Guides · Nomads Community

Costa Rica Digital Nomad Visa: Requirements, Income and How to Apply (2026)

Who qualifies for Costa Rica's digital nomad stay, the income threshold, the fee, how long it lasts and when the 180-day tourist entry is the better choice.

Category
guide
Reading time
6 min
Written by
Felipe Cordero
Tags
costa rica, digital nomad visa, visa, immigration, remote work

Short answer: Costa Rica has a digital nomad stay, officially the Estancia for Remote Workers and Service Providers created by Ley 10008. It is open to people earning at least US$3,000 a month (US$4,000 for a family application) from employers or clients outside Costa Rica, costs US$115 to apply, lasts one year and can be renewed once. Income earned abroad is exempt from Costa Rican income tax. For stays of six months or less, most nomads skip it entirely and use the ordinary tourist entry of up to 180 days.

Last reviewed September 2026. Immigration rules change; always confirm against the official source linked below before you apply.

Who qualifies

  • Income: a stable US$3,000 per month for the previous year, from outside Costa Rica. A family application (you plus dependants) requires US$4,000.
  • Work: your employer or clients must be foreign. The stay does not permit you to work for Costa Rican companies or take local employment.
  • Insurance: medical coverage valid in Costa Rica for the whole period of the stay.
  • Fee: US$115 at application.

What you actually get

  • One year of legal stay, renewable once (so up to two years in total) provided you spent at least 180 days in the country.
  • Exemption from Costa Rican income tax on the foreign income you earn while on the stay.
  • The ability to open a local bank account, which unlocks SINPE Movil, the instant local payment system that otherwise sits just out of reach for foreigners (see our money and banking guide).
  • Your foreign driver's licence stays valid for the duration of the stay.

What it is not

It is an estancia, a stay, not residency. It does not accumulate toward permanent residency, and it does not give you the right to local work. If your plan is to settle in Costa Rica permanently, this is not the track; talk to an immigration lawyer about rentista or inversionista residency instead.

How to apply

  1. Gather twelve months of bank statements showing the qualifying income, your passport, and proof of medical insurance covering Costa Rica.
  2. Apply online through the immigration authority's digital nomad process and pay the US$115 fee.
  3. Processing is commonly quoted at around two weeks, though it varies.
  4. Once approved, you register on arrival or at the immigration office; the clock starts from entry.

When the tourist stamp is the better call

Most people in our community in Santa Teresa are here on an ordinary tourist entry. Visa-exempt nationalities are admitted for a period decided by the officer at the border, up to a maximum of 180 days. It is free, involves no paperwork, and covers a one-to-six-month stay comfortably. Two caveats worth internalising: the number stamped in your passport is the officer's decision, not an entitlement, and officers routinely ask for proof of onward travel and funds. Our visa and border-run guide covers how this plays out month to month.

The digital nomad stay earns its paperwork when you want a full year without depending on a border officer's mood, a local bank account, and a clean tax position on foreign income.

FAQ

How much do I need to earn for the Costa Rica digital nomad visa? US$3,000 per month from foreign sources, averaged over the previous year, or US$4,000 if you are applying with dependants.

How long does the Costa Rica digital nomad visa last? One year, renewable once for a second year, provided you stayed at least 180 days during the first.

Do I pay tax in Costa Rica on the digital nomad visa? No Costa Rican income tax on the foreign income you earn while on the stay. Your home-country obligations do not disappear.

Does the digital nomad visa lead to residency? No. It is a temporary stay and does not count toward permanent residency.

Can I just use the 180-day tourist entry instead? For stays up to about six months, usually yes, and most nomads do. It is free but discretionary; the officer decides how many days you get.

Sources

NOMADS resources

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