Costa Rica digital nomad visa: Complete guide 2026

What Is the Costa Rica Digital Nomad Visa?

The Costa Rica Digital Nomad Visa, officially known as the Stay for Remote Workers and Service Providers (Estancia para Trabajadores o Prestadores de Servicio Remoto), is a temporary visa that allows foreign nationals to live and work remotely in Costa Rica for up to one year, with the option to renew for one additional year.

It is open to people of any nationality who earn a stable income from sources outside Costa Rica. The visa grants legal residency status in the country for its duration, along with a set of tax and financial benefits. This guide covers who is eligible, what the visa allows, how to apply, and what to expect throughout the process.

Who Is the Digital Nomad Visa For?

The digital nomad visa is available to any foreign national who meets the following requirements.

Remote work: You must provide paid services remotely to a person or entity located outside Costa Rica. This can be as an employee of a foreign company or as a self-employed individual with clients abroad. You cannot work for a Costa Rican employer or client while on this visa.

Income: You must demonstrate a stable monthly income of at least $3,000 from sources outside Costa Rica. If you are applying with dependents, the minimum rises to $4,000 per month. The income must be stable; it is not sufficient to average $3,000 across some months if any individual month falls short.

Health insurance: You must hold valid health insurance covering you (and any dependents) for the full duration of your stay in Costa Rica. The policy must provide a minimum coverage of $50,000. It may be from an international provider or a Costa Rican insurance company.

Dependents: You can include a spouse or partner and dependent children under the age of 25 in your application. Each dependent must also be covered by your health insurance policy, and supporting documents for the relationship must be provided.

What the Digital Nomad Visa Allows

Length of stay: The visa is valid for one year from the date of grant. It can be renewed once for an additional year, bringing the maximum total stay to two years.

Multiple entry: Holders can enter and exit Costa Rica freely during the validity period.

Work: You can work remotely for foreign employers or international clients.

Tax exemption: Digital nomad visa holders are exempt from Costa Rican income tax on income earned from foreign sources. This exemption applies for the full duration of the visa, including any renewal period. Note that this does not affect your tax obligations in your home country, which remain governed by your own country's laws.

Banking: Digital nomad visa holders are eligible to open a bank account in Costa Rica.

Documents You'll Need to Prepare

Have all documents ready before beginning your application. All documents not already in Spanish must be accompanied by a certified Spanish translation, prepared by a translator registered with the Costa Rican Ministry of Foreign Affairs or a notary public.

Passport copy: A clear copy of the information page of your passport, showing your photograph and personal details. If you are already in Costa Rica, you must also include a copy of the page showing your most recent Costa Rican entry stamp.

Proof of income: Bank statements covering the previous 12 months, demonstrating a consistent monthly income of at least $3,000 (or $4,000 if applying with dependents). Alternatively, you may submit a certification of income issued by a public accountant or notary public. In Costa Rica, this must be issued by a Costa Rican professional; abroad, by the equivalent professional under local law. The income certification is the one document that must be accompanied by consular legalization or apostille.

Proof of health insurance: Documentation confirming that you hold a valid health insurance policy covering you for the full duration of your stay, with a minimum coverage of $50,000. Coverage must extend to all dependents included in the application.

Application form: The official application form, signed by you or your authorized representative. The form to use depends on whether you are applying online through the TramiteYa platform or in person at a DGME (Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería) office.

Proof of application fee payment: A payment receipt confirming you have paid the $100 application fee to the designated government account. Payment must be made by bank transfer; card payments are not accepted. The same fee must be paid for every dependent.

Entry visa (if applicable): Nationals of countries that require a visa to enter Costa Rica must also obtain a consular or restricted entry visa in accordance with Costa Rica's visa regulations. Check whether your nationality requires an entry visa before applying.

For dependents: A marriage or civil union certificate issued within the last six months (if including a spouse or partner), or a birth certificate for any dependent child under 25. A medical certificate is required for any disabled dependent. For senior citizens accompanying you, proof of the familial link or cohabitation is required. All dependency documents must also be translated into Spanish if not already in that language.

Step-by-Step Application Process

Applications can be submitted online through Costa Rica's official immigration platform, TramiteYa, in person at a DGME office if you are already in Costa Rica, or in person at a Costa Rican consulate or embassy if you are applying from abroad. If applying in person in Costa Rica, you must book an appointment in advance through the DGME appointment portal, selecting the Estancia Nómadas Digitales option.

