Digital nomad visa in Costa Rica
The official immigration subcategory «Estancia de Trabajador o Prestador Remoto de Servicios» under Law No. 10008 — a stay of 1 year, renewable for 1 more year, for remote employees and freelancers with an income from $3,000/month, fully exempt from local tax on foreign income.
Ley No. 10008, «Ley para Atraer Trabajadores y Prestadores Remotos de Servicios de Carácter Internacional» (passed in 2021, with regulations in Decreto Ejecutivo No. 43619-H-MGP-TUR, 2022), creates a separate immigration subcategory, «Estancia de Trabajador o Prestador Remoto de Servicios», specifically for digital nomads and remote employees — this is not a general income-based residence permit. It is important not to confuse it with Ley No. 9996: that is a different, older programme — for investors, rentistas and pensioners — and it has nothing to do with digital nomads.
The category is officially called «estancia» (a stay), not «residencia»: it is issued for 1 year and renewable for 1 more year (2 years maximum in total) and does not in itself give permanent resident status. According to several secondary immigration sources, renewal for a second year requires proof of physical presence in the country of at least 180 days during the first year, and the renewal application has to be filed in person — direct confirmation of this condition could not be obtained on the official immigration page (the page blocks automated access), so check the current renewal conditions at the consultation.
What the service includes
| Checking that you meet the requirements and choosing the right subcategory (employee / service provider) | |
| Preparing the document package and filing the application through TramiteYa/DGME | |
| Support with paying the government fees | |
| Help with obtaining the accreditation document after approval | |
| Government fees and deposits (about $190)— billed separately | |
| Medical insurance— billed separately | |
| Flights, accommodation and legalisation of foreign documents— billed separately | |
| Renewal for a second year (a separate service)— billed separately |
What we need from you
- 1Income from a foreign source of at least $3,000/month for a single applicant, or at least $4,000/month when filing with family members — evidenced by bank statements for the last 12 months and a signed affidavit (declaración jurada)
- 2Medical insurance (state or private) valid for the whole period of stay applied for, with cover from $50,000 — for the applicant and all dependants included
- 3The income must come from an employer, clients or a business registered outside Costa Rica — a local source of income is not allowed
- 4A valid passport with at least 12 months of validity on the date of filing
- 5Payment of the government fees: $100 (a deposit with Banco de Costa Rica) + $90 (the DGME accreditation fee), about $190 in total
- 6A completed and signed DGME application form under Ley 10008 + a signed consent («Constancia de Consentimiento Informado»)
Frequently asked questions
Do you have to pay tax in Costa Rica on the digital nomad visa?
Does this visa give a residence permit or a path to Costa Rican citizenship?
Can you move under this visa with your family?
What has to be done immediately after digital nomad status in Costa Rica is approved?
Does the application form change often?
Sources
- DGME (Costa Rica's immigration service) — the official «Nómadas Digitales» page
- Ley No. 10008 — Sistema Costarricense de Información Jurídica (SCIJ), Costa Rica's official legal database
- Asamblea Legislativa de Costa Rica — the full text of Ley No. 10008 (PDF)
- Instituto Costarricense de Turismo (ICT) — the official Digital Nomads requirements
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