Nikolai Timofejev
15 years in FinTech and payments. Maps your business model to the right structure and leads the file all the way to the compliant launch, including banking and payment rails.
Get a crypto license in Costa Rica.
Costa Rica has no crypto licence, and anyone selling one is selling a company. Crypto is legal here but not legal tender - the BCCR says so plainly. What exists is a clean route: an SA or SRL, a mandatory SUGEF anti-money-laundering registration since May 2026, and a territorial tax system that leaves foreign-source income outside the net. We build it honestly.
27 yrs
on the international marketon the market
60+
in-house specialistsspecialists
400+
Crypto licenses obtainedlicenses obtained
Updated
Costa Rica in brief
No operating licence - a company plus honest AML.
Costa Rica does not license or authorise crypto businesses. The Central Bank has said in its communiqués that cryptoassets are not legal tender and carry no state backing - their use is not banned, it simply runs on freedom of contract, without legal coverage. So there is no «crypto licence» to obtain and no regulator that grants permission to operate. Anyone selling a «Costa Rica crypto licence» is selling an ordinary company with paperwork wrapped around it.
What changed in 2026: Law No. 10961, in force from May 2026, added Article 15 quáter to Law 7786 and put virtual-asset service providers under SUGEF - but only for anti-money-laundering supervision. You register on the SUGEF platform, run KYC, report suspicious transactions and keep internal controls, and failing to register carries real fines. Registered does not mean authorised: SUGEF supervises the AML, it does not license the business. The working structure is therefore a properly governed SA or SRL, the SUGEF AML registration, the beneficial-owner filing every company already makes, and a territorial tax position. That combination is exactly why crypto exchanges use Costa Rica - no licensing queue, a real AML floor, and foreign-source income outside the tax net.
No crypto licence - honestly: Costa Rica does not authorise crypto businesses. Crypto is legal but not legal tender (BCCR).
The route: an SA or SRL, the SUGEF AML registration mandatory since May 2026 (Law 10961), and territorial tax with foreign income at 0%.
The honest picture
A company and an AML registration - not a licence.
Two workstreams that get mis-sold as one «licence»: the company you operate through, and the SUGEF AML registration that became mandatory in May 2026. Neither is an authorisation to run a crypto business, because Costa Rica issues none.
A company plus an AML registration - not a licence. Costa Rica issues no crypto authorisation.
01 - THE COMPANY · SA OR SRL
The operating vehicle
A Costa Rican corporation (SA) or limited-liability company (SRL) with the crypto activity written into its corporate purpose - clean governance, territorial tax base, incorporated in days.
A Costa Rican corporation (SA) or limited-liability company (SRL) with the crypto activity written into its corporate purpose - clean governance, territorial tax base, incorporated in days.
- ✓SA or SRL incorporation - days, not months
- ✓Crypto activity stated in the corporate purpose
- ✓Territorial 0% on foreign-source income
- ✓RTBF beneficial-owner filing with the Central Bank
- ✓USD-friendly banking strategy, arranged on disclosure
02 - SUGEF AML REGISTRATION
Law 10961 · since May 2026AML registration, not a licence
Since May 2026, virtual-asset providers must register with SUGEF under Article 15 quáter of Law 7786. It is anti-money-laundering supervision, not permission to operate - and it is mandatory, with fines for skipping it.
Since May 2026, SUGEF registration under Art 15-quáter is mandatory - AML supervision, not permission. Fines for skipping it.
- ✓SUGEF Article 15-quáter enrolment
- ✓KYC and ongoing customer due diligence
- ✓Suspicious-transaction reporting and controls
- ✓Supervision only - not an operating authorisation
- ✓Fines of 5-50% of transaction for breaches
Costa Rica grants no crypto licence. The deliverable is a compliant company plus the SUGEF AML registration - real and mandatory, but supervision rather than a permit. Costs and timelines are confirmed for your case before any work begins.
Why Costa Rica
No licensing barrier, territorial by system.
The appeal is honest and specific: nothing to apply for, foreign-source income untaxed, and since 2026 a real AML floor that gives banks a compliance story.
✓
No licensing barrier
There is no licence to apply for, so there is no application queue, no waiting period and no renewal cycle. You incorporate the company and register for AML, and you are operating - which is precisely why exchanges land here.Incorporate and register - no queue.
✓
Territorial 0% on foreign income
Costa Rica taxes Costa Rican-source income only. For a globally-facing crypto model, the core revenue earned abroad sits outside the net by system design, not by special ruling.Foreign-source income outside the net.
✓
Legal, with a real AML floor
Crypto is lawful, and since May 2026 the mandatory SUGEF registration gives banks and partners an anti-money-laundering framework to point to - a compliance story the old unregulated setups never had.SUGEF registration since 2026.
