Yes. Approved beneficiaries of Costa Rica’s digital nomad law can open savings accounts in the national banking system. Article 20 of Law 10008 establishes this access, subject to anti-money-laundering law and the applicable financial rules.
That does not guarantee a particular account, immediate approval, a loan or every digital banking feature. The bank must review your identity and financial profile. Explain that you are an approved beneficiary of the remote-worker estancia rather than describing yourself simply as a tourist.
What the law actually provides
The digital nomad program is a non-resident immigration status. Article 20 does not make permanent residency a prerequisite for its savings-account benefit. It also does not publish a universal minimum balance, account fee or approval time.
If you have only applied for the program and have not yet been approved, do not present an application receipt as proof that the benefit has been granted. Ask the bank which account options and identity documents it accepts at your current stage.
Ask for the bank’s current checklist
Before visiting a branch, ask what it requires from an approved digital nomad. Request the list in writing and confirm whether an appointment is needed. The following are useful questions, not a claim that every bank requires the same documents:
- Which passport and immigration approval or identification documents do you accept?
- How should I document my occupation, employer or clients and source of funds?
- Which bank statements or income records are needed, and for what period?
- What local and foreign address information is required?
- Are translations or certified copies needed for my particular records?
- What information is needed for tax-residency declarations?
Make your financial profile easy to explain
Prepare a clear description of your remote work, where payments originate, the currencies you use and the transfers you expect to receive. Bring the evidence requested by the bank and explain any differences between the name on a contract, a payment platform and your bank statements.
Keep copies of the documents you submit and the bank’s follow-up requests. Do not send identity documents or money to an unverified contact. Use contact details obtained directly from the bank’s official channels.
Compare account costs and features
Ask each bank for the current terms of the specific account it offers you. Compare account currency, minimum balance, maintenance charges, debit-card availability, ATM costs and incoming and outgoing transfer charges. Ask how currency conversion is priced.
Also check transaction limits and any restrictions while documentation is being reviewed. Neither public nor private ownership alone tells you whether a bank will provide faster service, English-language assistance or the features you need.
Online banking and mobile payments
Confirm which online and mobile services are available with your account. If you need SINPE Móvil, ask the bank about eligibility, the phone number to register and the applicable limits. Do not assume activation is automatic.
Set up security and recovery arrangements through the bank. Ask how you can regain access if you change your phone, lose a device or travel outside Costa Rica. Never share one-time security codes with someone who contacts you unexpectedly.
If the bank requests more information
Ask which requirement remains outstanding and how to satisfy it. If the branch is unfamiliar with your immigration status, provide your approval documents and ask for a review by the appropriate team. Article 20 is a useful reference, but it does not remove compliance checks.
A bank account does not itself grant immigration status. Likewise, a future change to residency does not automatically grant credit or remove the bank’s documentation requirements. Update the bank when your identity documents or circumstances change.
Tax reporting and longer-term plans
Keep account records and ask a qualified adviser about any reporting duties in the countries relevant to you. Immigration approval and opening a bank account do not settle every tax question.
For the immigration side, read our digital nomad application guide and residency transition guide. CRIE can help organize immigration documentation; the bank decides its account application.
Official sources and review date
Reviewed 8 September 2026 against Law 10008, current consolidated text in the government legal database, and the Costa Rica Tourism Board’s application requirements. DGME is the deciding authority: official immigration website. Direct DGME access was unavailable during this review; the law and official tourism guidance were checked instead.