A study by the Georgia Tech Foundation at the border of Costa Rica detected delays in Peñas Blancas and the difficulties faced by cargo carriers when carrying out the formalities related to payments and inspection of merchandise.

Emmanuel Hess, director of the Foundation, told Prensalibre.cr that "... the formation of long lines by cargo trucks is due to several problems, including: insufficient staff at certain points in the process as well as different opening hours for providing services among institutions at the same border crossing. "

"...Also highlighted were procedures that were not applied uniformly, duplication of data provided from the documents required by users, absence of signs and user information related to the procedures, along with problems of citizen and road safety. "

Source: prensalibre.cr

More on this topic

Costa Rica's Bureaucracy Affecting Central America

April 2017

On the Nicaraguan side everything is ready for cargo transported to and from the port of Limon to save 160 kilometers, through the customs post of Las Tablillas, but endless red tape is preventing works from starting in Costa Rica.

The Legislature granting approval for a loan to finance the work, completion of administrative procedures, the holding of a tender to hire a project manager who must then then tender the work internationally, are all of the steps that have to be completed to just to get work started at the customs post in Las Tablillas.

Customs Offices in El Salvador Hindering Trade

April 2015

Cargo carriers are reporting that customs formalities can take up to 27 hours, due to the constant changes of personnel and their lack of training.

On the border of La Hachadura and Amatillo there are 15 kilometer long lines of vans which are waiting make the appropriate arrangements to pass through.

Customs Offices in Costa Rica: A Thorn in its Side

November 2014

Exporters claim that the lack of staff at border posts at certain times of the day is slowing the processes for customs clearance, security and sanitation issues.

Lack of staff and lack of coordination in the timetables for services provided to carriers are the main causes of the constant delays faced by companies that transport goods from Costa Rica to Central America.

Delays Continue at Customs Offices in El Salvador

May 2014

Problems persist in the process of reviewing merchandise at the border posts in Amatillo and La Hachadura causing delays to cargo trucks.

Double review processes, recurring failures with x-ray machine inspection and the absence of a contingency plan for unforeseen delays has generated delays of between 19 and 23 hours for the approval of entry and exit of goods, said the Salvadoran Association of International Freight Carriers (ASTIC).