Costa Rica’s digital nomad visa is for people working remotely for employers or clients outside Costa Rica. It offers a stay of up to one year, renewable once for another year—not permission to take a local job. Legally, it is a non-resident stay category, called estancia, rather than residency. Law 10008 sets those boundaries.
For planning, treat this as two stages: getting approval, then completing your immigration documentation in Costa Rica. Keep accommodation flexible until both are arranged.
Eligibility at a glance
The following requirements apply as checked on October 10, 2026:
| Requirement | What to plan for |
|---|---|
| Remote work | Paid services for a person or business located outside Costa Rica |
| Individual income | At least US$3,000 per month from outside Costa Rica |
| Application with dependents | At least US$4,000 per month; the law permits combining income within the family group |
| Income evidence | Evidence covering the previous year—not simply a savings balance—with income that can continue while abroad |
| Medical insurance | At least US$50,000 in medical-expense coverage in Costa Rica, covering the entire authorized stay; every dependent must also meet the coverage requirements |
| Initial stay | Up to one year |
| Renewal | One additional year, subject to requirements including at least 180 days in Costa Rica during the original year |
These figures come from Law 10008 and its implementing regulation, Decree 43619.
Two conflicting figures need care. Visit Costa Rica’s program overview says $5,000 for families, while its detailed requirements and the regulation say $4,000. Its renewal page says 80 days, but both the law and regulation specify 180. Use the legal figures for planning; if your application depends on a borderline income amount, confirm the evidence requirements with immigration before paying.
Documents to prepare
The official application checklist requires:
- A signed application form.
- Proof of the US$100 government payment.
- A copy of your valid passport’s photo and biographical page, plus the Costa Rican entry-stamp page if you are already in the country.
- A consular or restricted entry visa where required for your nationality, taking applicable exceptions into account.
- Bank statements covering the previous year, accompanied by an affidavit stating that they were obtained from the financial institution.
Instead of the bank-statement route, the rules allow an income certification from a qualifying accountant or notary. A certification issued abroad requires consular legalization or an apostille. Documents in languages other than Spanish require official Spanish translations.
Dependents need their own application documents and proof of the relationship. The regulation’s Article 6 covers spouses, recognized partners, minor children or unmarried children under 25, children of any age with a disability, and older adults living with the applicant. Marriage and recognized-partnership certificates must have been issued within six months.
Apply, then finish the documentation
1. Submit the application. The published instructions allow submission through the Trámite Ya digital platform or physically at designated immigration offices. Start with the official requirements page, which identifies the platform and forms.
2. Leave a processing buffer. The law sets a 15-calendar-day decision period, but a request to correct or complete documents pauses that clock. Applicants have eight working days to respond. That legal timetable is not a reason to book a nonrefundable move exactly two weeks after submission. Law 10008, Article 7.
3. Complete the in-person documentation stage. After approval is notified, you have three months to process your immigration accreditation document; missing that window can trigger cancellation proceedings. The appointment involves identification and biometric capture. Bring the passport, insurance policy and required payment receipts. Decree 43619, Article 8. Visit Costa Rica’s documentation instructions list appointment contacts and what to present.
Budget beyond the $100 application fee
The $100 fee is not the complete cost. The documentation stage also lists:
- US$90 for the legal-stay documentation and associated funds.
- A further government payment in the amount specified in your approval resolution.
- A guarantee deposit under the applicable deposit rules.
Add insurance, official translations, any required legalization and banking charges. For international transfers, the payment instructions require a separate transfer in each applicant’s name, including dependents. The government must receive the full $100 net of transfer charges. Check the documentation fee instructions and your resolution before assuming a fixed total.
Work and tax boundaries
This route does not authorize local employment or services outside its permitted foreign-client work. The law grants the direct remote-worker beneficiary a Costa Rican income-tax exemption and does not treat qualifying foreign income as Costa Rican-source income. That tax benefit does not extend to dependents unless they separately apply and meet the requirements for a direct beneficiary. Law 10008, Articles 14–16.
Costa Rican approval does not settle obligations in another country. Check those separately, along with your employer’s permission to work abroad.
Build a flexible first month
Book a short, changeable stay near your confirmed documentation appointment before committing to a coastal lease. For any longer rental, ask for a recent internet speed test from the actual unit, a usable desk, noise details and a backup connection—not just “Wi-Fi included.”
Choose one work base first; use our Costa Rica surf-town comparison to narrow the coastal options rather than moving every week. On the Pacific side, rain is generally concentrated in the afternoon and early evening during the May–October rainy season. Keep outdoor plans movable and choose accommodation with a comfortable indoor workspace. The Caribbean follows a different rainfall pattern, so do not apply the Pacific calendar nationwide. Official climate guide.
If a second year matters, track your days in Costa Rica from the start. A flexible travel calendar still needs to preserve the 180-day renewal requirement.