There are three common ways to send money to Costa Rica: an international bank wire, an online money transfer service that pays into a Costa Rican bank account, and a transfer service that offers cash pickup. Whichever you use, the same rule applies. Compare the amount the recipient actually receives, not just the advertised fee, and get the receiving details from the recipient’s bank itself.
Official Banco de Costa Rica transfer guidance and Banco Central de Costa Rica (BCCR) resources reviewed on 6 October 2026. Prices, limits and availability must be checked for your own transfer.
The ways to send money to Costa Rica
- Bank wire. Your bank sends the money through the international SWIFT network to the recipient’s Costa Rican account. It suits larger amounts, such as a property deposit, and leaves a clear paper trail.
- Online money transfer service. You pay the provider from your bank or card, and it pays into the recipient’s Costa Rican account. Many people use these to send money to Costa Rica from the USA, Canada or Europe because the quote shows the amount received up front.
- Cash pickup. Some services let the recipient collect cash at an agent location. Check the locations near the recipient and the identification they will need.
SINPE Móvil, the phone-number payment system everyone uses inside Costa Rica, works between Costa Rican accounts. It is not a way to send money in from abroad.
Popular services for sending money to Costa Rica
These are the names people compare most often. Each one sets its own fee and exchange rate, so check them on the same day, for the same amount.
| Service | How the money arrives | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| Your own bank (international wire) | Into the recipient’s Costa Rican bank account | Best for large amounts such as a property payment. US dollar wires may pass through an intermediary bank. |
| Wise | Into a Costa Rican bank account | Says it uses the mid-market exchange rate and shows its fee up front. |
| Western Union | Bank account or cash pickup at agent locations | Each transfer gets a tracking number (MTCN). |
| Ria | Bank deposit, including Banco Nacional, BCR, BAC Credomatic and Banco Popular, or cash pickup | Often has offers for first-time senders. |
| MoneyGram | Cash pickup at nearby locations | App with real-time transfer tracking. |
| Xe | Into a Costa Rican bank account | Tells customers to allow 1 to 4 working days. |
Delivery options from each provider’s own Costa Rica page, checked 15 October 2026. Fees, rates and offers change often.
How to wire money to Costa Rica, step by step
- Get the IBAN. Every Costa Rican bank account has an IBAN. The BCCR describes it as 22 characters in alphanumeric format, starting with CR. Ask the recipient to copy it from their bank, not type it from memory.
- Use the exact account name. Use the account holder’s full name exactly as the bank has it registered, plus their physical address.
- Get the bank’s SWIFT code. Each bank publishes its own. Banco de Costa Rica’s, for example, is BCRICRSJ.
- Match the currency. Costa Rican banks offer accounts in colones and in US dollars. Send in the currency of the receiving account, or agree in advance who converts and at what rate.
- Ask about an intermediary bank. US dollar wires often pass through a correspondent bank. The receiving bank will tell you whether its instructions include one.
- State the purpose and keep the receipt. Describe the payment accurately and keep the transfer reference until the money has arrived.
SWIFT codes of the main Costa Rican banks
- Banco Nacional de Costa Rica (BNCR): BNCRCRSJ
- Banco de Costa Rica (BCR): BCRICRSJ
- BAC Credomatic: BSNJCRSJ
- Banco Popular: BPDCCRSJ
Some banks add a three-letter branch ending, so ask the recipient to confirm the code their bank gives for incoming transfers.
Sending money to Banco de Costa Rica (BCR)
For incoming transfers, BCR’s official page asks the recipient to provide their full name as registered with BCR, their physical address and their IBAN account, and it publishes the bank’s details, including its SWIFT code and its list of correspondent banks. Get the current instructions from the bank directly and confirm that they apply to the currency and account you intend to use.
Compare the complete quote
For each bank or transfer service, request a quote for the same sending amount, funding method, receiving currency and payout method. Ask whether the quote is guaranteed and when it expires.
- How much will leave your account, including any funding charge?
- What exchange rate will apply, and who performs the conversion?
- Are sending, intermediary or receiving charges included?
- How much is expected to reach the recipient?
- What delivery estimate applies, and what could delay it?
- What happens if the details are wrong or the payment is returned?
There is no single cheapest way to send money to Costa Rica for every country, amount and payment method. A promotional rate for a first transfer is not necessarily the rate for later ones, so do not rely on an old comparison table when you authorise a payment.
How long does a transfer to Costa Rica take?
Online services usually quote a delivery estimate before you pay; Xe, for example, tells customers to allow 1 to 4 working days. A bank wire depends on your bank, any intermediary bank and the receiving bank. Money sent late on a Friday or on a Costa Rican public holiday is usually credited on the next banking day.
Costa Rica’s currency and exchange rates
Costa Rica’s currency is the colón (CRC). US dollars are also widely used, and many prices for rent, cars and property are quoted in dollars. The BCCR publishes the buying and selling rates of authorised entities, which is a useful check; the rate for your actual transfer comes from your provider.
Our currency exchange guide explains compra and venta, colones versus dollars, and the questions to ask about conversion. If money is converted more than once, ask what each conversion costs.
Sending money to Costa Rica from the USA, Canada or Europe
From the USA or Canada, you can wire from your own bank using the recipient’s IBAN and their bank’s SWIFT code, use an online service, or send for cash pickup. Ask your bank whether it charges for outgoing international wires and whether it can send to an IBAN. If the Costa Rican account is in US dollars, sending dollars avoids a currency conversion.
From Europe, remember that most Costa Rican accounts are in colones or US dollars, so euros or other currencies are converted somewhere along the way. Ask who does the conversion and at what rate before you send.
Prepare the documents the provider requests
Ask the sending service and the receiving bank what information they need. Explain the purpose of the payment accurately and keep the supporting records. For a property purchase or another large commitment, coordinate with the receiving bank and the professionals handling the transaction well before the payment deadline. Do not split payments to avoid checks or reporting requirements.
Verify instructions and track the payment
Confirm any unexpected change to bank details through a contact channel you already trust, never only through a new email, message or attached invoice. Protect your account credentials and verification codes.
Keep the receipt, the transfer reference, the instructions used and the quoted delivery estimate. If the payment does not arrive, ask the sending provider how to trace it and ask the recipient to check with their bank.
Transfers and residency
Many residency categories are proven with money coming from abroad, such as a pension or a regular income for rentistas. A completed transfer does not on its own satisfy an immigration requirement; what counts is the evidence the DGME asks for. See the rentista bank deposit requirements, and if you need a local account first, our guide to opening a bank account in Costa Rica.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to send money to Costa Rica?
It depends on the service and the banks involved. Online services show an estimate before you pay, often a few working days; bank wires can take longer if an intermediary bank is involved.
What is the SWIFT code for Banco de Costa Rica?
BCRICRSJ. For Banco Nacional it is BNCRCRSJ, for BAC Credomatic BSNJCRSJ and for Banco Popular BPDCCRSJ.
Can I send money to Costa Rica online?
Yes. Online transfer services and online banking both let you send money to a Costa Rican bank account. You need the recipient’s IBAN and their name as registered with the bank.
What is the cheapest way to send money to Costa Rica?
It depends on the amount, the sending country and how you pay. Compare quotes on the amount received after all charges and the exchange rate, on the same day.
What do I need to send money to a Costa Rican bank account?
The account holder’s full name as registered, their physical address, the 22-character IBAN beginning with CR, the bank’s SWIFT code and, for some US dollar wires, the intermediary bank’s details.
General information only. Confirm instructions, prices and limits with your bank or provider before sending.