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How to Accept Online Card Payments in Costa Rica

A Costa Rica guide to BAC Credomatic, Powertranz compatibility, local currency checkout, and Genius Checkout connections for stores and bookings.

Costa Rican tourism and services business reviewing online card payments
Original editorial artwork created for Genius Checkout
On this page
  1. Ask BAC which gateway profile is being issued
  2. Build for a clear colón or dollar transaction
  3. Connect the approved profile to the sales system
  4. Test buyer language and cancellation
  5. Preguntas para afiliación
  6. Frequently asked questions
  7. Sources and next step

Costa Rican businesses can investigate local online card acquiring through BAC Credomatic, the institution shown for Costa Rica on Powertranz's current merchant map. Genius Checkout can use the account only when the approved product supplies Powertranz/FAC-compatible credentials. BAC native gateway credentials are not automatically interchangeable with Powertranz credentials.

A real Genius Checkout Test Store gateway screen showing separate regional payment routes Genius Checkout keeps each approved gateway as a distinct route. The merchant activates only the services and environments provisioned for its own account.

For lodging, tours, professional services, exports, online retail, and recurring offers, confirm the processor and payment lifecycle before building checkout.

Reviewed on September 25, 2026.

Ask BAC which gateway profile is being issued

BAC offers several digital-sales products across Central America. Ask the Costa Rica merchant team to identify:

  • The processor and whether it is Powertranz/FAC.
  • Direct or HPP mode.
  • Test and live Merchant IDs and processing passwords.
  • CRC and any additional approved transaction currencies.
  • Settlement account and currency.
  • HPP PageSet and PageName, when applicable.
  • 3-D Secure, refunds, capture, void, tokenization, and recurring permissions.

If the credential pack belongs to another gateway, use the connector designed for that gateway rather than forcing it into the Powertranz fields.

Build for a clear colón or dollar transaction

Tourism and export businesses may display CRC and USD. The actual charge must use a currency enabled for the merchant profile. State the ISO code on the offer, checkout, confirmation, and refund.

For a hotel or tour, decide whether the site charges a deposit, full amount, or separate balance. For a consultant, decide whether the invoice is fixed before sending a link. For recurring services, confirm tokenization and merchant-initiated transactions.

Connect the approved profile to the sales system

  • WooCommerce for products, lodging packages, tours, and course sales.
  • HighLevel for agencies, appointments, funnels, and recurring offers.
  • Ecwid for an embedded catalogue.
  • Payment links and QR codes for reservations and invoices.
  • A custom API integration for an existing Costa Rican platform.

Customer details entered in the source platform should prefill checkout where supported. Never manufacture a billing address when the customer did not provide one.

Test buyer language and cancellation

Run the checkout in the languages the merchant presents. Accented letters may be normalized when a gateway field rejects them, but the customer-facing order should retain the correct name wherever the receiving system supports it.

Test approval, decline, 3-D Secure, cancellation, browser Back, retry, duplicate callback, and refund. If HPP is used, launch it outside any iframe. If Direct tokens are used, test consent and later charges.

Preguntas para afiliación

  • ¿La cuenta se procesa en Powertranz/FAC?
  • ¿Cuáles monedas puede cobrar y liquidar el comercio?
  • ¿La modalidad es Direct o HPP?
  • ¿Están habilitados 3DS, reembolsos, tokenización y recurrencia?
  • ¿Cuáles credenciales corresponden a pruebas y cuáles a producción?

Frequently asked questions

Can every BAC Costa Rica merchant use Genius Checkout Powertranz?

No. The approved product must provide Powertranz/FAC-compatible credentials. Confirm the processor with BAC.

Can a tour operator send a payment link after confirming availability?

Yes. That keeps availability in the booking process while collecting through secure checkout.

Can the site show CRC and USD?

It can display them, but it may submit only currencies enabled on the merchant profile. Explain the actual charged currency clearly.

Sources and next step

Create a Genius Checkout account or book a setup review after BAC confirms the compatible gateway profile.