Banks and Businesses in Costa Rica Must Accept Digital ID Starting January

Starting January 1, 2027, banks, government agencies, businesses and other institutions in Costa Rica will be required to accept the Costa Rican Digital Identity (IDC), the smartphone version of the national ID card, for any transaction or procedure that requires identification. The Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) said the digital credential carries the same legal validity as the traditional plastic ID card. From that date, institutions will no longer be able to turn it away simply because it is presented on a phone. The digital ID has been available since September 9, 2025, but until now institutions could decide whether to accept it. According to the TSE, 107,243 people had requested one as of November 1, 2026. The change could make everyday procedures simpler, from banking to administrative paperwork and any service that requires proof of identity. It does not replace the physical card, which will continue to be issued and accepted throughout the country. Unlike the physical ID, which is free for most applicants, the digital version costs 2,600 colones (about $5.80) and is valid for four years. Senior citizens are exempt from the fee. The service is available only to Costa Rican citizens. Applicants need a valid physical ID card, a smartphone with an active phone line running iOS or Android, and no identity document waiting to be collected at the TSE. People applying for their first Costa Rican ID must get the physical card before they can request the digital version. Applications are handled online through the TSE website at tse.go.cr/idc. Applicants enter their ID number, complete an identity verification step, provide a valid email address and pay with a Visa or Mastercard credit or debit card. Once the application is approved, the credential is activated through the official IDC-Ciudadano app, available on Apple’s App Store and Google Play. It is protected by a personal PIN and facial recognition, which the TSE checks against the biometric data collected during the holder’s most recent physical ID procedure. Citizens can still obtain or renew their physical IDs free of charge at the TSE’s headquarters in San José or at any of its 32 regional offices. A fee applies only when a person exceeds the annual limit on duplicate replacements. The January requirement applies to the institutions that must accept the credential, not to citizens. Getting a digital ID remains optional, and anyone who prefers the plastic card can keep using it.