✓
A recognised corporate law
The SA and SRL are long-established, well-understood vehicles. There is nothing exotic to explain to a bank or a counterparty - the structure reads as ordinary because it is.SA and SRL - nothing exotic.
✓
Speed and cost
Incorporation in days, running costs among the region's lowest, and a time zone aligned with the United States. The operational maths favours Costa Rica at most lines.Days to incorporate; low running costs.
✓
The honest structure wins
With no licence to hide behind, what banks read is the company, the SUGEF AML file and the source analysis. We build all three to the standard a licensed firm would keep.Banks read the structure, not a permit.
How it compares
How Costa Rica differs from other routes.
Costa Rica is the territorial no-licence play with a defined AML registration on top. The honest comparison is below.
Costa Rica vs other jurisdictions
| Feature |  Costa Rica | Other jurisdictions |
|---|---|---|
| Operating licence | None - SA/SRL + SUGEF AML | Licensing regimes |
| Tax base | Territorial - 0% foreign | Worldwide, 9-30% |
| AML | SUGEF registration since 2026 | Full licence conditions |
| Setup | Days | Months to years |
Operating licence
Costa RicaNone - SA/SRL + SUGEF AML
Other jurisdictionsLicensing regimes
Tax base
Costa RicaTerritorial - 0% foreign
Other jurisdictionsWorldwide, 9-30%
AML
Costa RicaSUGEF registration since 2026
Other jurisdictionsFull licence conditions
Setup
Costa RicaDays
Other jurisdictionsMonths to years
Country by country
| Country | License type | Taxation | Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Costa Rica | No licence - SA/SRL + SUGEF AML | Territorial - 0% foreign | Company + AML registration, days |
 Panama | No dedicated law - company route | Territorial - 0% foreign | AML practice; framework pending |
 El Salvador | DASP registration (CNAD) | 0% on digital-asset gains | Registration, 2-4 months |
 Seychelles | VASP Act - four activities (FSA) | 1.5% local · territorial | Resident director + office, ~6 months |
Costa RicaLicense typeNo licence - SA/SRL + SUGEF AML
TaxationTerritorial - 0% foreign
RequirementsCompany + AML registration, days
PanamaLicense typeNo dedicated law - company route
TaxationTerritorial - 0% foreign
RequirementsAML practice; framework pending
El SalvadorLicense typeDASP registration (CNAD)
Taxation0% on digital-asset gains
RequirementsRegistration, 2-4 months
SeychellesLicense typeVASP Act - four activities (FSA)
Taxation1.5% local · territorial
RequirementsResident director + office, ~6 months
Doing it properly
What the compliant structure contains.What the compliant structure contains.
No licence does not mean no standards - and since 2026 the AML floor is a legal duty, not a courtesy. The checklist below is what we build and file.
01
SA or SRL - incorporated with clean governance and the crypto activity stated in the corporate purpose.
02
RTBF filing - the Transparency and Beneficial Owners Registry declaration every Costa Rican company makes with the Central Bank.
03
SUGEF AML registration - the Article 15-quáter enrolment for anti-money-laundering supervision, mandatory since May 2026.
04
AML/CFT programme - KYC, ongoing due diligence, suspicious-transaction reporting and internal controls to SUGEF's standard.
05
Compliance officer - a designated person responsible for the AML programme and SUGEF reporting.
06
Source analysis - the foreign-versus-Costa-Rican-source documentation that carries the territorial 0% position.
07
Banking file - accounts or payment providers arranged on full disclosure, with the structure doing the persuading.
08
Clean books - accounting a bank and a supervisor read as an asset, not a liability.
09
Terms and custody documentation - client documentation and wallet architecture described to real standards.
10
Honesty about scope - no promise of a «licence», because none exists; the deliverable is a company plus genuine AML.
01
SA or SRL, crypto activity in the purpose.
02
RTBF beneficial-owner filing.
03
SUGEF Art 15-quáter AML registration.
04
KYC, reporting and internal controls.
05
A designated compliance officer.
06
Defensible source analysis.
07
Banking file on full disclosure.
08
Clean books from day one.
09
Custody and terms documentation.
10
No promise of a «licence» - none exists.
Reflects BCCR guidance, Law 7786 as amended by Law No. 10961 (Article 15 quáter, in force May 2026) and general corporate law, as of 2026.BCCR + Law 7786 (Law 10961, Art 15-quáter, May 2026), as of 2026.
How it works
From first call to a working structure.
01
Strategy and honesty
The real status, your model's source map, the AML scope and the banking plan - fixed in writing before anything incorporates.Status, source map, AML scope - in writing.
02
The SA or SRL
Incorporation in days, the crypto activity written into the purpose, governance and ownership built clean.Days to incorporate, clean governance.
