Guides · Reference, not customs or legal advice

DUCA-T, waybill and manifest: every document has an owner.

Which document it takes to move cargo by road in Central America, who issues it and when. With two printable lists of what you hand over to the carrier.

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3 DUCAsF, D and T: the letter says what it is for

24 pointsIn two lists to check off and print

14 entriesWhat each document is, who issues it and when

45 ceilingsDriving hours between customs offices in Costa Rica

CR02343GoTruck’s licensed customs carrier code

One DUCA, three modes: the letter decides

The DUCA is a single declaration with three modes. It has been in force in the six countries of the region since May 7, 2019 and brought together three earlier forms: the FAUCA, the DUT and each country’s goods declaration. The last letter says what each one is for.

The three modes of the Central American single declaration (DUCA): what each one is for, who transmits it and when.
Mode	What it is for	Who transmits it	When
DUCA-FCentral American single declaration for originating goods	What it is forDeclaration for trade in goods originating in Central America.	Who transmits itThe exporter or its customs broker, through the national system or the single window; SIECA transmits it to the destination country.	WhenWhen exporting or importing originating products under free trade within the region.
DUCA-DCentral American single declaration for trade with third countries	What it is forGoods declaration for import, export and other regimes when the goods come from third countries or do not qualify for the DUCA-F.	Who transmits itImporters and exporters, according to SIECA.	WhenWhen the goods originate in third countries or do not qualify as originating in Central America.
DUCA-TCentral American single transit declaration	What it is forInternational overland customs transit declaration: it states what is on the truck, which customs office it leaves from, where it passes through and which one it arrives at.	Who transmits itThe authorized overland carrier, in SIECA’s regional portal, with the user account issued by the customs authority of its country.	WhenIn every overland move under customs control that crosses at least one Central American border.

Last reviewed: September 2026. Summary of the first line of each entry; the detail is further down. View the 5 sources (cataloged in Spanish)

Resoluciones 409-2018 y 410-2019 COMIECO: formato e instructivo de la DUCA (Alcance 98 a La Gaceta, 6-may-2019); Preguntas frecuentes sobre la DUCA (SIECA, sin fecha); Resolución 471-2022 COMIECO-CII: cobro por DUCA-F (2-dic-2022); Reglamento sobre el Régimen de Tránsito Aduanero Internacional Terrestre (anexo de la Resolución 480-2023 COMIECO-EX, vigente desde el 16-may-2024); Manual del usuario del portal de captura DUCA-T, versión 4.5 (SIECA, agosto de 2026).

On a regional dry van there are two at once

DUCA-F or DUCA-D

Covers the goods

The exporter or its customs broker transmits it.

DUCA-T

Covers the trip

The carrier transmits it and attaches the invoice and the waybill (carta de porte).

Reference information, not customs or legal advice.Taken from official regulations and notices of SIECA and of the customs authorities of the region; last reviewed: September 2026. Customs requirements change without notice, each customs office sets the time limits and the routes of each transit, and this page does not cover the national procedures of Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras or Nicaragua, or which product requires which permit. It does not replace your customs broker: confirm your operation with your broker and with your GoTruck contact before shipping.

14 documents, one by one: open the one that applies to you

Each entry opens with what the document is; inside, who issues it and when it is needed. The labels mark the operation it applies to: port ↔ plant (container between the port and a warehouse in Costa Rica), regional (dry van between two countries) and transit (cargo not yet cleared, under customs control). The indicative label marks what depends on a procedure that may have changed: confirm it before dispatch.

The declarations · What is transmitted to customs

DUCA-T

Central American single transit declarationRegionalTransitInternational overland customs transit declaration: it states what is on the truck, which customs office it leaves from, where it passes through and which one it arrives at.

