Banking & Financial Setup
What the banks will actually ask you for, and how to walk in with all of it the first time.
Opening an account here is a documentation exercise, not a formality.
Costa Rican banks apply strict know-your-client rules, and they apply them more strictly to foreigners. The account itself is not the hard part. Proving where your money comes from, in a format the compliance officer accepts, is.
We tell you which institution suits your situation, what they will ask for, how to document your source of funds, and we go with you to the appointment.
From choosing a bank to your first transfer.
- Which banks work well for foreigners, and the tradeoffs of each
- Document checklist for a personal account
- Document checklist for a corporate account
- Source of funds and proof of income guidance
- Appointment scheduling and accompaniment
- Online banking activation and walkthrough
- SINPE Móvil setup for everyday local payments
- International transfer guidance and what it typically costs
- Introduction to a local accountant for tax matters
- Electronic invoicing setup for businesses that need to bill
- Explanation of any compliance request the bank sends you later
What working with us looks like.
Situation review
Resident or not, employed or retired, personal or corporate. Each answer changes which bank makes sense.
Document preparation
We tell you exactly what to gather, in what format, and what the compliance team will question.
The appointment
We book it and go with you, so nothing gets lost in translation at the counter.
Setup and handover
Online banking, SINPE Móvil, and a plain explanation of how transfers work here.
Bring these and we can start.
- Passport, and DIMEX if you have residency
- Proof of address in Costa Rica
- Proof of income: pension letter, employment letter, or tax returns
- Bank statements from your home country, usually the last few months
- Documentation of the origin of the funds you intend to deposit
- Cédula jurídica and corporate documents, for a company account
The waiting is at the bank, not with us.
Preparing your file usually takes a few days. The appointment itself is often the same week. What varies is the bank’s internal compliance review, which can take from a few days to several weeks depending on the institution and the complexity of your funds.
We keep the file moving and tell you what is happening, but the decision and the timing belong to the bank.
Requirements and official fees are set by the institutions and can change without notice. We confirm the current list before quoting, and tell you immediately if something shifts mid-process.
Questions we get asked every week.
Some institutions allow it under specific conditions and with more documentation. It is genuinely case by case, and we will tell you honestly what your odds look like before you spend time on it.
Never. We guide and accompany you. We do not take custody of funds, we do not ask for your banking passwords, and we do not operate accounts on your behalf.
Anti money laundering rules. It is not personal and every applicant faces it. Being prepared for the question is the difference between one appointment and four.
A local instant transfer system tied to your phone number. Almost everyone here uses it for everyday payments, and life gets noticeably easier once you have it.
No. We are not licensed for that. We handle the administrative setup and refer you to licensed professionals for anything advisory.
Tell us your situation and we will tell you which bank.
Fifteen minutes on a call usually saves several wasted trips to a branch.