Costa Rica digital nomad visa: requirements and how to apply

Costa Rica created a digital nomad visa in 2021 for people who work remotely for employers or clients outside the country. It gives you a year, extendable to two, without applying for residency.

Who qualifies

• You work remotely for a company, or for your own clients, outside Costa Rica.
• You earn at least $3,000 a month, or $4,000 a month if a spouse or children come with you.
• You have health insurance that covers you, and any family members, in Costa Rica for the whole stay. The regulations set a minimum amount of cover, so check that your policy meets it.

Income is normally shown with bank statements covering the past year and a sworn statement. Documents not in Spanish need a translation.

What the visa gives you

• A legal stay of one year, with one extension of a further year.
• An exemption from Costa Rican income tax on your remote earnings.
• The right to drive on your home licence during the stay.
• The right to open a Costa Rican bank account.
• Duty-free import of the equipment you need for work, such as computers.

You are not required to join the Caja, the public health system. That is why private insurance is mandatory.

What it doesn’t give you

• It doesn’t let you work for Costa Rican employers or clients.
• It isn’t residency. The time generally doesn’t count toward permanent residency.
• It can’t be extended beyond the second year.

How to apply

1. Gather bank statements, proof of your remote work, passport copies and the insurance policy.
2. Submit the application to the immigration department (DGME), online or in person. You can apply from abroad or after entering as a tourist.
3. Pay the government fees.
4. Once approved, complete the documentation step at immigration within the deadline you are given.

The regulations set a short decision period, counted in weeks, which is much faster than a residency application. An attorney isn’t required, though many applicants use one for the translations and filing.

Digital nomad visa or tourist stay

US citizens can already be admitted for up to 180 days as tourists. For a stay of a few months, many remote workers simply do that.

	Tourist	Digital nomad visa
Length of stay	Up to 180 days, at the officer’s discretion	1 year, plus 1 more
Income proof	None, though you may be asked for an onward ticket	$3,000 a month ($4,000 with family)
Tax on remote income	Not clearly addressed	Explicitly exempt
Bank account	Limited	Yes
Paperwork	None	Application, insurance, fees

The visa is worth having if you want a full year or more in one place, a bank account, and certainty about tax.

If you want to stay longer than two years

Plan the next step before the second year ends:

• Rentista residency, usually with a $60,000 deposit, since remote work income doesn’t count as rentista income.
• Inversionista residency, if you buy property or invest at least $150,000.

Both are temporary residency and require joining the Caja. Check with your employer, too, before you move: some have their own rules about working from another country. For the tax side, see taxes for Americans in Costa Rica.

Common questions

What is the income requirement for the Costa Rica digital nomad visa?

At least $3,000 a month of income from remote work for employers or clients outside Costa Rica, or $4,000 a month if you bring a spouse or children.

How long can I stay on the digital nomad visa?

One year, and you can extend it once for a second year. The extension depends on having spent enough of the first year in Costa Rica, generally at least 180 days.

Do digital nomads pay tax in Costa Rica?

The visa exempts holders from Costa Rican income tax on their remote earnings from abroad. US citizens still file a US return every year.

Does the digital nomad visa lead to residency?

No. It is a stay permit, not residency, and the time generally doesn't count toward permanent residency or citizenship. To stay long term you would apply under a residency category such as rentista or inversionista.