What it is: International overland customs transit declaration: it states what is on the truck, which customs office it leaves from, where it passes through and which one it arrives at. It covers the cargo of a single means of transport and serves as the manifest, except for overseas or consolidated cargo.
Who issues it: The authorized overland carrier, in SIECA’s regional portal, with the user account issued by the customs authority of its country. Nicaragua operates with its own system.
When it is needed: In every overland move under customs control that crosses at least one Central American border. It is transmitted before the unit arrives at the customs office of departure, with the commercial invoice, the transport document and permits where they apply.

DUCA-F

Central American single declaration for originating goodsRegionalDeclaration for trade in goods originating in Central America.

What it is: Declaration for trade in goods originating in Central America. It includes the producer’s declaration of origin and the exporter’s certification (boxes 61 and 62).
Who issues it: The exporter or its customs broker, through the national system or the single window; SIECA transmits it to the destination country. indicative Resolution 471-2022 set a SIECA charge of US$3 for each DUCA-F transmitted through its platforms from April 1, 2023, with annual review; the amount in force in 2026 was not confirmed.
When it is needed: When exporting or importing originating products under free trade within the region. As a customs form it is valid for 30 business days from its issue, only in the country of export.

DUCA-D

Central American single declaration for trade with third countriesRegionalGoods declaration for import, export and other regimes when the goods come from third countries or do not qualify for the DUCA-F.

What it is: Goods declaration for import, export and other regimes when the goods come from third countries or do not qualify for the DUCA-F.
Who issues it: Importers and exporters, according to SIECA. How it is transmitted in each country is confirmed with the customs broker.
When it is needed: When the goods originate in third countries or do not qualify as originating in Central America.

DUA

Transit or transfer DUA and “viaje” (Costa Rica)Port ↔ plantTransitindicativeNational declaration for moving cargo under customs control within Costa Rica.

What it is: National declaration for moving cargo under customs control within Costa Rica. The “viaje” (trip) is the electronic record that controls the start and end of each move between two locations; its receipt travels with the unit.
Who issues it: The licensed customs carrier or a customs broker, by electronic transmission. The viaje is generated by the customs system (TICA, according to the 2021 manual).
When it is needed: By law, the transit must start within 72 calendar hours of acceptance of the declaration (Ley General de Aduanas, art. 140). indicative According to the Ministry of Finance manual of February 2021 (validity in 2026 not confirmed): from port to a temporary parking facility a viaje is enough; from port to a bonded warehouse a transfer DUA (same jurisdiction) or a transit DUA (another jurisdiction) is required. From the port to the temporary parking facility or to the bonded warehouse in the same jurisdiction, the run must not exceed one hour. The system indicates, based on risk, whether the unit carries an electronic seal; between bonded warehouses it always does.

Indicative data: confirm it with your customs broker before dispatch.

Last reviewed: September 2026. Plain-language summary of the rule cited. Confirm your case with your customs broker before dispatch. View the 8 sources (cataloged in Spanish)

Reglamento sobre el Régimen de Tránsito Aduanero Internacional Terrestre (anexo de la Resolución 480-2023 COMIECO-EX, vigente desde el 16-may-2024); Manual del usuario del portal de captura DUCA-T, versión 4.5 (SIECA, agosto de 2026); Preguntas frecuentes sobre la DUCA (SIECA, sin fecha); Resoluciones 409-2018 y 410-2019 COMIECO: formato e instructivo de la DUCA (Alcance 98 a La Gaceta, 6-may-2019); Resolución 471-2022 COMIECO-CII: cobro por DUCA-F (2-dic-2022); Reglamento a la Ley General de Aduanas de Costa Rica, Decreto 44051-H (SINALEVI, 2023); Ley General de Aduanas de Costa Rica, Ley 7557 (SINALEVI, versión vigente al 30-set-2026); Manual de Procedimientos Aduaneros, Ministerio de Hacienda de Costa Rica (edición de febrero de 2021).

The cargo documents · What supports the goods and the transport contract

Waybill (carta de porte)

RegionalTransitDocument that contains the overland transport contract: it describes the goods and the conditions of transport and names the consignee.