03
SUGEF AML registration
The Article 15-quáter enrolment and the AML programme behind it - KYC, reporting, controls and a compliance officer.Art 15-quáter + the AML programme.
04
Banking and operations
Accounts or payment providers arranged on disclosure; the structure goes live on rails that hold.Accounts on disclosure; rails that hold.
05
Run and report
The RTBF filing and the ongoing SUGEF AML duties kept current - the compliance that keeps the structure clean.RTBF and SUGEF duties kept current.
Quick facts
Operating licenceNone - none exists
Crypto statusLegal · not legal tender
AMLSUGEF (Law 10961, 2026)
VehicleSA or SRL
SetupDays
Tax baseTerritorial
Foreign-source income0%
Domestic CITUp to 30%
Anyone selling a «Costa Rica crypto licence» in 2026 is selling a company plus an AML registration. The honest product is exactly that - and for the right model it is fast, lawful and lean.
On the ground for Costa Rica
Run from our Americas desk.
Prifinance - Costa Rica desk
San José · Costa Rica
San José, Costa Rica
01
SA or SRL incorporation
The Costa Rican company with the crypto activity in its purpose - built clean, owned transparently to the UBOs.The company, built clean.
02
The SUGEF AML file
The Article 15-quáter registration and the AML programme behind it - KYC, reporting and controls to supervisor standard.Registration + programme.
03
The source analysis
The foreign-source documentation that carries the territorial position - drafted defensibly from day one.The 0% position, documented.
04
The banking build
Accounts or payment providers on full disclosure - the company and the AML file doing the persuading.Disclosure does the persuading.
We also have offices in
Tallinn
Estonia
Roseni 13
Vilnius
Lithuania
Gedimino pr. 2
Prague
Czech Republic
Vlkova 532/8, Žižkov
London
United Kingdom
7 Bell Yard
Dubai
UAE
33 Level, Al Saqr Business Tower
Madeira
Portugal
Rua da Alegria 31, 1F
Istanbul
Turkey
Perpa Ticaret Merkezi, A Blok
Good to know
Taxation of crypto companies in Costa Rica.
Territorial by principle: Costa Rican-source income is taxed, foreign-source income is not - and the analysis that separates them is the whole game.
Foreign-source: 0%
Income earned from activity outside Costa Rica sits outside the tax net - for a globally-facing crypto model, the core revenue runs untaxed by design.Core revenue, untaxed by design.
Domestic-source: up to 30%
Costa Rican-source income carries the standard corporate rate, topping out at 30% for larger companies, with lower brackets below - relevant only where the model genuinely serves the local market.Only where the model is local.
Territorial by principle
Residents and non-residents alike are taxed on Costa Rican-source income only. The source line is drawn and documented - that document is the asset.Costa Rican-source income only.
The 2023 caveat
A 2023 reform, made to leave the EU grey list, brought certain foreign-source passive income into charge under conditions - relevant to holding income, and planned around.Foreign passive income, conditional.
No crypto-specific tax
Crypto follows the general system - there is no special digital-asset tax regime, for better and for worse.General system applies.
The analysis is the asset
Everything above rests on defensible source documentation - contracts, servers, teams and clients mapped. We build that file first.Built first, defensibly.
Tax summary
Foreign-source income0%
Domestic-source incomeUp to 30%
Foreign passive incomeConditional (2023 reform)
Crypto-specific rulesNone - general system
VAT (IVA)13%
CurrencyCRC - USD widely used
*As of 2026. The source analysis decides everything - we document it defensibly from day one.
Turnkey professional support
Experienced lawyers and international consultants.
We provide end-to-end support, from company registration and the AML file to regulatory interaction and compliance oversight - with an individualized approach to each client.
Oleksii Kindratenko
Builds the structure itself: the Costa Rican SA or SRL, the SUGEF AML registration and programme, and the source-analysis file. His document sets are the reason banks say yes.
Eugeniu Bevziuc
First point of contact for international founders. Runs the whole setup remotely, across time zones and languages - from the first call to a clean, compliant business.
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Costa Rica · no licence
Launch your crypto project in Costa Rica with expert support.
Full-service setup - the SA or SRL, the SUGEF AML registration and the source file, assembled honestly.
Get a consultation →Free legal opinion
Is Costa Rica the right fit for your project?
Our legal team will analyze your case at no cost and provide a written legal opinion: which jurisdiction or route fits your business, and what «no licence» really means for you.
Written assessment within 2-5 business days
Request a free conclusion →FAQ
The Costa Rica crypto «licence», answered honestly.
Can I get a Costa Rica crypto licence?+
No - none exists. Costa Rica does not license or authorise crypto businesses. What you set up is a company plus, since May 2026, a mandatory SUGEF AML registration. Anyone selling a «licence» here is selling paperwork around an ordinary company.
