Costa Rica's digital nomad visa

Every figure here is as migracion.go.cr publishes it, checked 18 August 2026. Where a number is our own arithmetic rather than a printed figure, the row says so.

Status

Open

Visa

Estancia para Trabajador y Prestador Remoto de Servicios (Ley 10008 — "nómadas digitales")

Initial stay

12 months

Renewal

Ley 10008 art. 15: 'El beneficio migratorio se le otorgará por un año, prorrogable por un único período de un año adicional' — one year, extendable once for one further year only (24 months maximum). To obtain the extension the holder 'deberá haber permanecido en el país un mínimo de ciento ochenta días' during the year originally granted.

Income required

$3,000 a month — US$3,000.00 per month minimum, received from abroad, evidenced over the last year (bank statements plus sworn declaration, or certification by a public accountant/notary, legalised or apostilled). If legal stay is also requested for dependants the figure rises to US$4,000.00 per month; the household figure may be made up by combining the applicant's income with a spouse's or another family member's. Converted at the Banco Central de Costa Rica official selling rate.

Fee

$100 — US$100.00 payable to the Government per applicant (art. 256, Ley General de Migración y Extranjería). DGME warns the US$100 must arrive net and that BCR's receiving commission is US$15. At the DIMEX card stage a further US$90.00 is payable for the residence document, plus Special and Social Migration Fund amounts, plus an art. 215 amount specified in the approval resolution and a one-off guarantee deposit under Decreto Ejecutivo 36539-G (those two are not published as fixed figures).

Processing

Ley 10008 art. 7: the authority has 15 calendar days from filing to resolve in writing. Within 5 days it may issue one single written 'prevención' listing missing items; the applicant then has 8 business days to complete or clarify, after which the remaining part of the 15-day clock resumes.

Who qualifies

Foreign nationals providing paid services remotely (employed or self-employed) by IT/telecoms means for a person or company located abroad, paid from abroad. Holders may not take up other paid work or services inside Costa Rica (art. 14). Grant is subject to a DGME criminal/police background check under art. 11 bis and possible biometric checks. Applicants must also hold the appropriate consular/restricted entry visa for their nationality under Decreto 36626-G where applicable. Art. 19: a valid home-country driving licence is valid for driving in Costa Rica; art. 20: beneficiaries may open savings accounts in the national banking system. Mandatory medical insurance covering the whole authorised stay with at least US$50,000.00 cover for medical expenses from illness in Costa Rica.

Family

Dependants covered: spouse or de facto partner, children under 25, children of any age with a disability, and cohabiting older adults. They file requirements 1–4 of the main list plus proof of relationship. Each dependant needs their own US$100 payment and their own medical policy. Tax benefits do NOT extend to the family group.

Where to apply

Filed with the DGME. On the official page the digital route via Trámite Ya is marked 'Esta modalidad de trámite se encuentra inhabilitada hasta nuevo aviso', so the physical route applies: book an appointment through the DGME Portal de Citas Web (option 'Estancia Nómadas Digitales') and file at the Gestión de Extranjería platform in La Uruca or a regional office. After approval the holder has 3 months to obtain the DIMEX card.

Official page

migracion.go.cr

Checked

18 August 2026

Sources are listed further down the page.