various Government Entities
- LM Express does not handle import permits for the following cases.
- Storage is NOT included, and the customer must pay it directly to the Fiscal Warehouse.
- No claims will be accepted for these types of packages.
These products include, but are not limited to:
Products
- Tobacco in cigarettes (requires payment under Tobacco Law 9028)
- Tires
- Electronic cigarettes with replacement cartridges or essence (requires payment under Tobacco Law 9028)
- Loose tobacco for making cigarettes (requires payment under Tobacco Law 9028)
- Storage is NOT included; the customer must pay the fee directly to the Fiscal Warehouse
- Applied duties for electronic cigarettes or tobacco products are based on Tobacco Law 9028
- LM Express does not process permits, and it is the customer’s responsibility to obtain them through the customs agency of their choice. No claims will be accepted for these products.
Ministry of Environment and Energy, Products Requiring Import Authorization from the Governmental Ozone Commission
- LM Express does not process these permits. It is the customer’s responsibility to obtain them through a customs agency of their choice.
- Storage is NOT included, and the customer must pay it directly to the Fiscal Warehouse.
These products include, but are not limited to:
Products
- Refrigerators
- Air conditioners
Require Permits from the Ministry of Governance and Police
- LM Express does NOT process these permits; therefore, it is the customer’s responsibility to obtain them through the Customs Agency of their choice. No claims will be accepted for packages of this type.
- Storage fees are NOT included, and the customer must pay them directly to the Bonded Warehouse.
- Require permit
Products
- Electric guns, paintball guns, and CO2 accessories
- Weapons and accessories that operate with CO2
- Flare guns and smoke signal guns
- Electroshock weapons and accessories
- Sharp tools such as crossbows and bows that are not intended for sport
Require Permits from the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock
- LM Express does NOT process these permits; it is the customer’s responsibility to obtain them through the Customs Agency of their choice.
- No claims will be accepted for packages of this type.
- You may contact the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock at: 2299-4814 or 2299-4819.
- Storage fees are NOT included, and the customer must pay them directly to the Bonded Warehouse.
Products
- Wood
- Seeds
- Animal skins and products of animal origin
- Veterinary products and accessories
- Animal-use products
- Coffee beans
- Plants
- Agricultural products and accessories
- Dairy products
- Flour
Used or Damaged Products (Purchased for Spare Parts)
- Any used item requires a permit from the Ministry of Health, which LM Express DOES NOT process; therefore, it is the customer’s responsibility to obtain it through the Customs Agency of their choice.
- No claims will be accepted for packages of this type.
- Storage fees are NOT included, and the customer must pay them directly to the Bonded Warehouse.
Used Clothing
- LM Express does not handle this type of importation or its corresponding procedures.