When can I send money to Costa Rica with Peanut?

Peanut is actively working on expanding to Costa Rica with SINPE Movil integration. Sign up to get notified when the service launches — you will be among the first to know.

What payment methods will be supported in Costa Rica?

Peanut plans to integrate with SINPE Movil, Costa Rica's central bank instant payment system with 76% adult adoption. SINPE Movil supports phone-number-based and QR payments at merchants across the country.

How do I get early access?

Sign up at peanut.me to join the notification list. When Peanut launches in Costa Rica, early sign-ups will be the first to get access.

Will the recipient need a DIMEX or Costa Rican bank account?

No. Peanut will not require a DIMEX or local bank account. Recipients will verify with any passport, making it accessible to tourists, digital nomads, and remote workers.

Is SINPE Movil widely accepted in Costa Rica?

Yes. SINPE Movil has 76% adult adoption — one of the highest rates for any real-time payment system in Latin America. It is accepted at sodas, supermarkets, restaurants, taxis, farmers' markets, and across the country.

Can I use US dollars in Costa Rica instead?

US dollars are accepted in many tourist areas, but local businesses, markets, and services primarily use colones through SINPE Movil. Using SINPE Movil through Peanut gives you access to the local economy at better rates than dollar-to-colon cash exchange.

Is Peanut available in Costa Rica right now?

Costa Rica currently supports deposit and withdrawal of digital dollars via supported networks. Local spending via SINPE Movil is the feature that is coming soon.

Send Money to Costa Rica with Peanut — Coming Soon

Peanut is expanding to Costa Rica. Soon you'll be able to send money and have recipients spend via SINPE Movil — Costa Rica's instant payment system with 76% adult adoption.

Send Money to Costa Rica with Peanut — Coming Soon

Costa Rica is a popular destination for tourists, digital nomads, and remote workers — and its payment system reflects that modern lifestyle. SINPE Movil, the central bank's instant payment system, has achieved 76% adult adoption. From sodas (local restaurants) and farmers' markets to taxis and supermarkets, SINPE Movil is how Costa Ricans pay. But sending money there from abroad still means expensive transfer fees, slow settlements, and exchange rates that shortchange the recipient.

Peanut is changing that. Soon you will be able to send money to Costa Rica and have the recipient spend locally via SINPE Movil — paying merchants by phone number or QR code, instantly. No fees, no DIMEX required, no waiting days for the money to arrive.

Why Peanut Will Be the Best Way to Send Money to Costa Rica

Better Exchange Rate

Traditional services mark up the CRC exchange rate. Wise adds a fee on top of the mid-market rate. PayPal takes 3-4% through combined fees and conversion charges. Western Union offers some of the worst rates in the industry. Peanut converts digital dollars directly to local currency at a competitive market rate, bypassing the layered markups that reduce what the recipient receives in colones.

No Fees

Every step is free with Peanut. Depositing is free, sending is free, and spending via SINPE Movil will be free. No transfer fees, no receiving fees, no hidden conversion charges. While US dollars are commonly accepted in Costa Rica's tourist areas, local payments through SINPE Movil are always in CRC — and Peanut ensures the conversion happens at a competitive rate with no additional cost.

Instant via SINPE Movil

SINPE Movil is operated by the Central Bank of Costa Rica (BCCR), ensuring universal interoperability across all participating banks — BAC, Banco Nacional, BCR, Scotiabank, and more. Payments are phone-number-based and settle instantly. When Peanut launches, recipients will spend through SINPE Movil immediately rather than waiting for a traditional bank transfer to clear.

No DIMEX Required

Costa Rica's financial system is relatively accessible for foreigners — bank accounts can be opened with a passport. But a DIMEX (Documento de Identificacion de Migrantes y Extranjeros) is needed for full transfer functionality and higher limits. Peanut removes that barrier. Recipients will verify with any passport, no DIMEX required.

Info

Peanut will not require a DIMEX. Recipients verify with any passport — accessible to tourists, digital nomads, and remote workers in Costa Rica.

How It Will Work

1
Sign up and verify
Create a Peanut account and complete identity verification with your passport. Takes under 2 minutes for most users.
2
Deposit funds
Fund your Peanut account via ACH from the US (free, 1-3 business days), SEPA from Europe (free, most under 20 minutes), or send digital dollars from any major exchange.
3
Send to your recipient
Your recipient creates a Peanut account or receives funds to an existing one. Peanut-to-Peanut transfers arrive instantly.
4
Recipient spends via SINPE Movil
The recipient pays at merchants by phone number or QR code through SINPE Movil. Funds settle instantly in colones.

What the Recipient Will Be Able to Do

Pay via SINPE Movil

SINPE Movil is accepted across Costa Rica — sodas (local eateries), pulperias (corner shops), supermarkets, restaurants, cafes, taxis, ride services, farmers' markets, and professional services. The recipient enters a merchant's phone number or scans a QR code, confirms the amount in CRC, and payment settles instantly. The merchant receives colones through their linked bank account.

Person-to-Person Transfers

SINPE Movil supports phone-number-based transfers between any participating bank accounts. Recipients will be able to send money to friends, split bills, or pay anyone in Costa Rica using just a mobile number.

Bank Withdrawal

Recipients will also be able to withdraw to a Costa Rican bank account, converting their digital dollar balance to colones at the point of withdrawal.

Who This Is For

Digital Nomads and Remote Workers

Costa Rica offers a digital nomad visa, reliable internet infrastructure, and a high quality of life. Popular hubs include San Jose, Tamarindo, and Santa Teresa. Remote workers receiving income in US dollars can use Peanut to convert and spend locally through SINPE Movil — accessing the same payment system locals use at sodas, farmers' markets, and surf shops.

Tourists from the United States

The US-Costa Rica corridor is significant, with millions of American tourists visiting annually. While US dollars are accepted in many tourist areas, local businesses, markets, and services primarily use colones through SINPE Movil. Peanut will give tourists access to better exchange rates than what cash exchange counters offer, with the convenience of phone-based payments.

Expats and Retirees

Costa Rica is a popular retirement destination for Americans. Monthly transfers for living expenses currently involve bank wire fees and exchange rate markups. Peanut will streamline this with free transfers and competitive rates, with the recipient spending via SINPE Movil at everyday merchants.

How Much Will It Cost?

Peanut charges no fees on any operation. The exchange rate converts digital dollars directly to colones at a competitive market rate.

Service	Fee	Exchange Rate	Recipient Gets
Peanut (planned)	$0	Market rate	More colones
Wise	~$4-7	Mid-market with markup	Less
PayPal	~$5 + 3-4%	Below mid-market	Significantly less
Western Union	$5-15	Worst rate	Least

Get Notified

Sending from Specific Countries

Send Money from the United States to Costa Rica

The US-to-Costa Rica corridor is the largest for this destination, driven by tourists, digital nomads, and the growing expat community in areas like San Jose, Tamarindo, and Santa Teresa. Costa Rica offers a digital nomad visa, making it a popular base for remote workers receiving US-dollar income. US senders will deposit via ACH (free, 1-3 business days) or digital dollars from Coinbase or other exchanges (arrives in minutes). The recipient spends via SINPE Movil instantly.