Film permits and documentation in Costa Rica

Filming in Costa Rica is straightforward when the paperwork is done early and by someone who knows who to call. Fonktown handles every permit, visa, insurance policy and invoice for your production, so your crew lands with everything signed and you shoot on schedule.

Who issues film permits in Costa Rica

Costa Rica has no single national filming permit. Each location belongs to a different authority, and most shoots need two or three of them at once:

• Costa Rica Film Commission (PROCOMER). The official point of contact for international productions. It does not issue permits itself, but it coordinates with the other institutions, speeds up answers and registers the projects that apply for the film incentives.
• SINAC (national parks and protected areas). Around a quarter of the country is protected: Manuel Antonio, Corcovado, Tortuguero, Arenal, Monteverde and the rest of the parks and reserves. Each one is permitted separately, with a filming fee per day that depends on the type of project. A small shoot can be approved in days; a large production with vehicles, drones or night work can take weeks, so this is the first permit we start.
• Municipalities. Streets, squares, beaches outside protected areas, markets and public buildings are permitted by the local municipality (San José, Santa Cruz, Garabito, Puntarenas, Limón and the rest). Road closures and traffic control are arranged with the municipality and the traffic police.
• Civil Aviation (DGAC) for drones. Commercial drone flights need a certified operator and, in cities, near crowds or near airports, a specific authorisation. We work only with licensed pilots and request the flight permits for you.
• Private locations. Hotels, haciendas, farms, houses and beaches with private access need a location release. We negotiate the agreement and the fee and keep the signed paperwork on file.

Our permits service

• One brief: send us the script or treatment, the locations you have in mind and your dates. We tell you the same day what each location needs and how long it takes.
• We prepare and file every application, pay the fees on your behalf and chase the answers.
• We put the permit on set: our producer carries the originals and deals with park rangers, police or neighbours so the director never has to.
• If a location cannot be permitted in time, we propose an alternative that can.

Visas and crew entry

Most European, North American and Latin American crews enter Costa Rica without a visa for short stays. Some nationalities need a visa in advance, and equipment, props and wardrobe arriving as luggage have their own customs rules. We check the passport list of your crew, prepare invitation letters when they are needed and help your team through customs at the airport.

Insurance

We arrange local production insurance for your shoot: public liability, equipment cover, vehicles and, when a location asks for it, the specific policy it requires. Many municipalities and all national parks ask for proof of insurance before issuing the permit, so we include it in the file from the start.

Local invoicing and film incentives

Fonktown can act as your local production company in Costa Rica: we contract crew, suppliers and locations under our company, invoice you in dollars or euros and deliver a single cost report at wrap. The Costa Rican film investment law (Ley 10.071) gives international productions approved by PROCOMER tax benefits, including the exemption of import taxes on equipment brought in temporarily and VAT refunds in specific cases. Projects must be registered before shooting; we prepare that application with you as part of our production services in Costa Rica.

Film permits in Costa Rica: frequent questions

How long do film permits take in Costa Rica? Municipal permits are usually the quickest. National park permits depend on the park and the size of the shoot: from a few days to a month. Start as soon as your locations are confirmed.

Can we fly drones in Costa Rica? Yes, with a licensed operator and the right authorisation. Flights are restricted in cities, near airports and over crowds, and some national parks do not allow them at all.

Do we need a local production company? It is not compulsory, but permits, insurance and invoicing are far easier through a Costa Rican company, and the film incentives require a registered local partner.