What it is: Document that contains the overland transport contract: it describes the goods and the conditions of transport and names the consignee.
Who issues it: The carrier, with the data provided by the shipper.
When it is needed: Always in overland transport: it is the transport document that supports the declarations and is attached to the DUCA-T.

Cargo manifest

Port ↔ plantRegionalTransitList the carrier presents on arrival or departure of the means of transport: transport documents, packages, weights, containers, consignees and hazardous cargo.

What it is: List the carrier presents on arrival or departure of the means of transport: transport documents, packages, weights, containers, consignees and hazardous cargo.
Who issues it: The carrier.
When it is needed: On entry and exit of means of transport; it can be transmitted in advance. In international overland transit the DUCA-T replaces it, except for overseas or consolidated cargo.

Commercial invoice

Port ↔ plantRegionalTransitDocument of the international sale, or its equivalent when there is no sale.

What it is: Document of the international sale, or its equivalent when there is no sale.
Who issues it: The seller or exporter.
When it is needed: It supports every declaration: DUCA-F, DUCA-D, DUCA-T and transit DUA. It is attached to the DUCA-T and, in Costa Rica, to the domestic transit declaration (it can be a copy).

Packing list

Port ↔ plantRegionalindicativeDetail of the contents of each package.

What it is: Detail of the contents of each package.
Who issues it: The exporter.
When it is needed: It is not among the mandatory documents of the RECAUCA or of the regional transit regulation. In Costa Rica, customs may require it when the goods are mixed and the invoice does not carry that detail (Ministry of Finance manual of February 2021; validity in 2026 not confirmed).

Indicative data: confirm it with your customs broker before dispatch.

B/L

Bill of ladingPort ↔ plantRegionalTransitDocument of title to the goods and ocean transport contract.

What it is: Document of title to the goods and ocean transport contract.
Who issues it: The shipping line or the consolidator. For pickup at the port, the customer gives a copy to the carrier.
When it is needed: When the cargo arrived from overseas and continues by land, in domestic or international transit. In Costa Rica its number and date are data of the transit declaration and the copy is attached; in the DUCA-T it is attached in overseas operations.

Certification and certificate of origin

Port ↔ plantRegionalIn Central American trade, origin is certified within the DUCA-F (boxes 47, 61 and 62).

What it is: In Central American trade, origin is certified within the DUCA-F (boxes 47, 61 and 62). For other treaties, the certificate or certification of origin that each treaty provides for is used.
Who issues it: Producer and exporter in the DUCA-F; if the producer is also the exporter, the exporter’s certification is enough. In other treaties, the exporter, the producer or the certifying body the treaty indicates.
When it is needed: To benefit from regional free trade or from the tariff preference of another free trade agreement.

Sanitary and phytosanitary permits

Port ↔ plantRegionalTransitNon-tariff authorizations for the goods: sanitary, phytosanitary or zoosanitary permits, licenses and certificates.

What it is: Non-tariff authorizations for the goods: sanitary, phytosanitary or zoosanitary permits, licenses and certificates.
Who issues it: The competent authority of each country (agriculture, health or another).
When it is needed: When the goods are subject to restriction or are of quarantine interest; they are attached to the DUCA-T and, in Costa Rica, to the domestic transit declaration. Which product requires which permit is checked with the sanitary authority of each country.

Last reviewed: September 2026. Plain-language summary of the rule cited. Confirm your case with your customs broker before dispatch. View the 6 sources (cataloged in Spanish)

RECAUCA, Resolución 224-2008 COMIECO (texto de 2008 en FAOLEX; reformas posteriores no cotejadas); Reglamento sobre el Régimen de Tránsito Aduanero Internacional Terrestre (anexo de la Resolución 480-2023 COMIECO-EX, vigente desde el 16-may-2024); Reglamento a la Ley General de Aduanas de Costa Rica, Decreto 44051-H (SINALEVI, 2023); Manual de Procedimientos Aduaneros, Ministerio de Hacienda de Costa Rica (edición de febrero de 2021); Manual del usuario del portal de captura DUCA-T, versión 4.5 (SIECA, agosto de 2026); Resoluciones 409-2018 y 410-2019 COMIECO: formato e instructivo de la DUCA (Alcance 98 a La Gaceta, 6-may-2019).

