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I am planing on taking a side trip while in Costa Rica. So my question is will I end up paying the $29.00 exit tax twice. Say I leave Costa Rica for another destination on the 15th and return to Costa rica on the 22nd then want to fly back to the US on the 23rd do I still need to pay a second exit tax on the 23rd.

If you leave CR twice by air, it's $29 twice.

It's supposed to pay for the airport infrastructure, among other things.

So.....two departures = two taxable events.

Actually, you may not have to pay it twice. But it depends on when you first arrive in CR. If you arrive on the 15th and then go onto another destination within 12 hours, you don't have to pay the exit tax. You can leave the airport and as long as your outgoing flight leaves within 12 hours of your incoming flight arriving. Otherwise, you're paying it twice.

That's true.... I connected through SJO on my way to MDE a few years back. My connecting flight departed about 5 hours after my arrival in SJO. I got an exit tax exemption, and was able to get around paying the exit tax.

I was not aware of the 12-hour-exemption. This board is GREAT.

Whenever I can get to CR, I stay FOR WEEKS, never just for a few hours. I'll admit to being addicted to sweets.

Orange and Blue Devil, thanks for clearing that up for those not familiar with this rule to avoid problems.

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Thanks to all that took the time to respond to my question. I will have about a 24 hour layover so I will not get the exemption. For 29.00 I dont think it is worth trying to slide through with an unobservant security guard.

You'd have to fool the airline employees who give you your boarding pass. No departure tax certificate (or an exemption) at check-in = no boarding pass to get through security.

+1

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bypassin' kinky, and usin' the whole chicken!!!

I will have my exit stamp from when I leave the week prior and was thinking that they might not catch the fact that I left and came back unless they look close at my passport to see I returned.

I know that they remove a portion of it at some point in the departure process, because I only have a receipt when I return. And I thought that this portion gets stamped at the gate. I could be wrong. I'll know next Monday when I return home.

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bypassin' kinky, and usin' the whole chicken!!!

You won't fool them. when you go to check in, they will ask for your exit tax slip. You can show your passport and/or boarding pass if you came in within 12 hours, but yours will be a week old.

You might as well just pay the tax ahead of time.

The form comes in 3 parts, a longer rectangular part (which you complete on the back) and 2 smaller square parts. When you buy the tax, the issuer (bank/hotel/ airport desk, etc), stamps all 3 parts and keeps one of the square parts. When you check in, the airline keeps the longer part which you complete on the back with all your info, and you keep the 2nd square part as a receipt.

I forgot about the piece they tear off. Anyways I already decided for 29 bucks, why take a chance on missing a flight for being cheap.