Compliance guides
Messaging Compliance in Costa Rica
SMS, WhatsApp, voice and RCS rules for businesses messaging customers in Costa Rica.
Overview
Marketing messages in Costa Rica should rely on consent under Law 8968 on the protection of personal data and offer a clear way to opt out.
The Agency for the Protection of Personal Data (PRODHAB) supervises Law 8968.
Spanish is the search language; tourism businesses usually also need English.
WhatsApp is a major business channel in much of Latin America, while in the US and Canada it is used alongside SMS. Consent and data protection laws in each country apply to WhatsApp marketing.
Automated and prerecorded calls are tightly regulated in the US (TCPA and the National Do Not Call Registry) and Canada (CRTC Unsolicited Telecommunications Rules), and other countries in the region have their own registers and rules.
Advertising Rules
Advertising must follow the Law for the Promotion of Competition and Effective Consumer Protection (Law 7472).
Guides by Channel
SMS in Costa Rica
Marketing messages in Costa Rica should rely on consent under Law 8968 on the protection of personal data and offer a clear way to opt out..
Read the guide →WhatsApp in Costa Rica
WhatsApp Business API campaigns to customers in Costa Rica need opt-in consent under Law 8968, in addition to Meta's business and commerce policies..
Read the guide →Voice Call in Costa Rica
Telemarketing must respect consent and objections under Law 8968 and the consumer protection law (Law 7472)..
Read the guide →RCS in Costa Rica
RCS business messaging availability in Costa Rica depends on operator and device support, so we confirm coverage before planning campaigns and keep SMS as a fallback; the same consent rules that apply to SMS apply to RCS..
Read the guide →Digital Habits and Channels in Costa Rica
Costa Rica has high mobile use, and WhatsApp is the main channel for customer communication. SINPE Móvil, which lets people send money using a phone number, is used by most adults.
Law 8968 on personal data protection, overseen by PRODHAB, requires consent. Tourism peaks in the dry season from December to April, and Christmas bonuses (aguinaldo) lift December spending.
Costa Rica exports medical devices made by firms such as Boston Scientific and Medtronic, as well as coffee, pineapples and bananas, and earns heavily from eco-tourism. Many multinational companies run shared-service and contact centres in the San José area, using its bilingual workforce. VAT (IVA) is 13%, and the currency is the colón. SINPE Móvil instant transfers by phone number are used by most adults. Law 8968 on personal data protection is overseen by PRODHAB. Kölbi (ICE), Claro and Liberty run the mobile networks.
Regulators, Registers and Practical Rules in Costa Rica
Costa Rica's Law 8968 on the protection of individuals with regard to personal data is supervised by PRODHAB (Agencia de Protección de Datos de los Habitantes), and databases used for commercial purposes may need to be registered with it. The telecom regulator SUTEL and the Ministry of Science, Innovation, Technology and Telecommunications set the rules for networks and spam, and consumer law also restricts unsolicited advertising. Kölbi (ICE), Liberty and Claro are the mobile operators.
SINPE Móvil, the instant payment system linked to phone numbers, is used by most adults, so payment reminders that include a SINPE number are practical. Spanish is the main language, with English useful for tourism in Guanacaste, the Pacific coast and La Fortuna. The dry season from December to April is the high tourist season.
General guidance, not legal advice. Check current rules with the regulator or a local adviser before launch.
Practical Details
Country code +506; time zone America/Costa_Rica; currency Costa Rican colón (CRC). Usual working week: Monday to Friday.
Cities we cover in Costa Rica
General information, not legal advice, as of October 2026.
Compliance in Costa Rica: FAQs
Which messaging channels need registration in Costa Rica?
It depends on the channel. Sender IDs for SMS often need registration with operators or the regulator, WhatsApp requires a verified business account and approved templates, and RCS needs brand verification. Each channel guide explains the details.
Does data protection law apply to messaging in Costa Rica?
The Agency for the Protection of Personal Data (PRODHAB) supervises Law 8968.
Is this legal advice?
No. These guides are general information. For significant campaigns, take advice from a local lawyer.
Plan Compliant Campaigns in Costa Rica
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