What the carrier provides · Seal, registration and guarantee

Customs seals

Port ↔ plantRegionalTransitSecurity devices that close the unit during transit: seals, mechanical or electronic customs seals (marchamos) and customs stamps.

What it is: Security devices that close the unit during transit: seals, mechanical or electronic customs seals (marchamos) and customs stamps. They carry the ISO code of the country and a unique number, and are single-use, except for reusable electronic ones.
Who issues it: They are acquired and distributed by customs or by whoever customs authorizes; the cost is paid by the interested party. In Costa Rica the electronic seal can be supplied by approved private companies.
When it is needed: In customs transit (in-bond): the seal of the customs office of departure is valid in the other countries for the whole route, and only customs can break it or authorize breaking it. The regional regulation does not impose a mandatory electronic seal; in Costa Rica, transfers and transits use an electronic seal as determined by Costa Rica’s Directorate General of Customs (Ley General de Aduanas, art. 141 bis).

Registration of the customs carrier and its drivers

Port ↔ plantRegionalTransitRegistration of the carrier, its units and its drivers with the customs authority of the country where it is domiciled.

What it is: Registration of the carrier, its units and its drivers with the customs authority of the country where it is domiciled. It generates the carrier code (ISO code of the country plus registration number), which is displayed on the sides of the tractor.
Who issues it: The customs authority of the country of domicile; in Costa Rica, the Directorate General of Customs (DGA). Customs decides on the registration of each driver within a maximum of 5 business days and assigns the driver a code.
When it is needed: Before any transit: without a registration that is in force and updated every year, the transit is not authorized. The DUCA-T portal takes the driver from the regional driver database; Panama has required it since December 10, 2025 and has not accepted manual entry since May 26, 2026.

Carrier’s guarantee (bond)

Port ↔ plantRegionalTransitThe carrier’s backing with customs for the duties, interest and fines of the transit.

What it is: The carrier’s backing with customs for the duties, interest and fines of the transit. Under the regional regime, the registered means of transport are, by operation of law, that guarantee.
Who issues it: The carrier. Customs may authorize or require that the guarantee of the vehicles be replaced by another.
When it is needed: In every international overland transit. In Costa Rica the Ley General de Aduanas (art. 41) requires a global guarantee or insurance from the overland carrier that does transit through the national territory, except for what is governed by the regional rules: international carriers under the Central American regulation are governed by it (Reglamento a la Ley, art. 53). The amount in force was not verified.

Last reviewed: September 2026. Plain-language summary of the rule cited. Confirm your case with your customs broker before dispatch. View the 6 sources (cataloged in Spanish)

Reglamento sobre el Régimen de Tránsito Aduanero Internacional Terrestre (anexo de la Resolución 480-2023 COMIECO-EX, vigente desde el 16-may-2024); Ley General de Aduanas de Costa Rica, Ley 7557 (SINALEVI, versión vigente al 30-set-2026); Manual del usuario del portal de captura DUCA-T, versión 4.5 (SIECA, agosto de 2026); Reglamento a la Ley General de Aduanas de Costa Rica, Decreto 44051-H (SINALEVI, 2023); Comunicado DUCA-T: registro obligatorio de conductores (Autoridad Nacional de Aduanas de Panamá, 4-ago-2025); Comunicado DUCA-T: uso obligatorio de la base de conductores desde el 26-may-2026 (Autoridad Nacional de Aduanas de Panamá, 8-may-2026).

A term that is not here? It is in the Glossary.

Transit within Costa Rica: customs sets the clock

A container that leaves the port without being cleared travels under customs control, and each transit carries the route and the time limit that customs indicates. A decree sets the ceiling on driving hours between 10 customs offices: 45 pairs, which apply in both directions.

