Panama to Costa Rica | Customs and Immigration

Pretty much all have been said. About the location itself, don’t go over the bridge. Take a right first, going all the way besides it.

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People/cars: once you cross the bridge into Panama you park down along side of it. First you have to go to Migracion to get your passports stamped. They asked a few questions- where are you going, how long are you staying… but nothing crazy. We ended up using a helper to help navigate the rest (he wanted $10 at the end) and we were happy we did. He then took us to get Panama car insurance. We paid $25 and it was good for two months, they give you two copies- one for you and one for Aduana. Then we went and paid $5 for the fumagation and $5 for the inspection of our car.Once you have insurance and paid for the inspection/fumigation, you can go to the Aduana. This takes about a half hour. They need a copy of the insurance, title/registration, passport of the driver. They will also take the original passport for a minute because they put a stamp in it that you have imported a car and are not allowed to leave the country without removing the car. This is important if you are considering shipping your car to Colombia!!! This is a complicated issue… too long for this post. If you have questions, a great resource is the Overland Embassy in Panama City.

Pets: At the same office where we paid for the fumigation and car inspection, we also presented the paperwork for our dog. In Costa Rica we spent $360 to get the proper export/import paperwork with apostille. Others have said that they did not have this paperwork and were let through. That may be true, but I specifically asked the agent if this paperwork was necessary and she explicitly said YES. So the others may have just been really lucky. You can try your luck but dont be surprised if they send you back to Costa Rica. Hopefully you only suspended your TIP in Costa Rica and didn’t cancel it otherwise you won’t be able to drive back. But for the dog we only paid $25. This included an inspection where the agent just looked in his ears, mouth, and checked his fur. They provided me with a receipt and sent me the official paperwork via email later that day.

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Pretty much what others have said. I want to add info about crossing with a dog.

We had a vet health certificate and a copy of her shot records. It cost $30 and nobody ever even saw the dog. Nothing about going to an “embassy.” Your mileage may vary but this was a super easy crossing with a dog.

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All wright was have been written at the 30.01.2022.

But getting a new tip is some work. From the counter you will get a form you have to fill out by yourself. Aduana lady was a little bit lazy I think. Then make copies from passport and entry stamp and from car paper. At the first building (Paking) make your insurance for the car. only three month for 7 meters motorhome is 43 $. Better you pay in colones.

Than go back to young layz aduana lady. wait in front in the heat and expect some silly questions.

From Panama to Costa rica 2 hours twenty minutes on a Saturday afternoon with no waiting times in a queue.

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Panama entry: immigration is hidden around the corner on street behind a duty free shop. they wanted vax info (3 doses) fake hotel info and registration as proof of exit. no fees. there's a gravel car park. if you park here your definitely paying gringo tax. avoid helpers. top left pay $1 fumigation for light vehicle. the gringo tax guy will make himself known to you immediately. you can try saying you have to go to the car to get money as we were not asked for it at the final checkpoint. Aduanas is in the cluster of container building at the far end. first window on left. they want registration and passport copy and insurance copy. insurance container is clearly marked in car park. ($25 /1 month)watch out for your belongings lots of kids begging for alcohol money. duty free is pretty good, the first one as you drive in.

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CR to Panama.
Not super fast but without trouble…
1- pay for fumigation (which we didn’t get) $1
2- pay for gringo tax… yeah, you can fight it if you like but I just saved the hassle paid and got on with it. You get a receipt for you $10 per vehicle.
3- go to salud office, show vax card and passport, strangely enough you don’t get any proof you were at this office!
4- in the duty free place visit immigration, get stamp. They’ll want to see the vaxx card again, didn’t ask me for the QR that gets done online pre arrival
https://www.panamadigital.gob.pa/RegistroPacoViajero
but asked for hotel where we planned stay (made something up, didn’t ask for proof of booking)
IMPORTANT if you travel without your own vehicle you MUST have an onward flight (not a boat, not a bus… a plane ticket out) the guys next to us had a boat booked and he were told plane only, no discussion!!!) for us with the motos, no issues.
5- back to the parking but seguro $25 per moto (she gave us a copy for Aduana)
6- across parking to Aduana for TIP, here you’ll need patience!!!
-copy of title
-copy of registration
-copy of passport
-copy of insurance
30 days import seems to the norm didn’t ask about extending as that should be enough for our plans.
The whole thing on the Panama side took about 2 hours… slow but friendly!
Very quiet border, it was quite good despite the rain
Probably the second best (less stressful, no tramitadores, vendors, trucks and general chaos… good crossing

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WARNING: Rio Estrella bridge severe damage, washed away due to heavy rain.
Road closed. No way through.
Could take many weeks to repair
Check before you come through via this route.

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No info on the other entries on going Panama to Costa Rica.

Easy, quick and free! Park before the bridge in Panama (tricky!). Walk down side street to Migracion and exit Panama. Walk to bridge and enter containers down and right of bridge entrance for Aduana. Cancel TIP (no paperwork given back).

Drive across bridge. Officials will inspect passports and vehicle.

On Costa Rica side, pass through fumigation then drive up and left and through cones and park. Walk down to shops then back to bridge. Migracion is first in a white container, then Aduana is opposite.

We only reactivated CR TIP but I'm sure getting a new one would be just as easy. You'll need to purchase insurance if you don't already have it - not sure where. No copies required.

Everyone friendly, easiest crossing yet from Canada to Panama.

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