The Costa Rica digital nomad visa is a one-year stay for people who work remotely for foreign employers or clients, created by Law 10008 of 2021. You need a stable income of at least US$3,000 a month (US$4,000 if your family comes with you), health insurance for the whole stay, and you can extend once for a second year if you have spent at least 180 days in the country.
Last checked: September 2026
In short:
- Law 10008 sets the income floor at US$3,000 a month for a single applicant and US$4,000 a month for a family group, averaged over the previous 12 months.
- The permit runs for up to one year and can be extended once for one more year, provided you spent at least 180 days in Costa Rica during the first year.
- Article 16 of the law gives holders a full exemption from Costa Rican income tax on their foreign remote-work earnings, and they are not treated as habitual residents.
Who it’s for
The official name is the stay for “remote workers and service providers of an international nature”. It covers employees of foreign companies and self-employed people whose clients are outside Costa Rica. The key condition is that your income comes from abroad: you can’t take a job with a Costa Rican employer on this status.
The law was signed on 11 August 2021 and its regulation was published in La Gaceta on 8 July 2022. According to El Financiero, the final regulation dropped the criminal record certificate and most apostilles from the draft.
Income and financial requirements
| Applicant | Minimum income | How it’s measured |
|---|---|---|
| Single applicant | US$3,000 a month | Average over the last 12 months |
| With family group | US$4,000 a month | Combined, average over the last 12 months |
You prove income with bank statements, or with an income statement certified by a public accountant. If you use the accountant route, that certification still needs an apostille.
One inconsistency to watch: the tourism board’s Visit Costa Rica page quotes US$5,000 a month for families. The law and the 2022 regulation, as reported by Bufete de Costa Rica and El Financiero, say US$4,000. Go with the figure on the Migración form on the day you apply.
Length, renewal and family
- First period: up to one year. A 2022 interpretation law (Law 10208) confirmed you can be granted a shorter period.
- Extension: one more year, as long as you spent at least 180 days in Costa Rica during the first year. That makes two years in total.
- Family: a spouse and dependants can be included under the family income threshold. Each dependant needs their own application and their own insurance.
- Movement: you can come and go during the permit.
This status doesn’t lead to residency on its own. If you want to stay longer than two years, you’ll need to apply for a residence category before the second year runs out.
How to apply
Where: online through the Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería (DGME) website, or in person at an immigration office by appointment.
Documents (core list):
- Passport
- Proof of income: 12 months of bank statements, or an apostilled income certification from a public accountant
- Health insurance covering you, and any family members, for the whole stay
- Proof of the government payment
Anything not in Spanish needs an official translation, done by a translator registered with Costa Rica’s foreign ministry or by a notary.
Insurance: Visit Costa Rica says the policy needs at least US$50,000 of medical cover for the full stay, and that policies from international insurers are accepted as well as Costa Rican ones regulated by the insurance superintendent (SUGESE). The law leaves the minimum cover to Migración, so check the current form.
Fees: Bloomberg Línea (2022) reported US$100 per application plus US$90 for the stay documents. Visit Costa Rica also lists the US$100 deposit to the government, but doesn’t give a figure for the second fee (verify before paying).
Processing time: the law gives Migración 15 calendar days to decide on a complete file. Bloomberg Línea reported 15 to 30 days in practice.
Tax: when you become tax resident
Costa Rica’s general rule, per PwC’s tax summary (reviewed June 2026), is that you are tax resident if you spend more than 183 days in the country in a fiscal year, counting separate stays together. The system is territorial: tax applies to income earned within Costa Rica.
Law 10008 goes further for nomads. Article 16 gives a full exemption from income tax on your remote-work earnings and says holders are not treated as habitual residents for tax purposes. Article 17 also exempts personal computer, IT and telecoms equipment from import duties for as long as the permit lasts.
Your home country may still tax you.
Practical tips and common refusal reasons
- Thin or patchy statements. The test is a 12-month average, so a couple of big months don’t make up for a weak year.
- Insurance that doesn’t match the stay. The policy has to cover the whole permit period, and every family member separately.
- Uncertified translations. A translation that isn’t official is a common reason for a file to be sent back. The law allows 8 business days to fix gaps.
- Not enough days for the extension. If you want the second year, track your days in the country from the start.
- Local work. A Costa Rican employer puts you outside the status.
See the full list: Digital nomad visa countries: which countries have one (2026 list)
Related guides: Digital Nomad Visa Index 2026: income requirements for 28 open visa routes, ranked · Visa processing times tracker (2026): real dates from members · Retire abroad (2026): retirement visas, pension tax and healthcare · Cost of living in Costa Rica (2026): San José, Tamarindo, Nosara
Quick answers
Q: How much income do I need for the Costa Rica digital nomad visa?
Law 10008 requires a stable income of at least US$3,000 a month for a single applicant, or US$4,000 a month for a family group, averaged over the past 12 months. Visit Costa Rica quotes US$5,000 for families, so check the figure on the current Migración form before you apply.
Q: How long can I stay in Costa Rica as a digital nomad?
The permit is granted for up to one year and can be extended once for another year, making two years in total. To get the extension, you must have spent at least 180 days in Costa Rica during the first year. You can enter and leave the country during the permit.
Q: Do digital nomads pay tax in Costa Rica?
Under Article 16 of Law 10008, holders are fully exempt from Costa Rican income tax on their remote-work income and aren’t treated as habitual residents. Costa Rica’s tax system is territorial anyway. Your home country may still tax that income, so check your obligations there.
Sources
- Bufete de Costa Rica: Ley 10008 trabajadores remotos internacionales
- ECIJA: Costa Rica, Ley de atracción de nómadas digitales
- El Financiero: Chaves firma reglamento para otorgar visas a nómadas digitales
- CRHoy: Finalmente publican reglamento sobre nómadas digitales
- Bloomberg Línea: Nómadas digitales en Costa Rica, requisitos
- Visit Costa Rica (ICT): Digital nomads
- PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries: Costa Rica, residence
- PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries: Costa Rica, taxes on personal income
This is general information from the Nomad Forums team, not immigration, tax or legal advice. Rules change; check the official source or a qualified adviser before applying.
Over to you: If you’ve been approved, how long did Migración take, and what fees did you actually pay at the end? And did anyone use an international insurance policy rather than a Costa Rican one, and was it accepted without questions?