Step 1: Pay the application fee

Before submitting your application, transfer $100 (or the equivalent in Costa Rican colones at the Banco Central reference rate) to the designated government account. The fee applies per applicant, including dependents. Keep the payment receipt, as it must be included with your application. Full bank transfer details are available on the DGME website.

Step 2: Complete the biometric registration

If applying online, you must complete a biometric registration process on the TramiteYa platform before your application can be processed. If applying in person, this step will be completed during your appointment.

Step 3: Submit your application and documents

If you are abroad, you can apply online through TramiteYa or in person at a Costa Rican consulate or embassy in your country.

If you are already in Costa Rica, you can apply online or in person at a DGME office. For in-person applications in Costa Rica, attend your scheduled appointment at a DGME office — either the central office in La Uruca, San José, or a regional office — and bring all original documents and copies.

Step 4: Wait for the approval decision

The DGME has 15 calendar days from submission to issue a decision. If your application is incomplete, you will be notified and given the opportunity to provide missing items.

Step 5: Enter Costa Rica and complete documentation

If you applied from abroad, you have 90 days from the date of approval to enter Costa Rica. Once in the country, whether you applied from abroad or were already there, you have three months to complete the residency documentation process, which includes a further appointment with the DGME to obtain your immigration accreditation document (the DIMEX card, or Documento de Identidad Migratorio Para Extranjeros). At this appointment, you must pay:

• A government fee in the amount indicated in your approval resolution

• A further $90 for the issuance of your legal stay document and fees for the Special Social Immigration Fund

• A guarantee deposit set by the DGME based on your nationality (equivalent to 75% of the cost of a return flight to your home country)

Renewing the Digital Nomad Visa

The visa can be renewed once for an additional year, giving a maximum total stay of two years. To be eligible for renewal, you must meet all of the following:

• You were present in Costa Rica for at least 80 days during the first year of your visa

• You still meet the income requirements ($3,000 per month solo, or $4,000 with dependents)

• You hold valid health insurance for the renewal period

• Your passport remains valid

Submit your renewal application before your current visa expires. You cannot extend or bridge the stay after it has expired.

Costs and Fees to Expect

The application fee is $100 per applicant, paid by bank transfer before submitting your application. This applies to the principal applicant and each dependent included in the application. This fee is non-refundable.

After approval, you will pay an additional $90 at your documentation appointment for the issuance of your DIMEX card, plus a guarantee deposit in an amount confirmed by the DGME at the time of your appointment (equivalent to 75% of the cost of a return flight to your home country).

The renewal fee is $90.

Budget separately for health insurance for the duration of your stay, certified document translations if any of your documents are not in Spanish, and any apostille or consular legalization fees for your income certification.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I freelance, or do I need to be employed?

Both are allowed. You can qualify as a salaried employee of a foreign company or as a self-employed individual with clients outside Costa Rica. What matters is that your income originates from outside the country and meets the minimum monthly threshold.

Do I need to speak Spanish to apply?

No, but all documents submitted must be in Spanish or accompanied by a certified Spanish translation. The application form itself is available in both Spanish and English on TramiteYa.

Can I apply from inside Costa Rica?

Yes. If you are already in Costa Rica, you can apply either online or in person. Your passport copy must include the page showing your Costa Rican entry stamp.

How long does processing take?

The DGME has 15 calendar days to issue a decision once your application is submitted. The full process, including documentation, can take between 15 days and two months.

What counts as proof of stable income?

Bank statements covering the previous 12 months are the standard form of evidence. The income must be consistently at or above the required threshold each month; an average across months is not sufficient if any individual month falls below $3,000.

Can I work for a Costa Rican client on this visa?

No. The digital nomad visa only permits remote work for employers or clients located outside Costa Rica. Working for a Costa Rican person or entity while on this visa would violate the terms of your stay.

Does the visa lead to permanent residency?

No. The digital nomad visa is a non-resident stay category and does not provide a pathway to permanent residency or citizenship in Costa Rica.

Is there a minimum stay requirement?

Not for the initial visa. For renewal, you must have been present in Costa Rica for at least 80 days during the first year.