Legal ceiling on driving hours · Hours between two customs offices

Limón ↔ Central

Caldera ↔ Central

Limón ↔ Santamaría

Caldera ↔ Santamaría

12h

Central ↔ Peñas Blancas

10h

Central ↔ Paso Canoas

Last reviewed: September 2026. Legal ceilings on driving hours, not travel times. The names are those of the customs offices in the decree; the controlling customs office of each warehouse appears on the declaration. View the source (cataloged in Spanish)

Decreto 41624-H-MOPT, art. 1, cuadro 3 (Alcance 84 a La Gaceta N.º 72, 12-abr-2019), que reforma el Decreto 26123-H-MOPT.

The full matrix: 45 pairs between 10 customs offices

Maximum driving hours between customs offices in Costa Rica. Read from the row to the column; it applies in both directions.
From / to	Central	Santamaría	Caldera	Limón	Sixaola	Paso Canoas	Golfito	Anexión	Peñas Blancas	Tablillas
Central	—	5	6	8	10	10	10	10	12	9
Santamaría	5	—	5	8	11	13	12	6	8	5
Caldera	6	5	—	10	13	9	9	7	9	6
Limón	8	8	10	—	3	15	14	11	13	8
Sixaola	10	11	13	3	—	17	17	14	15	11
Paso Canoas	10	13	9	15	17	—	2	13	15	16
Golfito	10	12	9	14	17	2	—	13	15	16
Anexión	10	6	7	11	14	13	13	—	3	10
Peñas Blancas	12	8	9	13	15	15	15	3	—	11
Tablillas	9	5	6	8	11	16	16	10	11	—

How to read it.Maximum driving hours between customs offices in Costa Rica according to table 3 of Decreto 26123-H-MOPT, as amended by Decreto 41624-H-MOPT (Alcance 84 to La Gaceta No. 72 of April 12, 2019). They are legal ceilings without rest stops: they do not include the rest, meal and sleep times that Costa Rica’s Directorate General of Customs (DGA) sets by resolution (values not located) or the interruptions caused by time-of-day restrictions on heavy trucks. They apply in both directions, and customs sets the time limit for each transit; they are not an estimate of travel time.

The rules of domestic transit: time limit, route and stops

When the time limit runs. From the actual departure of the unit from the place where the goods are; the transit ends when the destination records the receipt.
Which route. Only on the national routes authorized for customs transit.
No detours. Detouring, unloading or parking outside the authorized stops is not allowed.

Last reviewed: September 2026. Rules of domestic transit in Costa Rica. View the 2 sources (cataloged in Spanish)

Reglamento a la Ley General de Aduanas de Costa Rica, Decreto 44051-H (SINALEVI, 2023); Decreto 26123-H-MOPT: rutas de paso obligatorio y tiempos de rodaje, versión 3 de 3 (SINALEVI).

When a “viaje” is enough, when a declaration is required and what happens with the seal is in the entry for the transit DUA. To estimate the whole trip, use the planner: Moín → San José or Caldera → San José. The ranges by corridor are in Transit times and the services, in Dry containers and Customs transit.

Who moves each document: customer, broker, carrier, customs

In general terms, this is how the paperwork is split. The detail of each operation is defined by the sales contract, the customs broker and customs.

