Costa Rica Aviation Permits
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Civil Aviation Authority
- Name: DGAC (Direccion General de Aviacion Civil)
- Website: https://www.dgac.go.cr
- Contact: DGAC San Jose, Costa Rica / DGAC operates 1400Z-2245Z including Sundays
Estimated Processing Time
Requirements by Operation Type
Private flights welcome, advance notification required.
Non-scheduled flights need DGAC permit, 48 hours advance.
Bilateral agreements via DGAC Costa Rica.
Overflight Permit
- Required: No
- Authority: DGAC Costa Rica
- Lead Time: N/A (48 hours advance notification to CENAMER recommended to avoid navigation fee issues)
- Validity: N/A
- Fees: No CAA processing fees
No overflight permit required for private or charter operations. However, all flights should notify CENAMER at least 48 hours in advance to avoid SENEAM-style navigation fee issues. File ICAO flight plan.
1. File ICAO flight plan 2. No overflight permit application needed 3. Notify CENAMER at least 48 hours in advance (recommended to avoid navigation fee issues) 4. No CAA processing fees 5. DGAC operates 1400Z-2245Z including Sundays
Landing Permit
- Required: No
- Authority: DGAC Costa Rica
- Lead Time: N/A (parking permission required in advance at all airports)
- Validity: N/A
- Fees: Standard landing/parking fees; no CAA processing fees
No formal landing permit required for private non-revenue or charter operations. However, ALL aircraft must obtain prior parking permission at both Airports of Entry (AOEs) and domestic airfields, coordinated via ground handler. Operations to domestic airports beyond the initial AOE require temporary aircraft importation (7-8 business days processing, applied for after landing at AOE; no fee but requires original documents).
1. File ICAO flight plan 2. No formal landing permit needed for either private or charter 3. Obtain parking permission at destination airport (coordinated via ground handler -- handler contacts airport ops via email/phone) 4. Land at an Airport of Entry (AOE): San Jose MROC, Liberia MRLB, Limon MRLM, or Tobias Bolanos MRPV 5. For domestic airport operations beyond initial AOE: apply for temporary aircraft importation after landing (7-8 business days; originals of registration, airworthiness, insurance, and Power of Attorney required) 6. DGAC operates 1400Z-2245Z including Sundays
Cabotage
No (foreign aircraft may not pick up passengers within Costa Rica)
General Remarks
One of the easiest countries in the Americas for business aviation. No overflight or landing permits needed. Parking permission required at all airports. Temporary importation needed for domestic airport operations (7-8 business days). Four AOEs: MROC, MRLB, MRLM, MRPV. DGAC operates including Sundays.