Unidad de Inteligencia Financiera (UIF)
Costa Rica's financial intelligence unit, operating within the Instituto Costarricense sobre Drogas. It receives and analyses suspicious transaction reports.
Americas · Country coverage
AML/CTF Compliance in Costa Rica
Costa Rica regulates AML/CTF through the Unidad de Inteligencia Financiera under Law 7786. See the obligations and how MemberCheck supports them.
Last updated
Screening coverage for Costa Rica
- Sanctions & PEP screening
- Adverse media checks
- Customer identity verification
- Jurisdiction risk checks
- Ongoing monitoring
Key facts
AML supervisor / FIUUnidad de Inteligencia Financiera (UIF), Instituto Costarricense sobre Drogas
FATF statusGAFILAT member
Primary legislationLaw No. 7786 on Narcotics, Psychotropic Substances, and Related Activities
Overview
AML/CTF compliance in Costa Rica.
Costa Rica regulates money laundering and terrorist financing through Law No. 7786, supported by the Unidad de Inteligencia Financiera, which receives and analyses suspicious transaction reports from financial institutions and other obligated entities.
Regulated entities must apply customer due diligence, identify beneficial owners, monitor relationships, and report suspicious activity to the UIF, alongside rules from sectoral supervisors such as SUGEF, SUGESE, and SUGEVAL. Supervisors expect a designated compliance officer, sound internal controls, and staff training.
MemberCheck helps teams meet these obligations by screening customers and entities against global sanctions, PEP, and adverse-media data, verifying identities, and monitoring risk continuously, with a clear audit trail behind every decision.
Regulation
All solutions →Key laws and regulators.
Law No. 7786
Costa Rica's principal AML statute, setting customer due diligence, recordkeeping, and reporting duties for financial institutions and other obligated entities.
Sectoral supervision
The financial, insurance, and securities superintendencies (SUGEF, SUGESE, SUGEVAL) apply AML rules to their sectors alongside the UIF's oversight.
GAFILAT membership
Costa Rica is a member of GAFILAT, the FATF-style regional body for Latin America, and aligns its framework with the FATF 40 Recommendations through that membership.
Obligations
What regulated businesses must do.
- Apply customer due diligence and identity verification
- Identify beneficial owners of corporate customers
- Report suspicious transactions to the UIF
- Conduct ongoing monitoring of customer relationships
- Maintain internal controls and a compliance officer
- Maintain records and provide staff training
1,000+
Global watchlists screened
<1s
Average screening response
24h
Watchlist refresh cycle
195
Countries covered
FAQ
Common questions.
Who supervises AML/CTF in Costa Rica?
The Unidad de Inteligencia Financiera (UIF), operating within the Instituto Costarricense sobre Drogas, receives and analyses suspicious transaction reports, alongside sectoral supervisors such as SUGEF, SUGESE, and SUGEVAL.
What is the main AML law in Costa Rica?
Law No. 7786 sets the customer due diligence, recordkeeping, and reporting obligations for financial institutions and other obligated entities in Costa Rica.
Is Costa Rica a member of FATF?
Costa Rica is a member of GAFILAT, the FATF-style regional body for Latin America, and aligns its AML/CTF regime with the FATF 40 Recommendations through that membership.
How does MemberCheck support AML compliance in Costa Rica?
MemberCheck screens customers and entities against global sanctions, PEP, and adverse-media data, verifies identities, and monitors risk continuously, with an audit trail behind every decision.
Screen customers for Costa Rica risk with MemberCheck.
Book a walkthrough with our compliance team and screen a real case in the first session.