General split of document responsibilities between the customer, the customs broker, the carrier and customs.
Who	What they do	Documents in their charge
Exporter or importerThe customer	What they doDeclares the goods, directly or through its customs broker. Certifies origin when it claims regional free trade and obtains from each authority the permits the cargo requires. Gives the carrier the data and the copies the carrier needs for its documents.	Documents in their chargeCommercial invoice · DUCA-F or DUCA-D · Certification of origin · Permits · Packing list
Customs broker	What they doDeclares to customs on behalf of the exporter or the importer. In Costa Rica it can also transmit the domestic transit declaration. indicative If it files that declaration and does not move the unit, it must hire a licensed customs carrier (Ministry of Finance manual of February 2021; validity in 2026 not confirmed).	Documents in their chargeDUCA-F or DUCA-D, on behalf of its customer · Transit DUA, in Costa Rica
CarrierAuxiliary of the public customs function	What they doAnswers directly to customs for the move. Issues the waybill (carta de porte) with the shipper’s data, transmits the DUCA-T before the unit arrives at the customs office of departure and attaches the supporting documents. Keeps the registration of its units and its drivers up to date, and complies with the route and the time limit set by customs.	Documents in their chargeDUCA-T · Waybill (carta de porte) · Cargo manifest · Registration of the carrier and its drivers · Guarantee
Customs	What they doAt departure it checks the seal, indicates or validates the legal route and sets the time limit. At destination it checks seal, carrier code, route, time limit and packages. During the transit, only customs can break the seal or authorize breaking it.	Documents in their chargeCustoms seal · Route and time limit of each transit

Last reviewed: September 2026. General split according to the regional rules and those of Costa Rica; it is not customs or legal advice. View the 6 sources (cataloged in Spanish)

Reglamento sobre el Régimen de Tránsito Aduanero Internacional Terrestre (anexo de la Resolución 480-2023 COMIECO-EX, vigente desde el 16-may-2024); RECAUCA, Resolución 224-2008 COMIECO (texto de 2008 en FAOLEX; reformas posteriores no cotejadas); Preguntas frecuentes sobre la DUCA (SIECA, sin fecha); Resoluciones 409-2018 y 410-2019 COMIECO: formato e instructivo de la DUCA (Alcance 98 a La Gaceta, 6-may-2019); Reglamento a la Ley General de Aduanas de Costa Rica, Decreto 44051-H (SINALEVI, 2023); Manual de Procedimientos Aduaneros, Ministerio de Hacienda de Costa Rica (edición de febrero de 2021).

With GoTruck.GoTruck is a licensed overland customs carrier with Costa Rica’s Directorate General of Customs (DGA), code CR02343; the regional dry van travels with a waybill (carta de porte) and under customs transit. What the carrier handles and what falls to you or your customs broker depends on each operation: ask for it in writing when you get a quote.

The paperwork of a regional dry van: 6 steps

The exporter declares the goods
It transmits the DUCA-F if the product originates in Central America, or the export declaration (DUCA-D) if it does not. It can do so through its customs broker.
The customer gives data and copies to the carrier
Invoice, declaration number, data for the waybill (carta de porte) and, if the cargo is regulated, the permits. It is the regional dry van list on this page.
The carrier issues the waybill and transmits the DUCA-T
It does so before the unit arrives at the customs office of departure, with the supporting documents attached.
The customs office of departure authorizes the transit
It checks the seal, indicates or validates the legal route and sets the time limit to reach destination.
The customs offices along the route check without opening
On the road the goods are not physically examined, unless there are signs of an infraction. If another authority needs to inspect, it does so with the nearest customs office and records it on the DUCA-T.
The customs office of destination closes the transit
The transit ends when the DUCA-T, the unit and the goods are presented. Seal, carrier code, route, time limit and packages are checked.

Last reviewed: September 2026. General sequence of the international overland customs transit regime. View the 3 sources (cataloged in Spanish)

Reglamento sobre el Régimen de Tránsito Aduanero Internacional Terrestre (anexo de la Resolución 480-2023 COMIECO-EX, vigente desde el 16-may-2024); Manual del usuario del portal de captura DUCA-T, versión 4.5 (SIECA, agosto de 2026); Resoluciones 409-2018 y 410-2019 COMIECO: formato e instructivo de la DUCA (Alcance 98 a La Gaceta, 6-may-2019).

The crossings the cargo goes through are in Central America border crossings.

What stops a dry van at the border: check it before loading

Only the causes that are in the rules. Some prevent customs from authorizing the transit; others are infractions that each country penalizes under its own law. The articles are those of the regional customs transit regulation.

