Costa Rica’s Digital Nomad Visa allows you to stay in the country for much longer than you can with a tourist visa. This visa is specifically designed for individuals who are able to work remotely and do not intend to work for a Costa Rican employer.
Whilst tourist visas are valid for 90 days, the Costa Rica Digital Nomad visa means you can remain in the country for up to one year. This visa gives you the right to open a bank account in Costa Rica whilst also exempting the holder from income tax. Applying for this visa also means you get a fast response: Approvals or rejections are issued within 15 days of the application being received.
The cost of the Digital Nomad visa is $100 and must be paid to the Banco de Costa Rica upon application.
While only available for one year, the visa is renewable for one subsequent year.
To qualify for the Digital Nomad visa, applicants must show proof of a stable income of at least USD $3,000 per month, from any legitimate source over the previous year. This rises to USD $4,000 per month for those bringing dependents.
Applicants must provide a police clearance certificate from their country of origin and must have health insurance coverage while in Costa Rica. They must also have a contract with a company or individual located outside of Costa Rica that details their remote work arrangement.
For more information on the Costa Rica Digital Nomad and Remote Worker visa check out this fact sheet from the Costa Rican government.
To dig into the details of this visa check out our comprehensive guide to the Costa Rica Digital Nomad Visa.
In addition to the Digital Nomad visa, Costa Rica also offers a Rentista Visa that may be suitable for some digital nomads. The Rentista visa is designed for individuals who can show a fixed source of income and wish to live in Costa Rica for a period of time: The income can come from a variety of sources such as investments, pensions, or a business, but it must be at least $2,500 per month.
Crucially, this income cannot be regular employment income: Unlike the digital nomad visa, this visa is targeted at those with a fixed passive income source.
The cost of the Rentista visa is $250 for the initial application, and $50 for each dependent. The visa is valid for two years and can be renewed for an additional two years.