Costa Rica digital nomad visa
Costa Rica wrote its nomad visa into law with real perks: foreign income is tax-exempt, your home driver's license stays valid, and your work equipment enters duty-free. Pura vida plus surf, jungle, and one of the most stable democracies in the Americas — for a $3,000/month income bar.
Digital Nomad Visa (Estancia) at a glance ✓ Verified 2026
- Income requirement: ~$3000/month
- Visa cost: ~$190
- Length of stay: up to 24 months
- Processing time: 2–3 months
- Official source: government site
Requirements
- Stable foreign income of at least $3,000/month (or $4,000/month covering family) over the last year, bank-documented
- Remote work or services exclusively for employers/clients outside Costa Rica
- Medical insurance covering the full stay in Costa Rica
- Apostilled supporting documents; application via Migración
- First permit covers 12 months, renewable once for 12 more if you spent at least 80 days in-country
How to apply
- Compile 12 months of bank statements proving the income floor, apostilled and translated where required
- Submit the application online or at Migración (or a consulate) with insurance and passport documents
- Wait out processing, then complete registration and biometrics in Costa Rica
- Renew at month 12 if you've met the minimum-presence requirement
Moving abroad means more than the visa — sort your travel insurance (many visa applications require proof of coverage), set up borderless banking, and land with data working.
Frequently asked questions
No — the law explicitly exempts your foreign-source remote income from Costa Rican income tax, and it also waives import duties on your work gear (laptops, cameras, equipment). It's one of the most concrete tax carve-outs of any nomad visa.
Comfortably in most of the country, tightly in premium beach towns like Tamarindo or Santa Teresa during high season. San José suburbs and smaller coastal towns stretch the budget much further.
Many do — tourist entries are typically 180 days now. But the nomad visa removes the gamble at the border, adds the tax exemption and license validity, and signals legal residence to banks and landlords.
More visas in Americas
Visa rules, income thresholds, and fees change — always confirm the current requirements on the official government source (linked here) before applying. This page is informational, not immigration advice.