Document and operating causes that prevent a transit from being authorized or that are an infraction, and what to check before loading.
Error	What to check beforehand
A driver who is not in the regional database, or who is not the one declared	What to check beforehandThat the assigned driver is registered and active, and is the same one who arrives to load. What the rule says The DUCA-T portal takes the driver from the regional driver database and that data cannot be modified; the dates from which Panama requires it are in the entry for the driver registration. In Panama, in addition, the officer compares the driver’s ID document with the one declared: if they do not match, the officer does not authorize the DUCA-T until it is presented with the correct data.
Carrier or unit without an up-to-date registration	What to check beforehandThat the carrier code is in force and that tractor and trailer are registered. What the rule says Customs does not authorize the transit if the carrier is not registered or its registration is expired or suspended, if it has transits not completed within the time limit, or if the unit is not registered or does not meet the physical conditions (art. 43). The registration is updated every year (art. 40).
A unit that cannot be sealed properly	What to check beforehandDoors, hinges and closures of the dry van or the container before loading. What the rule says The vehicle must have secure closures and be easy to seal, so that cargo cannot be taken out or put in without breaking the seal, and have no hidden compartments (art. 16).
Seal broken, removed or changed without customs	What to check beforehandThat the seal number appears on the trip documents and is the one on the unit. What the rule says Only customs can break the seal or authorize breaking it during the transit (art. 14). Removing or breaking it without customs is an infraction (art. 34).
Leaving the route or exceeding the time limit	What to check beforehandWhich route and which time limit customs set, and that any unforeseen event is reported at the moment it happens. What the rule says The customs office of departure indicates the legal route and sets the time limit to reach destination (art. 21). Leaving the route or missing the time limit is an infraction (art. 34). In a case of unforeseeable circumstances or force majeure, customs or the nearest authority is notified immediately (art. 26).
Transshipping the cargo or changing the tractor without notice	What to check beforehandThat a breakdown on the road is reported before the cargo is moved to another unit. What the rule says Transshipment is only done on request and under the control of the nearest customs office, with a new seal. Changing only the tractor is not transshipment, but it has to be justified at the next customs office on the route (art. 27). Doing it without authorization is an infraction (art. 34).
Data that does not match between the declaration, the documents and the cargo	What to check beforehandThat packages, gross weight, description and tariff classification say the same on the invoice, the waybill (carta de porte) and the declaration. What the rule says The DUCA-T is declared under oath (art. 6) and declaring inaccurate data is an infraction (art. 34). Before customs authorizes the start, the carrier corrects or cancels the declaration without asking for authorization; once the transit is authorized it must request the correction immediately (art. 32).
Incomplete supporting documents	What to check beforehandThe regional dry van list, complete, before the loading date. What the rule says The commercial invoice, the transport document and, where applicable, the permits are attached to the DUCA-T; the manifest, only for overseas or consolidated cargo (art. 15). If the cargo is of quarantine interest, the portal opens a folder for the phytosanitary and zoosanitary certificates.
Arriving at the Costa Rican border without the customs destination resolved indicative	What to check beforehandWith the customs broker, that the destination declaration is ready before the dry van reaches the border. What the rule says According to the Ministry of Finance manual of February 2021 (validity in 2026 not confirmed), a unit that enters through a land border must be assigned to a customs regime within a maximum of two hours from the authorization of the DUCA-T; once that time has passed, only transit or bonded warehouse applies.

Last reviewed: September 2026. Plain-language summary; it is not customs or legal advice. The row marked as indicative comes from a 2021 manual. View the 4 sources (cataloged in Spanish)

Reglamento sobre el Régimen de Tránsito Aduanero Internacional Terrestre (anexo de la Resolución 480-2023 COMIECO-EX, vigente desde el 16-may-2024); Manual del usuario del portal de captura DUCA-T, versión 4.5 (SIECA, agosto de 2026); Memorando 005-2026-SDGL: verificación de la identidad del conductor (Autoridad Nacional de Aduanas de Panamá, 16-mar-2026); Manual de Procedimientos Aduaneros, Ministerio de Hacienda de Costa Rica (edición de febrero de 2021).