Is crypto even legal there?+
Yes, for private dealings - but it is not legal tender, and the BCCR states it carries no state backing. Its use runs on freedom of contract, without legal protection. Legal to use, not guaranteed by the state.
What is the SUGEF registration, then?+
Since May 2026, Law No. 10961 (Article 15 quáter of Law 7786) puts virtual-asset providers under SUGEF for anti-money-laundering supervision. You register, run KYC and report suspicious transactions. It is oversight, not permission to operate - and it is mandatory.
So what do I actually set up?+
A properly governed SA or SRL with the crypto activity in its purpose, the RTBF beneficial-owner filing, the SUGEF AML registration and a real compliance programme with a responsible officer.
How is it taxed?+
Territorially. Costa Rican-source income carries the corporate rate, up to 30%; foreign-source income sits outside the net, with a narrow 2023 caveat on foreign passive income. The source analysis is what carries the position.
Why do crypto exchanges use Costa Rica?+
Because there is no licensing barrier - you incorporate and register rather than queue for an authorisation - and foreign-source income is untaxed. With honest AML on top since 2026, it is fast, lawful and lean.
Is this the same as Panama?+
Close - both are territorial, no-licence routes. Costa Rica now has a defined SUGEF AML registration; Panama's dedicated framework is still pending. Model, banking and comfort with each regime decide.
What are the risks?+
The main risk is mis-selling - treating a company as a «licence». Banks read the structure, not a permit, and the SUGEF AML duties are real, with fines for non-compliance. We build to that standard so the structure holds.
Why Costa Rica with you?+
Because the value is the honest structure - the company, the SUGEF file, the source analysis and the banking. We build Costa Rican structures to the standard licensed firms keep, which is exactly what makes them bankable.
A licence today?+
No - anyone selling one sells a company.
Is crypto legal?+
Yes - but not legal tender (BCCR).
The SUGEF part?+
AML registration since May 2026 - not permission.
What do I set up?+
SA/SRL + SUGEF AML + real compliance.
Tax?+
Territorial: foreign-source at 0%.
Why exchanges use it?+
No licence queue; foreign income untaxed.
Vs Panama?+
Both territorial; CR has defined AML now.
Risks?+
Mis-selling a company as a «licence».
Why with us?+
Honest structure banks actually accept.
Client notes
Google4.7★★★★★
Founders who wanted it done right.
Google4.7★★★★★
“As a software development crew at FewMoreTaps OÜ, we've had the pleasure of working with Prifinance on some key financial moves.First of all, navigating the world of corporate banking and finance can be a maze, but Prifinance made it feel like a walk in the park. They helped us set up a corporate bank account without the hassle of jumping on a plane or drowning in paperwork. Everything was done remotely, smoothly…”
Google
“I had their assistance in company registration and I would recommend them. They were answering all my clarification during the process and offering all their supportThank you Daniel and Irinia”
Google
“We found PRIFINANCE COMPANYvia the Internet and asked for help in organizing the opening of their company in Estonia. PRIFINANCE COMPANY specialists helped us a lot with this. Their professional, competent approach and knowledge of their business left us with only the best impressions.”
Google
“I'm thrilled with my experience with PriFinance! They helped me obtain a crypto license in Estonia without any hassle. The team was super understanding and always available to answer my questions and assist. It was great to see how they put effort into preparing the documents to ensure everything went smoothly. I'm delighted with the outcome and highly recommend PriFinance to anyone looking to get a license…”
Google
“Opening an account with Prifinance in a Swiss bank was such an easy and quick process that I was shocked. It all started with the first call, where I received detailed guidance on the required documents and the entire procedure.One of the key highlights was their attention to detail. As someone who usually gets tangled up in paperwork, I was pleasantly surprised when they sent me all the documents and…”
Google
“I recently had the pleasure of working with Boris.. and I must say, it was a fantastic experience. Boris went above and beyond to assist me with my residency needs. His professionalism, knowledge, and dedication truly stood out. I highly recommend working with Boris and the team!”
Google
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Get a free legal opinion on your project - our legal team will analyze your case at no cost and provide a written legal opinion: which jurisdiction or route fits your business.Free legal opinion: which Costa Rica structure fits your project and what it will cost.
✓Written legal opinion within 2-5 business days - free of charge✓A clear recommendation on the right route, not a sales pitch✓Transparent fixed fees, confirmed up front✓EN · RU · ES speaking team
Prifinance is an independent law and advisory firm. We are not a regulator and are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of SUGEF, the Banco Central de Costa Rica or the Government of Costa Rica. Registrations and filings are made with, and obtained directly from, the competent authorities.