Costa Rica’s digital nomad visa is a popular choice among remote workers who love to travel. With its stunning natural landscapes, tropical climate, low cost of living, and relaxed Pura Vida lifestyle, Costa Rica is an attractive destination.
Digital nomad visas are a good middle ground when it comes to exploring a foreign country. Most tourist visas are too short, and they typically restrict work activities. Long-term residency programs involve a lot of effort — and are more suitable for people who have already selected their favorite country to live in. A digital nomad visa is a great option if you are a remote worker, entrepreneur, or freelancer who wants to experience a new culture while you earn income online.
Costa Rica’s “Estancia para Trabajador y Prestador Remoto de Servicios” visa (Stay for Remote Worker and Service Provider) allows you to live and work in the country for up to a year, with the option to renew the visa for an additional year. Please note that if you want to extend your stay for another year, you must spend at least 180 consecutive days in Costa Rica during your first year.
The remote workers’ visa comes with some notable perks:
- Digital nomads are not considered normal residents for tax purposes. The Costa Rican tax authorities will not require you to pay local income tax on your foreign earnings during your stay in Costa Rica. *However, depending on your citizenship, you may still have to pay tax in your home country.
- You may also be exempt from import taxes on computers, laptops, and other tech gear (if they are necessary for your remote work).
- Remote workers are permitted to use the driver’s license from their home country for the full duration of their stay in Costa Rica.
- With a Remote Workers and Service Providers visa, you may be able to open a national bank account in Costa Rica.
- You may bring dependents with you to Costa Rica (if you meet a higher monthly income threshold). This includes spouses/common-law partners, children under 25 years old, and senior citizen family members who live with you.
If you are interested in obtaining a remote worker’s visa in Costa Rica, be sure to conduct your own research, but here is a basic breakdown of the process:
Eligibility For Costa Rica’s Digital Nomad Visa:
- You must be a foreign national with a valid passport.
- You must provide paid services remotely, using digital or telecommunication technologies.
- You can only provide those services to legal entities or clients that are located outside of Costa Rica.
- You will need to show a stable monthly income of at least $3,000 USD ($4,000/month if you wish to bring dependents).
- You need health insurance for the entire duration of your stay. You will need minimum coverage of $50,000 to cover any medical expenses incurred in Costa Rica.
- You must have a clean criminal record from your home country.
Costs Associated With The Remote Worker Program:
You must be prepared to pay the following government fees. If you choose to hire a local immigration law firm or visa-assistance company, their services will cost extra.
- $100 visa application fee. You pay the fee to the Costa Rican government by depositing the equivalent amount in Costa Rican Colónes into account no. 242480-0 of the Banco de Costa Rica.
- $90 registration fee (for processing legal stay documents). Paid via the same method discussed above.
- $50 fee for your residence permit once you arrive in the country.
Digital Nomad Visa Process In Costa Rica:
You apply for the digital nomad visa online via the Costa Rican government’s Tramite Ya digital portal. You should be prepared to provide the following documents (officially translated into Spanish):
- Signed application form;
- Receipt confirming you paid the government fees;
- A copy of your passport’s photo page and any page that contains an entry stamp into Costa Rica;
- Certified bank statements showing 12 months of a stable monthly income exceeding $3,000 USD ($4,000 USD if you have dependents);
- Copy of Health Insurance policy;
- Employment contracts/documentation showing you provide remote services to clients outside Costa Rica;
- Proof of accommodation (for the entire length of your stay in Costa Rica);
- Marriage certificates, birth certificates, etc. if you plan to bring dependents.
Usually, remote worker visa applications are processed within 15 calendar days. It may take up to 45 days if the government requests additional documentation.
The Foreign Nationals Administration of The General Directorate of Migration and Aliens (DGME) will issue a resolution granting or refusing your visa request. If you are approved, you can enter Costa Rica as a digital nomad. However, you will then need to secure a residence permit within three months of your arrival. To get your residence permit, you will need to register your biometrics at the Ministerio Seguridad Pública in San Jose or at your local immigration office.
All of the articles on Borderless Pair related to residency or visa programs are mere introductions. Hopefully, we have piqued your interest in Costa Rica’s Stay for Remote Worker and Service Provider option. But, be sure to visit the official government websites and reach out to local experts before you apply.
If you want to explore another digital nomad visa option, please read our article Nomad Life in Croatia Made Easy. If you are young, you may also be eligible for a working holiday permit, as discussed in our piece Working Holiday Visas: What to Know.