There are also two dated alerts, on where a Costa Rican carrier can load in Panama and on the RFID tag at Peñas Blancas: they are the last points of the regional dry van list.

Paperwork questions: 8 answers with the rules in hand

What is the DUCA-T?

It is the transit mode of the Central American single declaration (Declaración Única Centroamericana): the declaration under which cargo travels by land, under customs control, from a customs office of departure to a customs office of destination in another country of the region. The authorized overland carrier transmits it before the unit arrives at the customs office of departure. The detail is in the entry for the DUCA-T.

What is the difference between DUCA-T, DUCA-F and DUCA-D?

They are three modes of the same declaration: the DUCA-F covers goods originating in Central America; the DUCA-D, goods from third countries or that do not qualify for the DUCA-F; the DUCA-T, international overland customs transit. The first two are generated by exporters and importers; the DUCA-T, by an authorized overland carrier. On a regional dry van there are two at once: the F or the D covers the goods and the T covers the trip.

What is the waybill (carta de porte) and who issues it?

It is the document that contains the overland transport contract: it describes the goods and the conditions of transport and names the consignee. The carrier issues it with the data the shipper provides, and it is the transport document attached to the DUCA-T. See the entry for the waybill.

Does the DUCA-T replace the cargo manifest?

In international overland transit, yes: the DUCA-T serves as the manifest. There are two exceptions, cargo that comes from overseas and consolidated cargo for several consignees; in those two cases the manifest is attached to the DUCA-T. See the entry for the cargo manifest.

What documents are needed to send a dry van from Costa Rica to another Central American country?

As a base: the commercial invoice, the number of the DUCA-F already transmitted (or of the export declaration, if the goods are not originating) and the data for the waybill (carta de porte). If the cargo is regulated, the sanitary permits or certificates; if it comes from overseas, the bill of lading. With that the carrier issues the waybill and transmits the DUCA-T: all the points are in the regional dry van list and the service is on the Regional dry van page.

Is the packing list mandatory?

It is not among the mandatory documents of the RECAUCA or of the regional transit regulation. In Costa Rica, customs may require it when the goods are mixed and the invoice does not carry that detail (Ministry of Finance manual of February 2021; validity in 2026 not confirmed). That is why it is worth always sending it with the invoice.

How many hours does customs give for a transit within Costa Rica?

Customs sets the time limit for each transit. What is published is the legal ceiling on driving hours between two customs offices: for example, 8 hours between the Limón and Central customs offices, and 6 between Caldera and Central, not counting rest stops or traffic restrictions. It is not an estimate of travel time; the full matrix is in the driving hours table.

Does GoTruck do customs transit?

Yes: GoTruck is a licensed overland customs carrier with Costa Rica’s Directorate General of Customs (DGA), code CR02343, for domestic and international service, and the regional dry van travels with a waybill (carta de porte) and under customs transit. What you have to hand over depends on each operation: start with the lists on this page and confirm the rest when you get a quote. The service is on the Customs transit page.

More answers on transit times, weights and truck detention inFrequently asked questions.

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DUCA-T, waybill and manifest: every document has an owner.

One DUCA, three modes: the letter decides

On a regional dry van there are two at once

What you give the carrier: two lists to check off

Container: from the port to the warehouse

Full dry van: between two countries

14 documents, one by one: open the one that applies to you

DUCA-T

DUCA-F

DUCA-D

DUA

Waybill (carta de porte)

Cargo manifest

Commercial invoice

Packing list

B/L

Certification and certificate of origin

Sanitary and phytosanitary permits

Customs seals

Registration of the customs carrier and its drivers

Carrier’s guarantee (bond)

Transit within Costa Rica: customs sets the clock

Who moves each document: customer, broker, carrier, customs

The paperwork of a regional dry van: 6 steps

What stops a dry van at the border: check it before loading

Paperwork questions: 8 answers with the rules in hand

Paperwork in order? Get a quote.